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The Chief of Defence says the military will have to ‘pause or turn off’ a ‘raft of things’ as a result of a budget blowout.
It appears New Zealand is caught up in the investigation of a leak of classified documents that contain the US’s assessment of Israeli plans to attack Iran.
It’s not known exactly why the HMNZS Manawanui hit a reef and sank off the coast of the Samoan island of Upolu, but early reports suggested engine failure.
As host of this year’s meeting, New Zealand is playing a central role in shaping the future of Pacific security at a time of rising aggression from Beijing.
The Defence Ministry warns international rules-based system is increasingly being ignored by some states, leading to a higher threat level for the Pacific.
Drones, sophisticated fighter planes, surveillance aircraft, and possibly even a British aircraft carrier will now play a role in joint exercises.
An estimated 2,000 people remain buried under tonnes of rubble, with continuing instability hampering recovery efforts.
New Zealand is to increase defence spending by $571 million to bolster its capabilities in ‘an increasingly unstable world,’ Minister Judith Collins said.
