Defence chief to get more powers

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 23

Defence chief to get more powers

PA Wellington New Zealand’s more independent defence stance has forced a review of the role of the country’s Chief of Defence Staff. The defence chief did not have the power of direct command but had to command through the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, Defence Ministry briefing ■ papers said. This was suitable for commanding forces which normally worked in close association with allies, the papers said. But it would not func-

tion so well if there were a need for independent action by the New Zea-> land military. Accordingly, laws have been draughted to allow the Chief of Defence Staff to form and command a joint national defence force. The papers, prepared for the new Minister of Defence, Mr Tlzard, said that in January the Ministry had created an Operations Branch under . a brigadier. Within that branch a defence operations centre had been set up to co-

ordinate command information, Intelligence and communications, allowing the Chief of Defence Staff to exercise command and day to day control of national and joint forces. Functions controlled by the defence operations centre included counterterrorist work, civil defence, Antarctic operations, maritime surveillance, disaster relief in the South Pacific, search and rescue, assistance for the police, and exercises.