Wigram likely to remain intact

Press, 7 October 1988, Page 1

Wigram likely to remain intact

By

DAVE WILSON

Recommendations for substantial changes in New Zealand’s Defence command structure and defence-owned assets will be among the findings of Mr Derek Quigley’s Defence Resource Management Review. But Mr Quigley hinted yesterday that his report was unlikely to recommend any sale or scaling down of Air Force activities at Wigram. “We see special features associated with Wigram that justify its retention,” he said.

Mr Quigley, a former National Cabinet Minister, is in the final phase of a year-long study to evaluate the Armed Forces’ organisational and land needs for the 1980 s. His review has attracted speculation that many Defence establishments, occupying prime real estate in the main centres, might be sold. Mr Quigley said his report would be submitted to the Government in time for its deadline of December. While reluctant to disclose de-

tails of his findings, he said it would be fair to assume that substantial changes would be recommended and that physical Defence assets and the command structure were likely areas. The Quigley review has involved visits and detailed study both throughout New Zealand and in Australia, Norway and Britain. “I visited Britain because our structure and system of command is modelled on theirs, Australia because the Tasman relationship is of considerable importance to New Zealand, and Norway because it is of a comparable size with New Zealand.” Mr Quigley said Norway offered a useful comparison because its threat environment differed from New Zealand’s and its defence command structure was significantly different from that of both Australia and New Zealand. In certain areas of defence. structure, New Zealand could learn from the Norwegian system, he said. His review of New Zealand

defence assets and resources was essentially looking for the most efficient use of the available resources.

“It is assisting the military in bridging the gap between what they require on capital equipment and what the Government is prepared to fund.” Mr Quigley said some news media speculation in recent months concerning possible sales of prime real estate had not been helpful to the consultancy team preparing the resource review.

He said that the resource review took into account the present Anzac study team’s evaluation of possible shared flying training between the R.N.Z.A.F. and the R.A.A.F. But Mr Quigley said no purpose would be served speculating on the possible outcome of that study, due to be completed by the end of this month. Nor did he wish to pre-empt the review conclusions by discussing the future of specific parcels of Defence real estate or the future of specific military bases.