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Can't wait for Nicky NoBoats to shut down this frigate purchase as "wasteful public spending" on "gold-plated" toys for the Navy, and tell them they have to buy a Corolla instead of a Ferrari.
Remember the total cost of iRex was $550 million, and I believe that *included* the port upgrades necessary to accommodate larger ships. That's around half the price of *one* of these frigates, which are totally overpowered for coastal defence.
(2/2)
Can't wait for Nicky NoBoats to shut down this frigate purchase as "wasteful public spending" on "gold-plated" toys for the Navy, and tell them they have to buy a Corolla instead of a Ferrari.
Remember the total cost of iRex was $550 million, and I believe that *included* the port upgrades necessary to accommodate larger ships. That's around half the price of *one* of these frigates, which are totally overpowered for coastal defence.
(2/2)
Oh no, I'm wrong. More like 12-14 iRex deals per frigate;
"With luck, the fully kitted out version will cost (not quite) double the basic construction cost, but a conservative estimate would still put the final tab for New Zealand’s two ships at between $6-8 billion dollars."
#GordonCampbell, 2025
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2510/S00070/on-our-looming-spending-spree-on-japanese-frigates.htm
This tells you everything you need to know about this govt's priorities. It's not cutting spending, and it's certainly not building critical infrastructure.
Hmm, my maths here may be questionable. Gordon says;
"All up, these two new frigates are going to end up costing nearly double the highest estimated price tag for those much-criticised iRex ferries. Go figure."
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2510/S00070/on-our-looming-spending-spree-on-japanese-frigates.htm
So I'm guessing the $550 million figure was just for the ships, not the port upgrades.
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