The long-awaited New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) White Paper proposes retaining and enhancing naval combat capabilities and boosting overseas deployment capability, but calls for big cost savings.
It said the Government expected that by 2014/15 the NZDF would free up $100 million from the Defence Transformation Programme and $250 million
to $300 million from other value for money initiatives.
The report said New Zealand and its associated states were "highly unlikely" to face direct military threat over the next 25 years, but increased pressure on maritime resources and an increased risk of illegal migration were likely.
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