Latest news with #PhilPennington
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Judith Collins Tells Security Summit NZ Setting Up Space Squadron
Phil Pennington The Defence Minister has told a security summit New Zealand is setting up a space squadron against a backdrop of rising threats. Judith Collins told the high level Shangri-La inter-governmental conference in Singapore the Air Force's 62 Squadron would be reactivated. She also told the summit that as New Zealand doubled its defence spending, "We need to ensure that we are building capabilities that are effective into the future and this is particularly true for the domains of space, cyber and undersea warfare." In World War Two 62 Squadron ran radar operations in the Pacific in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands, including in the Guadacanal campaign. "The 21st century 62 Squadron will again turn to the skies, it's just going to be a little bit higher this time," Collins said, appearing on a panel talking about cyber, undersea and space challenges. Reuters previously reported the squadron would be reactivated in July with 15 personnel in what was a symbolic step to formalise the significance of the space work the Air Force was already doing. Collins told the summit New Zealand was also working with its partners to "leverage out launch capabilities and our other unique advantages such as a lack of immediate neighbours, to support our shared security interests". The United States recently confirmed it was in talks with several partner countries, including New Zealand, about the potential for more military satellite launches in future - though Collins had said she was not "directly" engaged with that, and the NZ Defence Force said launch contracts were a matter for the US and private company Rocket Lab that has spaceports at Mahia and in the US. "No nation can work on space alone," Collins told the summit, while pointing out "we beat Russia" for the number of rocket launches last year. Transparency around space, cyber and undersea developments was key to avoid misunderstandings, she said. China's senior colonel Shen Zhixiong said the militarisation of space and other emerging technology domains had accelerated, undermining collective security, asking the panel how the international community should resolve that. Collins herself had noted New Zealand's reliance as a small state on a rules-based order. Also, she noted satellites were increasingly crucial and "increasingly attractive targets for hostile action" despite the big downsides of using weapons in space. She singled out Russia, and claims from US lawmakers that Moscow was developing a nuclear weapon for use in space, for special mention. The $12 billion defence capability plan that covered till 2029, and aimed by 2032 to double New Zealand defence spending, would make the NZDF "increasingly lethal", she told the summit. The plan featured investment in space systems (up to $600m by 2029), cyber (up to $300m) and "for the very first time" in maritime surface and subsea drones (up to $100m) to surveil what was happening in New Zealand's vast ocean surrounds, she said. However, Budget 2025 provided only $30m for space shared with a range of other "small-scale" projects; it had no funding for maritime drones, only for aerial counter-drone systems. There was an undisclosed amount for "an initial uplift to the defensive cyber capabilities" from 2025-29, Budget 2025 said. A lot of money is still having to be poured into conventional kit - replacing both the Navy's maritime helicopters, and the old, breakdown-prone two 757 planes operated by the Air Force.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
No money in Budget for 'key' drone
Last week's Budget had nothing in it for a key type of drone the government says is crucial to transforming the navy. Phil Pennington spoke to Corin Dann. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Defence Force could get more 'killer drones'
By Phil Pennington of RNZ The Budget shows the Defence Force's growing push into the drone warfare will focus first on "counter-drone" systems. This is one of about a dozen initiatives in the Budget signalled already in the Defence Capability Plan last month. All up, there is $4.2 billion in capital and operating funding for the initiatives, most of it being spent over four years, although, in many cases, just how this is divvied up is withheld due to commercial sensitivities. The government already signalled the NZDF could get more 'killer' drones, to add to its existing small stable of surveillance drones. However, the Budget documents referred instead to a counter-uncrewed aerial system that "can be set up in fixed locations and is able to disable drones". Companies in Australia have been working on these, and they have become a fixture in the Ukraine-Russia war. The projects under the Defence Capability Plan dominate the Budget: The biggest capital spend over the four years, as signalled, is to replace eight old maritime helicopters with five new ones - no new details are forthcoming on that. An upgrade of anti-armour Javelin weapons and replacing the two old 757s that are routinely experiencing embarrassing breakdowns, make the list. The Javelins would allow defence to engage tanks "at longer ranges". However, there is no mention of other new missile strike capability, though both the DCP and Defence Minister Judith Collins have repeatedly referred to getting new missiles. There is also no mention of spending on space capabilities, which the DCP had envisaged hundreds of millions going towards. Large sums are set aside with $60 million a year for maintaining the air force's capability, $50 million for the army and $39 million for the navy. Defence Minister Judith Collins said earlier a key constraint on the extra spending is having the personnel to handle that. The Budget provides $8 million for pay rises per year for civilian personnel, and $38 million a year for military allowances (these range up to about $100 a day for uniformed staff in the field or at sea). Savings include $13 million from 2024-27 on the army's new Bushmasters getting high-tech communications installed. These vehicles would likely be crucial for any peacekeeping in Ukraine. The project had been rephased, the Budget said, but it is not clear what that means. There is $16 million across four years for the project to fix many leaky and substandard homes for personnel; and $25 million to planning and design to revamp the Devonport Naval base. Unlike the UK that slashed its international aid budget to fund more defence spending, the Budget maintains the foreign aid budget at about what it was - $1 billion a year. The Budget halves the amount that had been going into a special climate aid fund, reducing it from $200 million a year to $100 million, and also expands what that money can be spent on. This fund had faced a cut-off in January.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Southland Hospital staff told not to chat more than 5 minutes a day
