Foreign submarines are reported to be secretly entering New Zealand waters, a defence analyst says.
Geopolitical analyst Dr Paul G. Buchanan said he was aware of "informed speculation" that subs were travelling through New Zealand's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and even our territorial waters, the 12 nautical mile limit.
He understood some submarines had previously hid under commercial vessels to mask their radar signatures but newer stealthy submarines made this unnecessary.
Buchanan said New Zealand "cannot patrol its own maritime borders" and leaves Australian and United States ships to pick up the slack, so "even if we found [foreign submarines] we wouldn't say anything about it".
Opposition defence spokesman Phil Goff said he had no evidence that it was happening. But a navy source said a foreign naval ship recently entered New Zealand waters disguised as a trawler.
