N.Z. to seek help in buying frigates?

Press, 23 February 1987, Page 3

N.Z. to seek help in buying frigates?

By

PETER O’HARA

NZPA staff correspondent London Wellington will ask Canberra for help in buying two new frigates for the Royal New Zealand Navy because of the country’s growing defence dependence on Australia, “The Times” newspaper said on Saturday.' A report from a Canberra correspondent said New Zealand was being “forced to turn increasingly to Canberra for its defence needs in the aftermath of the A.N.Z.U.S. split.” New Zealand strategists hoped that a memorandum of understanding would be signed next month between the defence establishments of the two countries, linking them with Canberra’s projected construction of new frigates, “The Times” said. It claimed that New Zealand sources foresee Canberra would asked to act as a “conduit” for the new frigates. “New Zeaianh hopes to replace at least two of its ageing frigates in this way,” “The Times” said. European firms had submitted design proposals for a frigate type, eight of which would be built in Australia. New Zealand had also agreed on an sAust3o. million ($36.3 million) contract with Australia for Army rifles recently and was understood to be interested in buying from Australia a Swiss Air Force trainer being manufactured there, “The Times” said. “None of these deals is a direct consequence of Washington’s decision not to renew a memorandum of understanding which has allowed New Zealand to buy defence supplies at special rates. But they reflect the importance in defence that Australia has assumed for New Zealand.”

The report said strains were evident on both sides in the wake of the split between the United States and New Zealand over Wellington’s antinuclear policy.