Correspondence.

• Author: Goff, Phil
• Position: Letter to the editor

Sir,

In your January-February edition (vol 31, no 1), David McCraw attempts to portray a Labour government whose security policy is ideologically constrained, that will not spend money on the defence of New Zealand and is unsympathetic to the views of our friends and allies.

Mr McCraw's assertions are wrong, and his analysis is not supported by Labour's record in office since 1999.

Labour has made significant investments in building a modern, combat capable defence force, with the right equipment and skills to protect New Zealand and its strategic interests.

It is a matter of public record that this government has committed more than $3.5 billion to update and replace the range of obsolescent equipment bequeathed to us by National. Our spending programme has rejuvenated and reshaped a defence force that tinder the previous administration was inadequately funded, ill-equipped and unsure of its purpose.

The purchase by this government of new light armoured vehicles (a state of the art platform with a sophisticated gunturret) and new light operational vehicles, including special operations variants, has significantly enhanced the New Zealand Army's mobility, allowing it to deliver more fire power, more quickly, in a greater range of situations.

We have also contracted significant upgrade programmes for our C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orion fleets worth over $600 million. We have bought two Boeing 757 aircraft that are soon to be converted from a straight passenger configuration to a combination passenger/freight role.

We are, in addition, buying new state of the art medium utility helicopters and will replace our Sioux training helicopters.

These investments will provide a more resilient and reliable Air Force, able to deliver the enhanced surveillance and military transport requirements New Zealand requires in theatres as diverse as Antarctica and the Middle East.

Labour has also made major investments in improving the surveillance and operational capabilities of the Navy. A new 9000-tonne multi-role vessel will be able to transport a fully equipped infantry company, with helicopter support, as well as providing other capabilities like seaman training, logistic support, disaster relief and surface patrol.

Six other ships being procured under the same Project Protector will significantly improve our maritime resource and border protection capabilities. The two 85-metre offshore patrol vessels that are part of this package will have the reach and...