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Five Royal New Zealand Navy Seasprite helicopters have been sold to Peru, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee announced today.

“Our recent purchase of eight new, more sophisticated Seasprite helicopters meant the older model Seasprites were available for sale and a deal has been struck with the Peruvian Government for them to buy them for their Navy,” Mr Brownlee says.

As well as the helicopters, Peru is buying spares and the Maverick missiles which are used with the helicopters.   

Gerry Brownlee Defence
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Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee will visit Fiji today in an initial move towards rebuilding defence co-operation and engagement between New Zealand and Fiji.

“Following their successful elections on 17 September, Cabinet has agreed to lift the last remaining targeted measures against Fiji,” Mr Brownlee says.

“This will allow Defence to move toward rebuilding cooperation.”

Mr Brownlee will be accompanied on the visit by the Vice Chief of Defence Force Air Vice Marshal Kevin Short and Deputy Secretary Defence Tony Lynch.

Gerry Brownlee Defence
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Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has today announced the awarding of nine New Zealand Gallantry Awards that recognise the outstanding courage shown by members of 1NZSAS Regiment while serving in Afghanistan.

Gerry Brownlee Defence
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Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee is today making his first visit to the home of the Royal New Zealand Navy and welcoming the Navy’s newest recruits into New Zealand’s armed forces.

Mr Brownlee will be Reviewing Officer for a combined graduation parade of 89 junior officers and trainee sailors at the Devonport Naval Base.  The largest graduation of the year will include weapons handling and ceremonial drill displays, attended by family, friends and the wider Navy community. 

Gerry Brownlee Defence
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Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel held bilateral talks in Washington today.

Mr Brownlee is in Washington as part of his first official visit to North America as the Minister of Defence, where he also visited the United Nations in New York, and attended the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Gerry Brownlee Defence
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Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says a Royal New Zealand Air Force P3 Orion aircraft will remain in the Gulf region for another 12 months to provide ongoing support to regional maritime operations.

“New Zealand has had a P3 Orion supporting international counter-piracy operations as part of the Combined Maritime Forces since earlier this year and that deployment is coming to a close,” Mr Brownlee says.

“The Orion has performed a valuable role that has been welcomed by our international partners.

Gerry Brownlee Defence
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Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee travels today to the United States and Canada for calls at the United Nations in New York, attendance at the Halifax International Security Forum, and a bilateral visit to Washington, including a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. 

“The United Nations Secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day operations of 16 current peacekeeping deployments, and I’m glad to be visiting it so soon after our recent election to the United Nations Security Council,” Mr Brownlee says.

Gerry Brownlee Defence
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Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee confirmed today that the New Zealand Government has ruled out sending troops in a combat role to Iraq.

“However, we acknowledge that some form of capacity-building is clearly required if Iraq is to have a future as a law-abiding democratic country and this will need to include a modern Iraqi military to maintain peace and security,” Mr Brownlee says.

Gerry Brownlee Defence
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Senator David Johnston and his New Zealand counterpart Gerry Brownlee met in Perth today for the annual Australia-New Zealand Defence Ministers’ Meeting.

Both Ministers were pleased to have the opportunity to meet in advance of the opening Centenary of ANZAC event at Albany on 1 November.

The next four years of Centenary of ANZAC commemorations will demonstrate that the Australia-New Zealand defence relationship, forged on the battlefields, remains strong 100 years after the start of World War I.

Gerry Brownlee Defence
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The Minister of Defence Gerry Brownlee leaves for Australia today for the annual Australia-New Zealand Defence Ministers’ Meeting, and to participate in the Albany Convoy Commemorative Event.

The event marks the 100th anniversary of the Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Expeditionary Force troopships meeting then departing together to sail for Egypt.  Many of the soldiers on that voyage would be sent to Turkey to fight in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.

Gerry Brownlee Defence