‘Very high risk of asset failure’: Defence chiefs’ stark warning for incoming minister Paul Goldsmith

Senior reporter·NZ Herald·24 Sep, 2026 11:00 PM6 mins to read‌In a wide-ranging briefing to incoming Minister of Defence Paul Goldsmith, military officials have outlined infrastructure failings caused by funding constraints. Photos / NZMEDefence force bosses say historical, chronic underinvestment has led to “significant asset degradation” which has compromised its ability to operate “in a deteriorating security environment”.In a wide-ranging briefing to incoming Minister of Defence Paul Goldsmith, military officials have outlined infrastructure failings caused by funding constraints. That includes issues that