Hayden Ricketts: Retired Lieutenant Colonel on the Government's new $12 billion defence spending plan

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Apr 7, 2025 · 3m · transcript

A retired lieutenant can't see how a boost in defence funding will fill missing skills and trades.

New Zealand's injecting $12 billion into defence over four years – $9 billion of which is new spending.

It includes enhancing our strike capabilities, replacing the Boeing 757 fleet, and upgrading our javelin anti-tank missiles.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Hayden Ricketts told Andrew Dickens the navy, army, and air force already have more vehicles than they can staff.

He says a commitment to spend more money on gear is great but without more personnel, the plan will fall apart.

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