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New Zealand minister says defense, security funding to help raise capabilities

Xinhua, May 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

New Zealand's defense and intelligence services are receiving extra government funding to buy equipment and infrastructure that will enable them to face international challenges, Finance Minister Bill English said on Thursday.

The extra funding included 301 million NZ dollars (202.18 million U.S. dollars) over four years for the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to undertake domestic, regional and international security risks, English said in the annual Budget to Parliament.

The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) would receive an extra 179 million NZ dollars (120.23 million U.S. dollars) to remain effective in a rapidly evolving environment and 20 million NZ dollars (13.43 million U.S. dollars) for a new national Computer Emergency Response Team to fight cyber-attacks and cyber-crime.

The government's 2016 Defence White Paper, which would be released soon, would confirm investment in major capabilities and infrastructure to deliver defense policy to 2030, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said in a statement.

The new funding would give the NZDF greater options in responding to changes in the security environment and provide for increases in a wide range of operational areas, such as personnel, and costs associated with new and improved capabilities.

"It will also enable the continued introduction into service of new and upgraded capabilities and the regeneration of defense properties," Brownlee said.

The funding for the NZIC - comprising the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) - would strengthen protective security, counter-terrorism and information assurance, NZSIS and GCSB Minister Christopher Finlayson said.

"New Zealand is not immune to global threats such as cyber-attacks and the risks posed by extremist groups such as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). Proper resourcing is critical in an increasingly complex international and domestic security landscape," Finlayson said.

A two-year strategic capability resourcing review had analyzed the government's security and intelligence requirements and confirmed that significant investment was needed for the NZIC to remain effective.

"This investment allows significant staff recruitment and further extends the NZSIS's ability to respond to the threat from foreign terrorist fighters," he said. Endit