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Subject: Clark concedes NZ election to Key
Volkodav    11/8/2008 6:26:44 AM
I wonder what will spin out from this, RNZAF regaining an air combat capability instance? Wasn't the RNZN interested in aquiring a couple of Collins in the early days, might the Collins replacement be of interest now? ___________________________________________________________________ The Australian November 08, 2008 NEW Zealand will have a new centre-right government with a National Party coalition winning today's general election. Prime Minister Helen Clarke has phoned National leader John Key and conceded the election. It brings to an end the nine-year-old government of Helen Clark's Labour Party. With most of the vote counted, the centre-right National Party led by former foreign exchange dealer John Key had 46 per cent of the vote, which would translate to 59 seats in the 122-seat parliament. The center-left Labor Party, which is seeking a fourth three-year term, had 33 per cent of the vote, translating to 43 seats. "It's the fifth time I have contested an election as leader of the Labour party and I've been very proud to lead Labour... but as is obvious to all, tonight has not been our night," she told supporters. "In politics we all experience the highs and the lows ... tonight is a night for the winners to savour, but we won't be going away." Mr Key will need the support of minor parties to have enough seats to govern. The results give National 59 seats and ACT 5. United Future leader Peter Dunne adds one seat, making a total of 65. Labour has 43 seats, the Greens eight, and they are joined by Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton for a total of 52. National has campaigned hard on a message of change, citing Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election as a mandate for fresh approaches to tackle the global financial crisis. Labour have campaigned on trust and the leadership of veteran Clark, the country's first elected female leader, who is still widely respected despite her party's slump in the polls. There are about 3 million registered voters, out of a population of about 4.3 million. It is compulsory to be enrolled to vote, but voting itself is not compulsory. Over the last three elections, voter turnout has averaged 80.9 per cent. Reuters, AFP & agencies
 
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Aussiegunneragain       11/8/2008 8:35:53 AM

I wonder what will spin out from this, RNZAF regaining an air combat capability instance? Wasn't the RNZN interested in aquiring a couple of Collins in the early days, might the Collins replacement be of interest now?
I'd say that there is about a zero percent chance that the NZDF will be getting any new or previously retired combat capabilities such as an ACC. The NZ public just doesn't see a justification for that and government's who spend a significant amount on such things there don't last very long. I remember the fuss that even the ANZAC frigate purchase caused. It was like the government was trying to purchase a fleet of Trident missile subs the way that people went on.

The National's defence policy is limited to improving procurement, recruitment and retention processes, and publishing a White Paper for future capability directions (see link a below). I personally think the outcome will largely continue the NZLP's direction which is to ensure that the NZDF can work well with Australia in stabilisation and disaster relief ops in the South Pacific, patrol their EEZ, protect NZ from terrorist attack and make niche contributions to UN peacekeeping missions.  It will take  somebody to start lobbing anti-ship missiles around the Persian Gulf or North Asia and an inadequately protected Kiwi merchant ship to get wallopped before they realise that they should never have reduced their naval capability to the levels whcih they have.

national.org.nz/files/2008/defence.pdf
 
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