The Prime Minister is standing by New Zealand's planned defence spending, after Pete Hegseth's accused New Zealand of freeloading off the American military.

The US Secretary of War has used a global security summit in Singapore, to call on US allies to lift defence spending to 3.5 percent of GDP.

He says New Zealand's goal to bring defence spending to 2 percent of GDP within the next eight years doesn't go far enough.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says New Zealand's economy isn't big enough to invest that kind of money into defence spending.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Prime Minister is standing by New Zealand's planned defence spending, after Pete Hegseth's accused New Zealand of freeloading off the American military.
The US Secretary of War has used a global security summit in Singapore, to call on US allies to lift defence spending to 3.5 percent of GDP.
He says New Zealand's goal to bring defence spending to 2 percent of GDP within the next eight years doesn't go far enough.
Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says New Zealand's economy isn't big enough to invest that kind of money into defence spending.
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on Pete Hegseth accusing New Zealand of freeloading off the US military

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f7d4fec2-096a-4b7d-848a-b45d0056f170/transcript