New Zealand to boost defense spending
New Zealand will boost spending on military salaries and upgrades to military capacity and infrastructure. The press service of the New Zealand government made a corresponding statement. The country's Defence Minister Andrew Little announced that the budget 2023 foresaw the biggest pay increase in over a decade for defence personnel, and was based on the Government's record investments in upgrading New Zealand's military capability.
"Attracting and retaining more New Zealanders into our defence force means we need to ensure that wages are competitive. This pay boost helps achieve that," Little said. From July 1, the pay of many members of the armed forces, including recruits and skilled lower ranking service people will increase between NZ£4,000 to NZ£15,000 (1 US dollar = 1.5936 New Zealand dollars).
New Zealand C-130H aircraft. Photo from open sources
According to the Minister, this means that approximately 90% of New Zealand Defense Force personnel "will now be paid at, or close to, market rates". "By investing over NZ£419 million to boost the defence payroll we can continue to maintain, and attract, the skills, experience and expertise our personnel provide at home and abroad, as well as addressing cost of living pressures," Andrew Little said.
Budget 2023 also invests a further NZ£328 million in upgrading our Defence Force assets and infrastructure. Of this amount, NZ£90 million will deliver upgraded aviation fuelling facilities at Ohakea, and another NZ£93 million will provide world class communications to frigates of the New Zealand Navy and new Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles. NZ£85 million will be allocated to improve the defense force's housing with up to 50 new buildings at the Waiouru military base, as well as the initial refurbishment of 13 properties at Burnham, Linton and Ohakea bases.
The first Boeing P-8A Poseidon for the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of New Zealand
In December 2022, New Zealand received the first of four P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft will be used to support New Zealand's peace and security operations, maritime surveillance, resource protection, humanitarian assistance and disaster response in New Zealand and the Pacific.
New Zealand Lockheed P-3K2 Orion surveillance aircraft.
Photo credits: seaforces
Three more P-8A Poseidon are in the final stages of production and will be delivered in 2023.
These aircraft are to replace New Zealand's current fleet of six P-3K2 Orion aircraft.