New Zealand increases military budget to enhance defense capabilities

New Zealand's Defense Minister Andrew Little has announced an increase in his country's defense spending, stressing that budget 2023 delivers the biggest pay increase in over a decade for defense personnel, and builds on the Government's record investments in upgrading New Zealand's military capability."Defense personnel contribute to a more peaceful and secure world both on and offshore. With climate change and an increasingly contested geo strategic environment including in our Pacific neighborhood it is important that New Zealand has the personnel and equipment to play our part in supporting global peace and security," Andrew Little said in a statement carried by the official website of the New Zealand Government."The pay of many NZDF personnel, including new recruits, and skilled lower ranked service people will increase between $4,000 and $15,000 from July 1," he said."By investing over $419 million to boost the defense payroll we can continue to maintain, and attract, the skills, experience and expertise our personnel provide at home and abroad, as well as addressing cost of living pressures," he added."Budget 2023 also invests a further $328 million in upgrading our Defense Force assets and infrastructure to ensure we can better work with our partners to meet our commitments here, in the Pacific and abroad," New Zealand's Defense Minister said.