New Zealand Plans Steady Rise in Defence Spending
Defence Minister Chris Penk announced that New Zealand aims for a steady upward trajectory in military spending to reach two percent of GDP within eight years. The government is currently evaluating options for new frigates and drones to enhance regional surveillance and interoperability with allies.
New Zealand plans to double its military spending to 2% of GDP over the next eight years through steady annual increases. Defence Minister Chris Penk, who became defence minister in April replacing Judith Collins who retired after a long political career, announced the target ahead of the opening of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday, May 29. The move signals a shift toward deeper integration with Western allies to counter regional security challenges.
### Modernizing the Pacific Fleet The government allocated NZ$1.58 billion ($924.62 million) in new defence funding within its 2026 budget to upgrade ageing hardware. Wellington is currently prioritizing the replacement of two Anzac-class frigates and the HMNZS Canterbury support ship. During a panel discussion at the dialogue on Saturday, Penk noted that officials are evaluating procurement options from the United Kingdom and Japan.
