Defence:

The National Party believes that while the New Zealand Defence Force should focus on the protection and patrol of our maritime border and Exclusive Economic Zone, we must still maintain the international obligations we have to our allies. We live in an insecure world, and National believes New Zealand should play our part in keeping it safe. We have a direct interest in ensuring our partners enjoy the same peace and prosperity we do, both for global stability and the safety of New Zealanders at home and abroad. Our Defence Force also helps at home – they’re vital in responding to natural disasters, and helping secure our borders. New Zealand has the world’s fourth largest exclusive economic zone, covering almost 10 per cent of the planet’s surface.

As a nation of traders, it’s critical we police our borders and waters. That's why National is committed to upgrading our fleet of maritime reconnaissance aircraft to P8 Poseidons, and investing in a new simulator for the our NH90 helicopters. We'll also scrap what’s left of the RNZAF's planned F-35 fleet acquisition following the Green government's decision to reduce the amount of aircraft below operational capacity, and sell off the fighters that have been purchased. With these funds, National will look to acquire IAI Heron UAVs to help patrol our exclusive economic zone and our sizable search and rescue area. We'll also look to promote Asian an Pacific military co-operation by pursuing an integrated military command with Australia and training fighters with Singaporean defence forces at Ohakea.

Aside from conventional defence forces, National recognises the importance of our security and intelligence services to the greater well-being of the country. We understand that our intelligence agencies have a significant role in curbing extremist violence at home and abroad, and that we need to ensure that cyber-security infrastructure is in good shape. Last time we governed, we ensured that NZSIS had the increased funding it needed to ensure that staffing shortfalls would be alleviated. We addressed concerns about transparency by implementing new standards of oversight when it comes to the intelligence agencies in our country. In this light, we will continue to push for strong, accountable cybersecurity and intelligence services.

The National Party will:

• Ensure that New Zealand continues to have an active military presence internationally. We believe that it is a moral imperative that New Zealand uses our Defence Force to aid the defenceless overseas and we will work with our international partners to achieve this.
• Invest in a simulator for the Defence Force’s NH90 helicopters. We’ll purchase a $42m flight simulator to help train our RNZAF pilots for service in our recently acquired NH90s.
• Continue the upgrade of our P3 Orion fleet to P8 Poseidons. We’ll continue to pay off the cost of updating our marine reconnaissance aircraft and ensure that our Exclusive Economic Zone is patrolled effectively.
• Reverse cuts by the current government to the New Zealand Army Reserve. The number of reservists will increase from 2,300 to 3000 and undo the Green-led government’s decision to lay off nearly a third of our Army reserve.
• Investigate the purchase of unmanned aerial vehicles to operate internationally, and to supplement our marine reconnaissance aircraft in patrolling New Zealand’s EEZ and search & rescue zone. We will retire the Lockheed Martin F-35 fleet and halt all future acquisitions following the Green-led government’s decision to reduce the fleet below operational capacity.
• Pursue an integrated command structure with Australia in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. We will work to coordinate military organisation and present a united front to regional threats, in addition to maintaining stability in the Pacific region.
• Work with Singapore to allow fighter training at Ohakea. Singapore is a vital ally and building defence ties through joint training initiatives helps keep New Zealand safe at home and abroad.

Foreign Affairs:

New Zealand was, is, and always will be a trading nation. Free movement of goods and services between nations is integral to global economic prosperity, and this is no less true for New Zealand. Our wealth depends on purchasing goods that we cannot produce cheaply, and exporting ones that we can for higher prices on the international market. Therefore, New Zealand must promote a trade policy which allows for the free movement of goods, and must promote a diplomatic policy which allows for a stable global community, in order to further free trade and the economic prosperity of our nation. We cannot tolerate the continued willful neglect of trade policy that has been demonstrated time and again by the Greens.

Part of this involves having a capable executive which can conduct international diplomacy - an ability severely weakened by the passage of the Americanist International Transparent Treaties Act. If elected, National would repeal this legislation to restore the executive and its power to conduct diplomacy. The National Party is a strong supporter of free trade agreements and the abolition of barriers to free trade, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. In a fourth term in government, the National Party would seek to join the CPTPP and attempt to undo the damage done by this left’s policy of protectionism.

The National Party believes that New Zealand should maintain and strengthen her traditional alliances, seek to maintain good relationships with neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region, ensure the national security of New Zealand, and protect human rights abroad. New Zealand’s role as a leading nation in the South Pacific should also be maintained, but not at unnecessary expense to the taxpayer. We should send aid to neighbouring states in time of disaster, attempt to prevent conflict as a regional diplomatic leader, and stand up for liberal democratic values in Pacific governments. We will actively stand up against despots and oligarchs who undermine liberal democracy if elected. One such way is by instituting autonomous sanctions legislation, and we will use these means to take on those individuals and states who undermine human rights and global security. We also realise that the carrot must also come with the stick. In this spirit, we will work to initiate a ‘Pacific Pivot’ as we move closer to our development aid goals. Our neighbours have come under the influence of potentially malicious actors and we must provide a liberal democratic alternative.

The National Party will:

• Join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. National will sign New Zealand up to a trade deal which comprises 13.5% of the world’s GDP and which includes some of our largest trading partners.
• Investigate removing tariffs on goods not produced in New Zealand. This will reduce the cost of goods for every New Zealander, while not reducing our bargaining power in free trade negotiations or unfairly disadvantaging local producers.
• Repeal the International Transparent Treaties Bill to allow an elected government to conduct international diplomacy, without a meaningless vote in Parliament. Any implementation of treaties into New Zealand law already requires a bill to pass through Parliament and the changes made by the Second Green Government only demeans our constitutional principles.
• Remain open to immigration and oppose any further reductions. National will also re-open the Parent Resident Visa to ensure that immigrants can care for their families, and so that more money stays in New Zealand rather than being spent overseas. We will also work to expand seasonal worker visa eligibility to fulfil our country’s needs.
• Adopt a private refugee sponsorship scheme as seen in Canada. By allowing people to come together to support groups in need, we enable communities to take action and serve the vulnerable. New Zealand must be a compassionate country, and refugee sponsorship facilitates that.
• Pass our Autonomous Sanctions Bill so New Zealand has freedom to act on human rights and security concerns. New Zealand currently has a regime based on the recommendations of the UN Security Council, but it lacks the ability to impose sanctions on those oligarchs and states which put our country at risk or violate human rights.
• Move closer towards our 0.7% of national income development aid target and establish a roadmap to reach it. This aid will be dedicated more closely in our region as we initiate a ‘Pacific Pivot’ to regain influence in the region. As a part of this initiative, we will establish our own Pacific Development Bank.
• Push for new diplomatic outreach and funding for embassies abroad. New Zealand gains much from establishing centres of influence and we will make a concerted effort in this area.