Ron Mark MP
Deputy Leader of New Zealand First
Spokesperson for Defence
20 SEPTEMBER 2016

NAVY DIVERS TO LOSE SUPPORT SHIP; NO REPLACEMENT IN SIGHT

With the Royal New Zealand Navy set to retire its diving support ship, HMNZS Manawanui in 2018 several years before its replacement, New Zealand First is questioning National’s defence commitment.

“When you think the government cannot do worse with defence, they go and surpass themselves,” says Ron Mark, New Zealand First Defence Spokesperson.

“HMNZS Manawanui, the floating base of the navy’s operational dive team, is to be decommissioned in less than two years and right now, her replacement is a only a collection of online tender documents.

“It has to be remembered that Manawanui helped to survey the wreck of the Princess Ashika in 2009. Not only that but she, along with the Inshore Patrol Vessels HMNZS Rotoiti and Taupo and the tanker Endeavour, responded to the MV Rena’s grounding in 2011.

“As it stands Endeavour is on her last legs while Minister Brownlee wants to axe several Inshore Patrol Vessels and soon we’ll be down to one frigate for the next two years because of upgrades.

“It gets worse because the navy’s hydrographic surveyors lost their ship in 2012 and they have to wait until at least 2020 to get back to sea on the same ship that the navy’s dive team will use.

“Despite being signalled as far back as 2010, six years ago, this new vessel is at least a year from being ordered.

“It seems this National government is proving to be just as inept when it comes to defence procurement as Labour was,” Mr Mark said.

ENDS

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