Home / New ZealandCherie HowieReporter·NZ Herald·4 Jun, 2026 09:00 PM5 mins to read‌Former Defence Minister Ron Mark reveals why he thinks New Zealand's defence spending is 'a joke'.Under-resourced New Zealand military personnel are “stealing stuff” to get by, former Minister of Defence Ron Mark says.Both Defence Minister Chris Penk and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) rejected Mark’s claims, saying he offered no evidence.

Mark – a former soldier – told Nadine Higgins yesterday underspending on

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