Peeni Henare: Time to commit to real, substantial investment in capabilities

Much of what is heralded as ‘new’ for Defence in Budget 2024 is actually old news, and it fails to provide new investment necessary to address pressing challenges, writes Hon Peeni Henare.

Naturally at this time of year, all eyes are on the Government and their budget announcement. As the Labour Party Spokesperson for Defence, it is my duty to scrutinise the government’s decisions, namely those that will have an impact on our Defence force.

The recently announced 2024 Defence budget exposes glaring deficiencies going forward.

Overall, the decrease in funding is of huge concern. We know that Defence bases its work programme on long-term vision, long-term planning, and long-term security of funding. Unfortunately, Budget 2024 provides none of these, and doesn’t seem to make any effort to address any of the mounting concerns for our Defence Force.

Defence is in desperate need of new investment. Much of what is heralded as ‘new’ in this budget is, in fact, old news. The Government has re-announced several projects and investments initiated under the last Government.

Both the upgrade of the NH-90 helicopters, and the replacement of the aging Pinzgauer trucks were announced by the last Government, only to be re-baked for the Minister’s recent pre-budget announcement. While the continuation of both these projects is a welcome effort, there are calls for further investment looking forward.

We are also pleased to see further investment in this year’s budget for improved remuneration, something that the Labour Government heavily invested in through the previous two budgets.

The Government however, is no longer investing into our Defence Estate, infrastructure that our Defence Force relies upon, and serves as an incentive for recruitment and retention which is why urgent investment is necessary.

Our current capabilities are aging fast in a sector that is forever evolving, and without substantial new funding we risk falling even further behind the global standard for a modern military. One of the most pressing issues is our aging Boeing 757s.

The Defence Force relies heavily on the 757s for transport, both domestically and internationally. These planes have valiantly served us for more than 20 years, however in recent years they have become notorious for their frequent breakdowns, causing significant disruptions and highlighting the urgent need for modern replacements.

As the funding for the four new P-8A Poseidons, and the five new C-130J aircraft wind up, there would be no better time than now for the Government to look to invest in a replacement for the 757s.

Budget 2024 is a missed opportunity for the Government to give an indication to our Defence Force that their future is in good hands. It fails to provide the new investment necessary to address the pressing challenges faced by our Defence Force.

Repackaging old announcements does not equate to progress. We need a bold, forward-looking strategy that equips our military with the tools they need to protect our nation both domestically, and internationally in a geopolitically turbulent time for our part of the world.

It is time for the Government to commit to real, substantial investment in our defence capabilities.