Defence Force planes purchase 'fair' - Winston Peters

The Defence Minister is being urged to scrap plans to put missiles and bombs on board the new aircraft that will replace the country's old P-3 Orions. Ron Mark has announced the purchase of four new P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the United States, at a cost of $2.3 billion. The planes are similar to the commercial Boeing 737, but can be fitted with missiles, torpedos and solar technology specially designed to hunt submarines. The Green Party's defence spokesperson, Golriz Ghahraman, said it was a continuation of the old war-style obsession with weapons, and had made that opinion clear to Mr Mark. Guyon Espiner discusses the deal with Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters.