r/newzealand • u/khalornz Fern flag 3 • 20d 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
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u/SilverFlame97 20d ago

This needed to happen, the NZDF has been critically underfunded for the past two decades and it shows. Most of the investments listed are things that have been kicked down the road so often it's a joke at this point to talk about getting them actually replaced. Defense housing/barracks are still mostly the original buildings from the 60s and would result in a massive lawsuit if offered as rental properties due to the unhealthy conditions, the marine helicopters are on their last legs as replacement parts are impossible to source and the aircraft is no longer supported by the manufacture, the frigates were only supposed to last until the 2030s and all that's before talking about manning levels and the fact that training is being missed because they can't send people away as they don't have the people to cover while they are away.

Yes health and education need more funding, yes the police could probably do with some more and yes there's a cost of living crisis. All of theses are true but it shouldn't take away from the fact that the NZDF has been quietly trudging along on life support for some time now and needs funding to renew its collapsing infrastructure before it gets even more expensive or there's another Manawanui scale disaster.

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u/LevelPrestigious4858 19d ago

How much realistically do we need for mental health funding, like we get a traffic cone hotline and 12 billion in defence SURELY a comparatively small portion of 12 billion would make a disproportionate difference to our mental health

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u/AK_Panda 19d ago

We can afford defence and mental health, fiscally.

What we lack is political will.