Today we are thinking of our people this 110th ANZAC Day since the ANZAC Cove Landings. We remember those who served and never returned home and those who did return but were forever changed by the violent events they witnessed in the two World Wars and all wars since where brave New Zealanders have been involved. Lest we forget.
Youth Parliament 2025
I am pleased to announce that Ryan Higgins from Opaheke has been appointed and confirmed as my youth Member of Parliament for this year. His tenure starts on 28 April 2025 and ends on 29 August 2025. He will spend two days in Youth Parliament in Wellington hosted by the Ministry of Youth Development.
Youth Parliament is an incredible opportunity, and I know Ryan will make the most of his time at Parliament. One of the things I want to emphasise is that being an MP is first and foremost about being a representative. Ryan will be encouraged to engage with peers and others in our community and to find out their views particularly on the topics to be discussed at Youth Parliament 2025.
ANZAC DAY 2025
It was good to see many of you at the parades at the Papakura and Drury Cenotaphs today ANZAC Day 2025 which is the 110th anniversary of the ANZAC landings at ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli.
It is a solemn day for remembering those who have served our country across the world in times of war since 1915.
It is based on this proud record of international service, that I am honoured to be the Minister of Defence and able to get funding allotted that will ensure that our Defence Force personnel across the three disciplines of army, navy and AirForce, are equipped and trained to continue to provide support.
The support we can provide to our neighbours and friends in the Indo Pacific, the Red Sea, the Middle East and Europe ranges across surveillance, peace keeping, disaster relief, supporting the international law of the sea in regard to safe passage, protecting economic zones, preventing smuggling and stopping other illegal operations. If our Defence Force people intercept threats while doing this work, they must be able to respond effectively to the threats.
For these activities New Zealand Defence Force people need the right equipment and the right training, which is why the Defence Capability Plan has been prepared.
Spending is planned for air transport like helicopters and large aeroplanes to replace the aging 757 Boeings, new land transports and modernised digital systems.
We need the right training for people who are going to use the equipment and to service it to maintain a high level of operability. Purchases will keep in mind that our personnel should be able to work with Australian forces with minimal training or upskilling and maximum inter-operability.
Our spending of $9billion of new funding over the next four years which a poll suggests over 50 per cent of voters’ support, will be partially spent with New Zealand manufacturers of equipment like drones. It will also be spent to upgrade bases like Devonport and Ohakea.
The Defence Capability Plan is intended to be a 15-year roadmap for defence spending that will lift to 2 per cent of GDP by 2028.
It is my opinion that more money for defence is not about beating the drums of war or choosing sides in a potential future conflict but about protecting what we have.
Some have criticised the increased spending as a step away from an independent foreign policy, but in this world, this must be our foreign policy.
Pope Francis’ funeral
It was sad to hear of the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday and like many Christians I feel that he was a good man, a humble man who served his people to the very end with the best of intentions.
He did many good deeds for individuals as well as for the crowds and many populations on all the continents. He served one billion Catholics across the world including 450,000 in New Zealand.
The Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will represent New Zealand at the funeral for the Pope in St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, after attending Anzac Day services in Gallipoli today.
Space Symposium in Colorado Springs
I enjoyed meeting with my international colleagues to discuss the Space Sector at the 40th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs earlier this month.
New Zealand is a big player in Space these days, as we conducted the third highest number of launches into space last year.
New Zealand and the State of Colorado have agreed to deepen relationships and offer opportunities in aerospace, quantum and geothermal technologies and beyond.
To this effect I signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Colorado State Governor Jared Polis while attending the Symposium.
The Memorandum of Cooperation formalises that we’re on the same page when it comes to the things that will drive economic growth, including research and development, company exchanges and relationships, regional technology hubs and innovation ecosystems that advance strategic industries using aerospace and quantum technology and geothermal technologies and more.
Increasing collaboration will be a win-win for those looking to invest in New Zealand companies or start-ups, and the same applies for those looking to invest in opportunities in Colorado.
The Memorandum of Cooperation can be found on the
MBIE website.
My best wishes to you all, especially those with families and children heading back to school,
Judith
Hon Judith Collins KCMP for Papakura 
