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Labour fires shots over ammunition theft

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Fri, 19 Aug 2011 8:08a.m. UPDATED 10:48AM

Wayne Mapp

Wayne Mapp

By Lloyd Burr

Labour is calling the new “igloo-type” ammunition storage bunkers planned for a Defence Force facility in Auckland a “knee-jerk reaction” to a security breach.

The current facility, in Kauri Point, was broken into two weeks ago and ammunition was stolen.

The Government has now announced the facility will be upgraded with “new igloo-type ammunition storage bunkers, upgraded security systems and a modern explosive processing facility”.

But Labour’s defence spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says the plan is “typical ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’ policy” from the Government and the theft could have been prevented

“The Minister’s announcement is simply two years late…they could have acted on this much, much sooner,” Mr Lees-Galloway says.

“Thorough advice was available to the Minister in 2008 around the upgrade of Defence Force facilities.

“The igloo-type bunkers alongside upgraded security systems and a modern explosive processing facility promised for Kauri Point are measures not dissimilar to those suggested by the last Labour Government.

Minister of Defence Wayne Mapp agrees that the need for an upgrade was “identified some years ago” and says changes have been made to the current facility in the meantime.

“We have stopped using some of the storage facilities and we have ensured that all sites and facilities are properly certified…In the meantime we have put a range of measures in place to ensure that security is maintained,” he says.

“Kauri Point will get the overhaul it needs to make it a modern facility that best meets the expectations of the community and the requirements of the contemporary defence force.”

The new ammunition igloos and security features will cost $7 million.

Mr Lees-Galloway also there are more ammunition storage facilities that need to be upgraded.

“Issues around ammunition storage at Ohakea have been identified as in need of attention. Is the Minister taking any action here or will public safety need to be put at risk before he steps up? The Defence Force deserves a Minister with foresight and leadership.

“The fact of the matter is he sat on his hands, he's hoped the issue would go away, the theft has forced his hand and he's finally acted, but he could have done this years ago,” he says.

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Comments

21 Aug 2011 10:39a.m.

Paul wrote:

johnmillan. Every single 'New Zealander' in this country is either a migrant or a descended from some migrant family and while some of us may have been here a little bit longer than others, not one of us have any more right to anything different than anyone else. Key whom you try to smear as a 'Jew' for example, was born in NZ of migrant parents and is himself a home bred New Zealander. The religion of any person be it Anglican, Jewish, Methodist, Catholic or any of the other belief is their business not yours, and nothing to do with achievement or lack of it as appears to be where you fit in.

21 Aug 2011 07:39a.m.

Brad wrote:

johnmillan, I'd welcome you back but in fairness I havent (along with many others I am sure) missed your bigoted, hate filled, bitter rambling posts for one minute. Normally I wouldnt bother replying to you john as you'll only drag me down to your (gutter) level and beat me with experience but the only person spouting "hogwash" is you.

So to the figures, from the NZ Treasury - no dispute on the accuracy here. The truth hurts doesnt it john? Perhaps you still live in la-la Labour land with heather and jj that money just comes from the pixes?

Perhaps also you have missed the news whilst living under that rock you come from, that in order to fund all of Phlip Phlop Goff's election bribes, Labour is going to have to borrow even more money and introduce more and raise current taxes. So, like I said, a vote for Labour is a vote for more debt and more taxes. Tax and spend! The only way Labour knows how to run an economy.

Finally stop trying to kid yourself that you are a "true kiwi". No "true kiwi" would post such a bigoted anti-semitic rant. So, do us all a favour and crawl back under the rock you came from and stay there.

20 Aug 2011 01:54p.m.

johnmillan wrote:

Brad what a utter lot of hog wash you write about, just like the rest of the nats on here,and I forgot that this is a Nat web site,but if the truth hurts it is why they fight back on here.As stated Key will have plenty of time too sort his OWN mess out,this is true, Yes three months and 1 day to do it in.Yes it is good to display figures when they add up to nothing,like you have posted. More borrowing by National,it has not slowed down any yet,It wont as they must keep the money flowing through to the rich.Brad if you are a true born and bred Kiwi you would not post such crap as you do,thank goodness there are a few of us true Kiwi!s left in the country,but being led by foreigners and a jew is very disgraceful.I would rather have 20 poms running unions than one jew crippling the place we were born in and call our country,and not born and immigrated here in another country and call it theirs Just like many Nat supporters do as why did they not stay in their own country and come here too stuff up our once good living,less crime etc.

