Editing New Zealand Defence Force (section)

===2020s retention and capability issues===
In 2023, ''[[North & South (New Zealand magazine)|North & South]]'' and [[Radio New Zealand]] reported that the NZDF was experiencing a high attrition rate in the two-year period between 2021 and 2023 due to poor salaries and living conditions at military accommodation.<ref name="North & South">{{cite journal |last1=McKenzie |first1=Peter |title=Defence Force Funding |journal=[[North & South (New Zealand magazine)|North & South]] |date=11 February 2023 |issue=March 2023 |url=https://northandsouth.co.nz/2023/02/11/new-zealand-defence-force/ |access-date=13 April 2023}}</ref><ref name="RNZ April 2023">{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Charlotte |title=NZ Defence Force ongoing staff shortage affected Cyclone Gabrielle response |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018884377/nz-defence-force-ongoing-staff-shortage-affected-cyclone-gabrielle-response |access-date=13 April 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=3 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403070229/https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018884377/nz-defence-force-ongoing-staff-shortage-affected-cyclone-gabrielle-response |archive-date=3 April 2023}}</ref> According to ''North and South'' contributor Peter McKenzie, 77% of NZDF personnel were paid between 5% and 16% less than people in equivalent civilian jobs. By October 2022, the NZDF's military attrition rate averaged at 15.8% (ranging from 12.1% for the Navy and 17.4% for the Army).<ref name="North & South" /> In April 2023, Radio New Zealand reported that the high attrition rate had limited the NZDF's response to [[Cyclone Gabrielle]], its ability to crew three naval offshore patrol vessels, and accelerated the Air Force's decommissioning of its fleet of [[Lockheed P-3 Orion|P-3K2 Orions]]. The Chief of Defence Force [[Air Marshal]] [[Kevin Short (RNZAF officer)|Kevin Short]] also confirmed that a critical shortage of skilled trades including plumbers, electricians, carpenters, Special Forces, Navy propulsion experts and middle managers had led the Force to make two rounds of NZ$10,000 payments in an attempt to convince personnel to remain in the Defence Force.<ref name="RNZ April 2023" />

In July 2024, the NZDF confirmed that it would be investing NZ$490 million to expand and upgrade housing at the [[Waiouru Military Camp]] in partnership with local [[iwi]] (tribe) [[Ngāti Rangi]] over the next 25 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Moana |title=Defence Force's $490m housing upgrade for Waiouru military camp |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/07/16/defence-forces-490m-housing-upgrade-for-waiouru-military-camp/ |access-date=16 July 2024 |work=[[1News]] |date=16 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716001757/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/07/16/defence-forces-490m-housing-upgrade-for-waiouru-military-camp/ |archive-date=16 July 2024}}</ref> In early April 2025, [[Radio New Zealand]] reported that the NZDF had dropped some [[National Certificate of Educational Achievement]] (NCEA) Level 1 and Level 2 enlistment requirements in 2024 in a bid to boost recruitment.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Dwyer |first1=Ellen |title=NZDF drops entry requirements in bid to boost numbers |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/557355/nzdf-drops-entry-requirements-in-bid-to-boost-numbers |access-date=8 April 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=7 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408034301/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/557355/nzdf-drops-entry-requirements-in-bid-to-boost-numbers |archive-date=8 April 2025}}</ref> 

On 7 April 2025, [[Minister of Defence (New Zealand)|Defence Minister]] [[Judith Collins]] announced that the New Zealand Government would be investing NZ$12 billion (US$5 billion) in the NZDF over the next four years to boost defence spending to over 2 percent of [[gross domestic product]]. Key priorities have included investing in enhanced strike capabilities, defence housing, unmanned aerial and aquatic vehicles, replacing maritime helicopters and the [[Boeing 757]] fleet, and upgrading existing military infrastructure at [[Ohakea]] and [[Devonport, New Zealand|Devonport]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schulenburg |first=Rupert |date=12 May 2025 |title=‘Enhanced strike’ capabilities: a reckoning for New Zealand |url=https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2025/05/enhanced-strike-capabilities-a-reckoning-for-new-zealand/ |website=International Institute for Strategic Studies}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Anneke |title=Government unveils $12 billion Defence Capability Plan |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/557432/government-unveils-12-billion-defence-capability-plan |access-date=8 April 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=7 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407083650/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/557432/government-unveils-12-billion-defence-capability-plan |archive-date=7 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="AFP Star 4 May 2025">{{cite news |title=New Zealand to replace navy helicopters over 'global tensions' |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/05/04/new-zealand-to-replace-navy-helicopters-over-039global-tensions039 |access-date=7 May 2025 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=4 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250504074915/https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/05/04/new-zealand-to-replace-navy-helicopters-over-039global-tensions039 |archive-date=4 May 2025}}</ref> On 6 May 2025, Collins confirmed that the Government would allocate NZ$2 billion (US$1.2 billion) from this defence funding allocation to purchasing new maritime helicopters for the Royal New Zealand Navy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Judith |title=New helicopters a commitment to global security |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-helicopters-commitment-global-security |website=Beehive.govt.nz |publisher=[[New Zealand Government]] |access-date=7 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250504111411/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-helicopters-commitment-global-security |archive-date=4 May 2025 |date=4 May 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AFP Star 4 May 2025" />