The government is defending its spending of more than $20 billion to upgrade the country's defence hardware, in what it calling a "humanitarian plan."
Included in the spending is more than $1 billion on five new Super Hercules aircraft to replace those bought back in 1965 and 1969.
The Defence Minister Ron Mark said the military is more-often used for aid purposes than for war.
Dr Robert Patman is a professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Otago. He talks to Susie Ferguson.
