Q08189

Should New Zealand have a strong Defence Force?

Do you think New Zealand should have a strong Defence Force? Simply ‘no’ because if we do rearm other countries will feel threatened, tax payers will have to pay more and New Zealand can not afford to keep the military equipment they have now let alone the new aircraft and army vehicles the defense force has recently purchased. New Zealand does not need a strong defense force.

Over the last ten years the New Zealand Defence Force has slowly been rearming with new modern equipment for the Air force, Navy and Army. This is causing other countries to feel threatened because New Zealand’s military capability is slowly becoming strong. Our closest neighbor Australia has just spent over $950 million on new fighter jets for there Air force. This was caused because they feel threatened that New Zealand is slowly becoming strong. It’s not only Australia that feels threatened but its other small countries like Samoa and indiadosia who are also becoming strong. New Zealand does not want a war on our hands so the rearming stage must come to a complete stop in order for New Zealand to be safe.

Did you notice the tax went up in 2001 and again in 2005? Well this was caused from the New Zealand defence force buying new modern helicopters for the Air force costing over one billion dollars. Now at this point New Zealand has a major problem. They can not afford to pay one billion dollars. The government then put the tax up and got the citizens of New Zealand to pay for the new modern equipment we don’t need. Today the tax is still high and we are still paying for the Defence Force equipment.

The New Zealand Defence Force plans to upgrade and replace most of the aircraft and army vehicles we already have in the New Zealand Defence Force for more modern equipment. Simply the Defence Force can not afford to keep the aging military equipment they have now let alone new modern equipment that cost thousands of dollars to run. The Defence Force can not afford to keep any modern aircraft in the air. Our Defence Force plans to buy nine NH-90 transport helicopters for the air force costing $771 million. Can New Zealand really afford this?

Definitely the New Zealand Defence Force does not need to be strong because other countries will feel threatened like Australia, also the tax will rise and reach extreme measures and finally New Zealand as a small nation country can not afford the military equipment they have now let alone the new modern aircraft they plan to buy. New Zealand does not need a strong defence force.