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Never before has there been a time when the New Zealand Armed Forces have gone through such radical changes like it has within the last 5-10 years. For years subsequent governments turned a blind eye to the upkeep of our Defense Forces and only replaced what was already falling apart to what was costing the government more to fix, and replace parts, than it was operating them. With the disbanding of our Air Combat Wing brought about a serious gap within the Armed Forces ability to be able to train and maintain at least a combat role for our Navy and Army. All three armed services rely heavily on their ability to train and maintain operational effectiveness within each of the overall triads capabilities, and if you have one part of the armed services lacking air support this does not bode well for the security of our other parts.

However if New Zealand is to maintain a credible fighting force along with our partners then some serious long term decisions will need to be made regarding our ability to train and maintain, upgrade and most important of all the ability to deploy rapidly equipment over vast distances.

The following are "gaps" that need attention so New Zealand can operate independantly.

Royal New Zealand Navy.

The Labour government's policy on the Navy's strategy is good. But we have a fundamental weakness by not having a third ANZAC frigate or similar that is able to operate at the same level with the same equipment as the current ANZAC frigates. Why I mention this is for two reasons:

1-If we have one ANZAC frigate in dry dock for refitting and maintenance we have only one for deployment if an emergency arose. Another ANZAC would give the RNZN more options and put the "teeth back into the tiger". I think in light of the current Naval support assets that go abroad with the Anzac frigates, including the HMNZS Canterbury and HMNZS Endeavour, and the 2 OPVs, if they were deployed in a danger zone, we are extremely boarder line on making sure the maritime element of cover is there with just one or two ANZACs.

2-Currently our ANZACS are overworked. That means the ANZACS will need more maintenance work. Currently there is a stress on meeting our Exercise arrangements to keep the Navies systems at operational readiness, and Personnel working at levels required at war level, and Persian Gulf obligations with our partners, as well as putting stress on our personnel shore leave.

The OPVs will provide a limited option for operational use, but not in the capacity if

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