Chinese P.L.A. Navy ship Hengyang in Tasman Sea, 2025 (Australian Defence Force). Days after China fired the first of two missiles into the south Pacific, the fallout continues. It is the first time that I am aware of any nation deliberately test firing missiles in this part of the world. It follows an earlier incident … Continue reading China’s very unwelcome missile testing in south Pacific
N.Z. Defence Force spending priorities in 2026: My take
An R.N.Z.A.F. 757-200 in 2024. These are due for replacement (R. Glennie) It is generally recommended that O.E.C.D. countries spend about 2% of the G.D.P. on defence. According to World Bank data, O.E.C.D. expenditure as a percentage of G.D.P. ranges from Israel spending 8.8% to Ireland, which spends 0.2% of its G.D.P. on its military … Continue reading N.Z. Defence Force spending priorities in 2026: My take
Defence spending increases; no change in nuclear free Aotearoa
H.M.N.Z.S Te Mana during Operation Crucible, 2022 (Source: N.Z.D.F.) The fiscal budget last week announced a significant - and long expected - increase in defence spending. It is one that I for a change, approve of as I have long viewed New Zealand as under-investing in the New Zealand Defence Force. What came as a … Continue reading Defence spending increases; no change in nuclear free Aotearoa
Lest we forget the price of New Zealand at war
Remembering the price of war: crosses for fallen N.Z. personnel (R. Glennie) In 2018, I stood in W.W.1 trenches in near the Belgian town of Ypres, a town outside of which five significant battles were fought in W.W.1. The worst was Third Ypres (Passchendaele), with about 550,000 Allied and German soldiers killed. Third Ypres was … Continue reading Lest we forget the price of New Zealand at war
New Zealand needs an independent foreign policy
Following the refusal by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters to acknowledge the State of Palestine, many people have taken to social media bemoaning the absence of an "independent foreign policy". I thought I would take the opportunity to outline why I think we need one and how it could look. Trump? Xi? Or a … Continue reading New Zealand needs an independent foreign policy