US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says New Zealand is "freeloading" from the American military because of our low military spend.

The remarks were made at an Asia-Pacific security conference in Singapore, attended by Defence Minister Chris Penk.

The New Zealand Government has already announced plans to lift defence spending to around 2% of GDP over coming years — nearly double what we currently spend — but Hegseth says allies should really be aiming closer to 3.5%.

That raises some big questions. At a time when New Zealanders are worried about the cost of living, hospitals and public services, why should defence move up the priority list? What are the risks if countries like New Zealand don’t step up militarily?

Defence Minister Chris Penk joins Tim Beveridge to discuss.

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