After talks with his counterparts in Canberra and London, Defence Minister Dr Wayne Mapp is heading to Krakow in Poland for a meeting of the member countries in the Nato-led International Stabilisation Force in Afghanistan. Like other countries NZ will almost certainly be coming under heavy pressure from the Obama administration to step up its commitment as part of American efforts to make inroads into the Taleban’s hold on vast regions of Afghanistan. But NZ’s resources are stretched to meet current commitments and there is little likelihood the Govt could respond to any fresh request for troops.

Mapp’s first priority as Defence Minister will be sort out the problems of equipment and resources inherited from the previous Govt, particularly the $500m Project Protector contract for the navy. The delivery of 6 new patrol ships has been delayed by more than a year because of warranty problems. The new multi-role ship Canterbury has been plagued by problems. Mapp has indicated some of the ships might never meet contract specifications.

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