The Royal New Zealand Navy recently introduced three high-speed, 41-foot Littoral Manoeuvre Craft to its fleet of nine ships, and is now testing the Australian-made 22-foot uncrewed surface vessel Bluebottle. But the service has struggled to operate all of its maritime platforms amid recruiting and retention woes. In January 2023, a third of the Navy’s ships were docked due to a shortage of sailors, causing a loss of “significant flexibility,” the service’s top officer, Rear Adm. David Proctor, told Defense News. On Nov. 15, the Defense Ministry closed a request for information about replacing nearly the entire naval fleet.
The Navy’s flagship — its 568-foot replenishment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa — has been in service for three years, but the remaining eight ships will reach the end of their service lives in the mid-2030s. The development of the Defence Capability Plan is a process that explores a range of investment options to balance capability and resources. As we continue to deliver our mission, recruiting continues to be a major challenge, but key measures and recruiting initiatives are underway to address the issue. The Royal New Zealand Navy is currently regenerating following recruiting challenges and is focusing on new and upgraded capabilities while maintaining personnel and operational competencies. Prospectors are excited about the policy of capacity building and the development of a body of knowledge in maritime security and strategic matters. New Zealand relies on multinational organizations and the rules-based international system to advance its interest, that was confirmed after the impact of China’s maritime growth. The fleet is also considering uncrewed capability as part of a solution set for the future Navy.
