DEFENCE
COVID-19 response and National’s continued commitment to NZDF As election time draws near, Opposition defence spokesperson Hon Mark Mitchell reiterates his party’s commitment to continuing Defence Capability Plan investment and developing relationships with strategic partners.
Hon Mark Mitchell is the Opposition Spokesperson for Defence, the previous Minister of Defence, and a former Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee.
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The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is multifaceted and a critical part of the crisis management network in New Zealand. When New Zealand faces a domestic crisis, we must be confident that our Defence Force will not shy away from its responsibilities. As the former Minister of Defence, current Opposition spokesperson for Defence and a concerned Kiwi, I am proud of the work the NZDF has done, and the support it continues to provide by way of stepping in to fill the gaps of this leaky Government’s Covid-19 pandemic response. Just as communities were getting their feet back under them, and businesses were assessing their ability to survive, we shouldered another strong blow as a result of the pandemic; when New Zealand moved to Alert Level 2, and Auckland to Alert Level 3. With high-risk zones and
Kiwis continuing to return home from overseas, we have also seen significant pressures on our border and managed isolation and quarantine facilities. It is reassuring to know our Defence Force are well trained and prepared to provide immediate support where required. With Auckland now in Alert Level ‘2.5’, I have been able move throughout my electorate and the wider Auckland region, speaking to members of the community about their experiences during the second lockdown and reintegration into their ‘normal lives’. The feeling out there is that the NZDF is well trusted and confidence in them and their efforts are at an all-time high. Since Covid-19 reached our shores in March, New Zealand has committed considerable resources to ‘Operation Protect’, with more than 1,000 Defence
Line of Defence
