Defence
Re-merge the MOD and NZDF as recommended in the Hunn Report Re-build the NZ Defence Force to 30,000 personnel (including 20,000 TF/Reserves) over 5 years through new initiatives including: Voluntary National Service – i.e. educational scholarship offset by service to the country in a range of areas from trades to professions as well as Defence Lease a third ANZAC Class frigate to bring the RNZN frigate Squadronn up to its minimum functioning capability for remaining on station Repeal the ban on nuclear-powered allied ships
Review the structure and governance of the NZDF, looking at which functions can be carried out by civilian agencies or put under joint military/civilian control Ensure that New Zealand has sufficient capabilities for peacekeeping, search and rescue, disaster relief, fisheries and border control Ensure that New Zealand has sufficient maritime surveillance capabilities, including airplanes, to properly monitor the waters around New Zealand, and to assist South Pacific island states Investigate the development of civilian based defence where some citizens are trained to resist aggression or usurpation by withholding cooperation and by active non-cooperation rather than military force
Labour will continue to invest in a modern, well-staffed and well-equipped Defence Force capable of protecting New Zealand’s interests and participating in peacekeeping and security operations regionally and internationally Acknowledging the need for sustainability, Labour’s approach has been to focus on achieving excellence in priority areas rather than spreading defence resources thinly across the board Labour will publish a new White Paper on Defence in 2009, coinciding with the mid-point review of the Defence Sustainability Initiative Labour will continue the process of ensuring all three Services have modern and appropriate equipment Labour will continue with its goal of a twelve percent increase in overall New Zealand Defence Force personnel numbers
Ensure the Defence Force can build security within the South Pacific Emphasise a requirement for agile forces, deployable at long range with relatively short notice Ensure that, when our forces are deployed outside our region, they are focused on specific and specialist capabilities that reflect our defence expertise Ensure our forces are interoperable with Australia’s, including a high level of compatibility of equipment, training, and doctrine Place a particular focus on addressing recruitment and retention issues in our defence forces
Put in place programmes to address the exodus of Defence Force personnel at all levels and to attend to staffing issues in general Continue to structure policy as closely as possible around the recommendations that we supported in "Defence Beyond 2000" Review entry standard requirements to ensure that no suitable candidates are excluded from joining the Defence Forces Establish plans to rebuild the territorial forces, in particular programmes which encourage them to reconnect with their communities Work towards funding our Defence Forces at a level of 2% of GDP
Reach a multi-party accord on funding for the NZ Defence Force so that it is equipped to meet peacekeeping, peace building, humanitarian and disaster relief operations We like the concept of having, 'the best small integrated defence force in the world' Promote international peace and human security in international affairs – the freedom from want and fear, oppression, hunger, disease and war