20 Aug 2011 12:26p.m.

Brad wrote:

heather & jj, how wrong you both are. You both - perhaps - may be aware of the global financial crisis that devastated the global economy from late 2007? The economy in early 2008 - on Labours watch - went from a $3.79b surplus to a $394m deficit, a $1b increase in ACC liabilities, reduced tax intake of $700m and the Cullen fund recording a -6.18% return or a deficit of $911m. Its all fun and games running the country when the global economy is booming, but its fiscal mismanagement hit the Labour party right between the eyes when times got tough. Happily Key will have plenty of time to sort the mess out.

The current Labour economic strategy? Ah yes, the old chest nut - tax and spend. Phlip Phlop Goff has already signalled more taxes and more borrowing.

So, come November, the choice is simple for NZ. If you want greater taxes and more debt - just vote Labour.

19 Aug 2011 09:06p.m.

Kiwi wrote:

Key has a big mess to clean up......himself that is....It's a shame that somebody the likes of Winnie will end up having to clean up the mess left by Smiley and cronies..

19 Aug 2011 07:49p.m.

jj wrote:

Heather how very true you are,Yes mouthguard should try some mouthwash that may cure his brain also.What he is x military,what was he in the army cadets in the 1950-1960 times,as he would not have served in the army,as he would have been court marshaled through his blatant lies through made up stories.Or maybe he was in the Girl Guides or brownies in the 50-60 era and got suspended from school.

19 Aug 2011 04:09p.m.

heather wrote:

bigmouth some of us remember the last labour government well , we remember 9 surpluses in a row, we recall 2.5% unemployment , we recall growing of the nations economy . we recall super savings , we recall the getting rid of cash machines out of hospitals , we recall the getting rid of intrest free student loans , we remember well low inflation . see people as mouthguard says national people see that as a mess that must be fixed see how mental the nats are ? lol . mr key said before the last election a month before the last election the economy was doing well . silly peple letting the mainstream media brainwash you like this . people like mouthguard are a lost cause key could be cought with kids and he would still be in here voting national .

19 Aug 2011 03:15p.m.

Paul wrote:

Gordon McShean. Perhaps you need to be more like 'Robert the Bruce' and learn the ways of the spider?

19 Aug 2011 12:44p.m.

Gordon McShean wrote:

My personal experiences concerning the removal of armaments from defence facilities may provide a useful perspective on the significance of this event (even if mine happened more than 50 years ago). It appears that NZ certainly needs to upgrade security functions at defence facilities - especially if these functions can be perceived to have a relationship to US militarism. The most significant action that I was involved in (taking rifles, machine guns and ammunition from UK army cadet facilities at Johnstone in Scotland was significant (you can read about it in my memoir RETIRED TERRORIST, Trafford Press, 2010). Its importance lay not only in demonstrating the inadequacy of the existing security measures, but in showing that the court's and the media responses can be manipulated for political purposes. In that instance one of my fellow raiders was captured (I was never officially identified as a suspect, but I believe I might still technically be viewed as being "on the run"). His arraignment was a joke, since the court did not want to acknowledge a political motivation (we were Scottish Republican Army); he was summarily found guilty of theft, and one newspaper provided a minor notation in the back pages. This practice appears to be effectual for embattled authorities: Scotland does not yet have independence, and I remain a frustrated exile abroad! The question relating to the NZ situation needs to be asked: is there a political aspect to the handling of the arrest of this young man - and what is the motivation in failing to identify the larger aspects of the situation (the potential complications concerning costs and New Zealand's security commitments abroad?).

19 Aug 2011 11:48a.m.

Ricardo wrote:

Is there nothing Labour won't whinge about. It's not really true that all publicity is good publicity. Labour needs to understand that.