New Zealand's niche force is smart defence

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is a strong-minded woman who sticks to her guns. Back in 2001 she slashed NZ's tiny air force and navy, and committed the money she had saved to enhancing her lightly armed but well-trained infantry. There were howls of protest from admirals and air mashals, but she has delivered what she promised. NZ's army is still small, but it is a well-trained, well-equipped and workmanlike force with a lot of operational experience. And they are handy to have at your side in a fight. Now she has backed her vision of NZ's defence with some serious extra money. Last week New Zealand's Labour Government announced that it would increase defence spending by $NZ4.6 billion ($A4.3 billion) over the next 10 years. Now they spend about $NZ1.2 billion a year - so even allowing for some creative accountancy that is a very big increase. Most of the money will not be spent on major new equipment, but on the basic sinews of capability - meeting the rising costs of personnel and operations.