REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWELLINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Whoever wins New Zealand’s election on Saturday is going to have to make some difficult decisions on investment and staffing for a defence force struggling with aging equipment and personnel shortages.
The centre-right National Party led by Christopher Luxon is expected to emerge as the largest party in the Saturday vote with Prime Minister Chris Hipkin’s Labour Party coming second.
Both Labour and the National Party have said they'd like to increase defence spending but have not promised to do so.
Underspending on the military and the challenges it faces are well documented and it is becoming increasingly difficult to postpone costly decisions, defence analysts say.
The Labour Party has campaigned on a policy of introducing an authority to set pay rates.
Persons:
Te, Romeo Ranoco, Christopher Luxon, Chris Hipkin’s, “, ”, Anna Powles, Lucy Craymer, Robert Birsel
Organizations:
Royal New Zealand Navy, REUTERS, Rights, New Zealand Defence Force, National Party, Chris Hipkin’s Labour Party, Labour, National, ACT, Gross, Centre for Defence, Security, Massey University, New Zealand, Labour Party, Thomson
Locations:
Manila, Philippines, New Zealand, Pacific, South Pacific