Freeze Military Spending & Rethink Foreign Policy

Aotearoa is known on the world stage as a progressive, peaceful nation, and our Government should ensure that our policies are consistent with that reputation by putting people and the planet first. Proactive spending on wellbeing for people and the environment would go much further in ensuring peace and security than investing in the large global powers’ wars and aggression.

We spent over $6 billion on Defence in 2024/25, while Aotearoa is considered one of the safest countries in the world and there is no threat of military invasion. The extra $12 billion of spending on the military is happening because the US government demands it - not because our country needs it. 

Focussing on a “combat-ready” military with soldiers and weaponry doesn’t address the real threats to our security. A defence force ready for overseas combat cannot stop the emergencies caused by climate change, pandemics and earthquakes; or encroachment on fisheries; trade tariffs; cyber attacks and lone-wolf terrorism. We need to reconsider our place in the world and focus on these realistic existing threats.

Our small, isolated country will only be in danger of attack if we are locked in with a major military power that’s threatening another major power. We can be a much more effective voice for a peaceful world if we become a non-aligned country.

Meanwhile, essential public services in healthcare, education and social welfare have been defunded, resulting in growing distress and increased inequality, with negative effects on vulnerable citizens.

Defence cost us $16.46 million a day [1] in 2024-2025. Consider a few examples of what that level of defence funding could be spent on instead [2]:

Non-alignment. A policy of non-alignment is protective: if we are not militarily aligned with any major world power, we are less likely to be caught up in overseas wars or subject to attack. Non-alignment means we could protect our trading relationships without having to fight other people’s wars.

Invest in civil defence/ emergency management. Emergency preparedness requires resources, transport, communications, and trained leadership. Community-based civil defence builds community in quiet times and provides local support after earthquakes or during severe weather events.

Maintain adequate shipping, aircraft, and technology to protect fisheries and support Pacific neighbours. Surveillance ships and planes do not need to be armed for war. Support and aid to Pacific island nations is important to Aotearoa New Zealand as a good Pacific neighbour.

Show leadership for peace. As a small and geographically isolated country, we have shone in international affairs through moral leadership, from the setting up of the United Nations to our principled Nuclear-Free policy and our successful “guitars not guns” peacekeeping role in Bougainville. Now is the time to renew our independent foreign policy and focus on the real threats to our security.

Please sign and share this petition with your family and friends. Together we can develop a truly independent foreign policy, ensure sensible spending and lead the world in peace-making.

1.  If the new spending goes ahead, that number will be closer to $25 million a day, roughly $9 billion a year. And the government said that is just the beginning. 
2. Data Sources: