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Defence Force to scrap bands to cut costs

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Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:55p.m.

Members of the New Zealand Army Band perform the Haka before the Rugby World Cup semi-final between NZ and Australia (Reuters)

Members of the New Zealand Army Band perform the Haka before the Rugby World Cup semi-final between NZ and Australia (Reuters)

The Defence Force is looking to scrap seven of its 10 military bands as part of cost-cutting measures to help fund an upgrade of its capabilities.

A consultation document, sent to band members, proposes keeping only three bands - one for each of the navy, army and air force.

The other bands belong to the part-time territorial force units.

The move is expected to save $900,000 each year - money which will be redistributed within the Defence Force to pay for new capabilities and technology, a spokesman told NZ Newswire.

The bands were identified as a savings area in an external "value for money" review, carried out in 2010.

"So Defence went and looked at bands, and decided in these times we could deliver those services in a way that still maintains the uniqueness for each service culture - that's our navy, army and air force - but could be delivered more cost-effectively," the spokesman said.

He says the money that could be saved "represents an opportunity" for the Defence Force.

"For example, in the next few years we need to replace the Endeavour tanker with the navy, new pilot training in the air force, we want new trucks and communication equipment with the army - that's how that money will directly be used."

NZN

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Comments

31 Jan 2012 08:30a.m.

OMG wrote:

You got it wrong. The musicians being shafted are TF or Reserve musicians who get paid minimum wage for only the play outs required + a 2 hr rehearsal every so often. They do not even get paid a retainer. The NZDF don’t even train them - they come already qualified at their own expense through being in civilian bands etc. They are in the military for musical requirements only and costs sweet stuff all. They cost an average of $128,000 each band to run a year. Their advantage over the full time bands is they don’t have the travel & accommodation costs needed as they are local. An interesting fact is you can have over 8 Reserve musicians for every full time equivalent. If money is really to be saved then cut back the full time Army band or move them up north where the work is.

30 Jan 2012 03:57p.m.

jan wrote:

thank you for your insite, TheMantis and InTheKnow.

28 Jan 2012 07:19a.m.

InTheKnow wrote:

Jan, About the LAVs . The number purchased (105) was actually perfect to outfit two motorised infantry battalions. A number are needed to train operators and maintainers as well as a small reserve to replace battle casualties. Additionally, 100% of military equipment will never be available at any one time, it is simply too expensive to achieve. No military force in the world can expect more than about 80-85% availability. The LAVs are world class vehicles and are reasonably expensive to maintain, although only a fraction of the cost of RNZAF or RNZN equipment. Did you know that the Army only has an annual operating budget of just over $100 million? I think the NZ tax payer gets exceptional value from its defence force.

28 Jan 2012 06:52a.m.

TheMantis wrote:

Jan, In the Army the musicians are in the band full time - they do nothing else apart from generic recruit and promotion courses (funnily enough they usually get promoted faster than most other military trades). Reserve Force musicians are generally another military trade and perform in a band as required. Unlike most of last years redundancies reducing the number of bands is actually a good idea. At this time no decisions have been made either way, in fact this "news" has been common published knowledge within the NZDF for the last three months.

27 Jan 2012 04:01p.m.

jan wrote:

Scrap the sports teams too. I would of thought doing the music would be a side activity, is the cost = the cost of each personnal to attend concerts thus taking them away from their actual job in the force? Maybe the money could be used to buy more LAV's than is needed, how about the botched sale of the planes that just sat there and deteriated, or the Charles Upham ship which wasn't 100% sea worthy? By having bands it encourages mateship and fosters a bond which the forces want their people to have. The defence force may in the end have equipment run with personnal who are no longer happy in their work. Value for money big joke from government (any party which is in) when they buy a new fleet of cars. And personally I don't like the music the bands play. Next it will be the uniforms being degraded with cheaper options, food etc. It is cost cutting not value for money.