The Government has allocated $25 million over four years to modernise New Zealand Defence Force training as part of Budget 2026.
The funding will cover the design stage of new training programmes for recruits and others, and prepare business cases to build infrastructure. The Budget states the investment is "essential for Army regeneration and readiness, and to ensure combat capability".
A further $16 million over four years has been allocated to set up a Defence Technology Accelerator unit, meant to work with the advanced technology sector on military tech for the NZDF and possible export. The allocation falls short of earlier indications that $100-300 million would be spent on the accelerator by 2029.
Other defence allocations include $10 million for extra staff to do preparatory work on defence-wide digital modernisation, and $1.3 million for a mission command training site at Linton camp.
The Budget allocates $30 million per year for remuneration uplifts for military and civilian personnel. Hayden Ricketts, a retired Lieutenant Colonel and director of Mission Homefront, said the figure was insufficient: "That $30m ... won't even touch the sides. That's not even an inflation adjustment. I think that's an insulting figure to throw at defence force."
The NZDF faces retention problems and the Budget includes $5 million per year to recruit for trades and critical tasks.