By Phil Pennington of RNZ Some Southland Hospital staff have been told they can only talk to each other for a maximum of five minutes a day, complaints to a union show. The staff were also instructed not to take breaks together. The complaints arose among staff at Southern Clinical Records and Coding, where a source told RNZ there had been tensions for five years. The staff "literally cannot talk to each other" as soon as they walk through the office door, the source said. Health New Zealand Southern said it did not have a 'no talking' policy, but the issue has still not been sorted out, despite Health NZ holding an "amicable" meeting in March. "The PSA has not resolved the issues here," the union told RNZ yesterday. "This is an issue between members and management." Emails between the Public Service Association and Health NZ's southern district - released under the Official Information Act - detail what the union organiser said were five "significant" concerns. "Requirements that there be no talking during the day - other than for five minutes in the morning," said a PSA email in February. "This prevents members supporting each other when difficult or upsetting things arise in their work, but it also feels very uncomfortable, unnatural and unduly restrictive. "We would be interested in discussing with you, what the intention and aim of this direction is, with a view to agreeing on a more nuanced approach." Other complaints were about leave applications, career progression and an outdated bonding agreement Breaks were also an issue. "We understand that members are not allowed to take their breaks together. Again, this seems unduly restrictive and uncomfortable - and we would like to discuss alternative approaches with you." The source told RNZ: "It may seem hard to believe, but this is the reality." HNZ denies 'no talking policy' Asked by RNZ for evidence of any 'no talking policy' in the hospital department - and who imposed it and why - Health NZ said: "Health NZ Southern does not have a 'no talking' policy, as such, this part of your request is refused... as this information does not exist." The emails released under the OIA show that after a meeting with the PSA in early March, southern district team leader Sue Clark told the director of quality and clinical governance solutions, Dr Hywel Lloyd, that they talked through the issues and "the meeting ended amicably". The union wanted to meet on a quarterly basis, Clark said. A PSA email in March reflected that. "Normally I would not start management engagement with such a list of issues," wrote the organiser, "and I am sorry that that is how it worked out in this case. I do think it would be useful to keep meeting regularly." But the complaints have not been sorted out, according to the PSA yesterday, while HNZ told RNZ back in March: "We can advise that discussions/actions relating to the matters raised are ongoing." The PSA said it "understands this is a localised issue and we are working through it with our members affected". It worked with all members and "many employers" to promote a healthy workplace culture, it said. Lloyd told RNZ there had been no personal grievances or formal complaints from records and coding staff about management in the past year. "There have not been any other concerns raised with HR in relation to Southern Clinical Records and Coding staff for the past five years." It was "standard practice and part of our effective working relationships policy" to encourage staff to raise any concerns with their managers, either directly or through their union representative "to enable the resolution of matters at the earliest stage and at the lowest level possible", Lloyd's statement in March to RNZ said.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Southland staff told not to chat more than 5 minutes a day
By Phil Pennington of RNZ Some Southland Hospital staff have been told they can only talk to each other for a maximum of five minutes a day, complaints to a union show. The staff were also instructed not to take breaks together. The complaints arose among staff at Southern Clinical Records and Coding, where a source told RNZ there had been tensions for five years. The staff "literally cannot talk to each other" as soon as they walk through the office door, the source said. Health New Zealand Southern said it did not have a 'no talking' policy, but the issue has still not been sorted out, despite Health NZ holding an "amicable" meeting in March. "The PSA has not resolved the issues here," the union told RNZ yesterday. "This is an issue between members and management." Emails between the Public Service Association and Health NZ's southern district - released under the Official Information Act - detail what the union organiser said were five "significant" concerns. "Requirements that there be no talking during the day - other than for five minutes in the morning," said a PSA email in February. "This prevents members supporting each other when difficult or upsetting things arise in their work, but it also feels very uncomfortable, unnatural and unduly restrictive. "We would be interested in discussing with you, what the intention and aim of this direction is, with a view to agreeing on a more nuanced approach." Other complaints were about leave applications, career progression and an outdated bonding agreement Breaks were also an issue. "We understand that members are not allowed to take their breaks together. Again, this seems unduly restrictive and uncomfortable - and we would like to discuss alternative approaches with you." The source told RNZ: "It may seem hard to believe, but this is the reality." HNZ denies 'no talking policy' Asked by RNZ for evidence of any 'no talking policy' in the hospital department - and who imposed it and why - Health NZ said: "Health NZ Southern does not have a 'no talking' policy, as such, this part of your request is refused... as this information does not exist." The emails released under the OIA show that after a meeting with the PSA in early March, southern district team leader Sue Clark told the director of quality and clinical governance solutions, Dr Hywel Lloyd, that they talked through the issues and "the meeting ended amicably". The union wanted to meet on a quarterly basis, Clark said. A PSA email in March reflected that. "Normally I would not start management engagement with such a list of issues," wrote the organiser, "and I am sorry that that is how it worked out in this case. I do think it would be useful to keep meeting regularly." But the complaints have not been sorted out, according to the PSA yesterdat, while HNZ told RNZ back in March: "We can advise that discussions/actions relating to the matters raised are ongoing." The PSA said it "understands this is a localised issue and we are working through it with our members affected". It worked with all members and "many employers" to promote a healthy workplace culture, it said. Lloyd told RNZ there had been no personal grievances or formal complaints from records and coding staff about management in the past year. "There have not been any other concerns raised with HR in relation to Southern Clinical Records and Coding staff for the past five years." It was "standard practice and part of our effective working relationships policy" to encourage staff to raise any concerns with their managers, either directly or through their union representative "to enable the resolution of matters at the earliest stage and at the lowest level possible", Lloyd's statement in March to RNZ said.
