I am pleased to present the 2008 - 2011 Statement of Intent of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).
The next three years covered by this Statement of Intent will see the fruition of much hard work within Defence on many reviews, programmes, initiatives and projects since the issue of the Government’s Defence Policy Framework in June 2000. The Framework was the origin of a goal to rebuild, reshape and modernise the NZDF so that it could “offer an adequate range of capabilities which are realistically attainable and affordable”. That goal is being attained, and this has been possible through the steady implementation of, and application of the principles contained in, the Government Defence Policy Statement of 8 May 2001, the Defence Sustainability Initiative of May 2005 and the annually updated Defence Long-Term Development Plan (LTDP). These documents, together with the Government’s Defence Policy Framework, remain the cornerstones of New Zealand’s defence policy. Progress has also been made possible by the dedication of the leadership and management teams of the NZDF and the Ministry of Defence.
New Zealand’s primary defence interests are protecting New Zealand’s territorial sovereignty, meeting shared alliance commitments to Australia and fulfilling obligations and responsibilities in the South Pacific. The wider Asia-Pacific strategic environment, of which we are a part, is also relevant. Security includes more than just defence, and focuses on global challenges. New Zealand can best contribute to regional stability and global peace by promoting comprehensive security through a range of initiatives including, but not limited to, diplomacy, development assistance, and continuing to meet its United Nations Charter commitments to the maintenance of international peace and security. While identifying no country as being of direct threat to New Zealand, the Defence Policy Framework makes no assumptions about a continuing benign security environment. It warns that circumstances could change and we need to closely watch developments of strategic importance.
Against this background, the government has set clear goals, priorities and funding commitments for the Defence Force. The investments we are making in defence need to ensure that it produces the agreed outputs which the Government can call on to deploy in support of New Zealand’s foreign and security policy aims, whether it be in a combat role, peace support, or counter-terrorism.
Under the Defence LTDP, all seven new vessels for the Navy will have been delivered by the end of 2008, the two Boeing 757-200 strategic transport aircraft now have upgraded avionics and have been modified to carry cargo - as well as passengers, and the life-extension upgrade of the C-130 Hercules aircraft and the upgrade of the P-3K2 Orion aircraft are proceeding. The military capabilities of the Navy and Air Force have thus been considerably extended. Furthermore, planning for the purchase of new helicopters, both the medium utility (NH-90) and light utility (Agusta-Westland A-109) helicopters, is progressing well, and the plans to support the consolidation of the Air Force at Ohakea are well advanced. The reality of a modernised, well-equipped and sustainable Defence Force, as envisaged in June 2000, is being realised.
However, there is still much to be done. The period 2008 -2011 moves the NZDF into the ‘construction’ phase of the 2005 Defence Sustainability Initiative. With continued funding injections under the DSI Funding Package it is expected that this phase will bring continued growth in military and corporate capability, and more substantial progress in the areas of personnel retention and recruitment, shaping the future structure of the Army, addressing the backlog of deferred maintenance, restoration of the Defence Estate, and restoring contingency reserve stocks. It is also a goal during this period to more readily maintain operational commitments. All of these programmes will require careful management of resources and continuing focus on efficiency and effectiveness by the NZDF. The Defence Transformation Programme, introduced by the NZDF in mid-2006 and covered in this Statement of Intent, will greatly assist in realising the efficiencies being sought.
The contribution of individuals and force elements of the NZDF to various missions around the world continues to be the prime operational focus of the Defence Force. Major deployments continue to Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste, as well as many smaller, but important, missions around the world. The high operational tempo is expected to continue in 2008/09 and beyond, and there remains the potential for the NZDF to have to respond to short-notice, low-level regional contingencies. During my visits to the various missions I have seen how well our servicemen and women are performing their tasks and how well they are regarded by those they are supporting. In all cases I have been impressed by their professionalism and the warmth with which they are regarded by locals. As I have stated publicly our servicemen and women on these operational deployments acquit themselves very well and bring credit to New Zealand.
As well as the contributions to missions overseas, the NZDF continues to contribute significantly to operations and tasks in and around New Zealand, in support of other security-related government departments and agencies. These, including the New Zealand Customs Service, Ministry of Fisheries, New Zealand Police and Maritime New Zealand, for border control, the protection of our Exclusive Economic Zone and search and rescue, reflect a necessary Whole of Government approach, especially in the use of scarce resources. The new vessels of the Navy, especially the Offshore and Inshore Patrol vessels, and the aircraft of the Air Force, particularly the P-3 Orions, work closely with these other agencies.
This Statement of Intent expands on the above matters and continues to forecast the Government’s long-term commitment to a comprehensive approach to security. I am confident that the NZDF will continue to contribute significantly to the wider security outcomes for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
Hon Phil Goff
Minister of Defence
22 April 2008
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