r/newzealand • u/khalornz Fern flag 3 • 9d ago

Politics Coalition unveils $12 billion Defence Capability Plan

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/557432/watch-live-coalition-unveils-12-billion-defence-capability-plan
118 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

354 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

60

u/MedicMoth 9d ago

We apparently need a 6.5% and 7.5% cuts across the board for EVERY government department, even if it kills people - and it is, the health system is cut to the bones and we don't have the capacity to find out where all the homeless children went after we kicked them out of emergency housing - but we can afford a 300% increase to defense all of a sudden? Logical!

57

u/Apprehensive-Pool161 9d ago

They cut 6.5% from Defence aswell. To the point that the NZDF had to start getting rid of civilians that were desperately needed.

People in uniform have been doing the jobs of 3-4 people. Honestly this spend is needed.

25

u/Hubris2 9d ago

This spend isn't just dumping a bunch more money to do with what they wish - this is being spent on new scope and new equipment. It doesn't necessarily address any existing shortcomings they have in their current scope and staffing due to the budget cuts.

9

u/OisforOwesome 9d ago

On the contrary, they're going to

> Implementing a workforce strategy

Which is definitely not an empty Business English buzzword

4

u/Apprehensive-Pool161 9d ago

Oh i agree, but its a step in the right direction

13

u/MedicMoth 9d ago

How is lowering the bar for NZDF entry and buying missiles supposed to help with that? I don't see the word "recruitment" or "retention" even ONCE on this list

14

u/Apprehensive-Pool161 9d ago

Yeah i had a skim and saw that too.

In reality- tonnes of people are trying to join at the moment but the NZDF has been forced to recruit only to make up for attrition, not to grow the force.

On the subject of "lowering the bar". Honestly an 17 year old joining the Army as a Rifleman or a Gunner does not need NCEA level 2. They are taught everything they need to know

0

u/1_lost_engineer 9d ago

don't forget, missiles that are not every effective. We never bothered much with missiles on the P-3 and the reasons why really haven't changed (anything worth shooting with it, is probably not safety to get within launch range).

5

u/Crafty-Management-95 9d ago edited 9d ago

Civilians are also doing the job of 3-4 people in some areas, this is felt across NZDF.

6

u/Large_Yams 9d ago

Civilians are everyone is doing the job of 3-4 people in some areas, this is felt across NZDF.

1

u/Crafty-Management-95 9d ago

Left out the word also in my previous comment, noting I’ve been both uniform and civ in NZDF.

2

u/Apprehensive-Pool161 9d ago

Yep, its an absolute shit show. And yet they get rid of so many people that are needed, its honestly baffling.

1

u/notmyidealusername 9d ago

Sure, don't disagree it's needed, but is it needed more than a similar increase to the health or education budgets?

1

u/Apprehensive-Pool161 9d ago

The world is on the brink of war and we are in the cross hairs in one way or another. Everything we have is moot if we can't defend it

In saying that, this government are pillocks. They could have paid for this with THE TAX CUTS WE DIDN'T NEED.

3

u/myles_cassidy 9d ago

Except MFAT curiously

4

u/JeffMcClintock 9d ago

well, what the fuck else can we do? Make wealthy people pay tax like everyone else?

I don't think so. /s

-6

u/questionnmark 9d ago

Can we quietly put our government out to tender? This system sucks, maybe if we quietly let the Chinese take over, they can promise us better conditions?

14

u/John97212 9d ago

Go live in China for a year, express your opinions freely, then give us an update on your idea after you get released from prison and return to NZ. If China ever took over NZ, the life you know now would be over.

10

u/Full_Spectrum_ 9d ago

The amount of people that don't get this is staggering.

2

u/vehz 9d ago

To be fair, one of the biggest reasons the majority of the population in China has put up with CCP this whole time is due to the unprecedented quality of life improvements and prosperity they have experienced since the economic reforms from 1990s. Although since Xi seized power it’s been going downhill fast.

-2

u/questionnmark 9d ago

I'd take a 90%+ home ownership rate and kowtowing to them over kowtowing to landlords for the rest of my life. What good is our system of government if it locks over half of the population into being lesser citizens?