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HON MARK BURTON
Minister of Defence
THE GOVERNMENT'S DEFENCE POLICY FRAMEWORK - June 2000
Other Issues
- The Government will address some other specific issues which are consistent with its broad defence strategy. These include:
- Consideration of the Defence National Real Estate Review. There will be full public disclosure of any proposals for real estate rationalisation.
- Reconsideration of the recommendations of the 1991 Review of Defence Funding.
- A review of NZDF pay, allowances and other conditions.
- A review of accountabilities and structural arrangements between the Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force.
- A review of the Defence Act to cover the deployment of NZDF personnel overseas on warlike operations.
Conclusions
- Defence policy decisions made now are important. East Timor has highlighted the need to ensure that New Zealand can respond quickly and effectively to situations which require our involvement. We want to be sure we have the resources and capability to get on with the job.
- The Government's defence policy outlined in this statement envisages a coherent set of roles and tasks for the NZDF. These include protection of New Zealand's interests including our maritime interests, our alliance commitments to Australia, contingencies in the South Pacific, and peace support and relief operations further afield. There is a consequential set of priorities for force development and capital investment. The Government accepts that this could mean a reduced range of capabilities.
- The roles and tasks of the NZDF in the Asia-Pacific region and globally will be met by the commitment of appropriately trained, equipped, and deployable forces. Under the Government's defence policy New Zealand will continue to have a high quality force structure which keeps abreast of technological developments, is affordable and can be sustained over the longer term.
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