The Weapons Industry
The Currently, there are 39 companies that are part of the NZ Defence Industry Association (NZDIA). This is a nice name that really means weapons trade. Further, there are more than 50 companies that are part of the Manawatu Defence Cluster. This is a business network of over 50 war profiteers (some are also members of the NZDIA) that supply goods and services to armies around the world. These companies have links with key Defence organisations within New Zealand and overseas. The weapons industry in New Zealand has several types of companies involved. Some companies produce components which are used in conventional weapons and support systems. Some are owned by multinational companies which manage nuclear weapons facilities overseas. These include companies such as MAS Zengrange in Lower Hutt that manufacture weapons firing control systems and communication systems for mortar and artillery batteries. Ordnance Development Limited, based in Wanganui, manufactures special purpose ammunition, training ammunition and Anti Material ammunition. Serco Group, the parent company of Serco Project Engineering (based in Upper Hutt), helps manage Britain's atomic weapons facilities where British nuclear weapons are designed, manufactured and refurbished.What’s wrong with a weapons industry?
Weapons producers are also called war profiteers because they exist to make money from bloodshed and violence. Every time ammunition is used or a weapon deployed, it is money in the bank for these companies. These companies conduct extensive research and product testing for the extra advantage that will make their weapons, training systems, or components best sellers with militaries and mercenaries around the world. Here in NZ our tax dollars are supporting this so-called ‘research’. In 2003, Trade and Industry NZ gave $100,000 to Flexisolutions to develop its jungle-sweeper grenade. This item was described as likely to be popular with anti-terrorism forces. Along with these grants, Trade and Industry assist members to capitalise on export markets. Members of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MOD) are active supporters and participants in NZDIA activities. They participate through their Industry Liaison Managers who work closely with New Zealand companies, to promote commercial opportunities in the supply of products and services.Read about some of New Zealand's weapons companies:
- Rakon Rakon has become an important supplier of specialised components for a range of guided weapons systems made by Rockwell for the US Government, most recently for a new generation of weapons.
- Oscmar A bid to export military-style equipment to Israel's Ministry of Defence was rejected during the diplomatic row over the arrest here of the suspected Mossad spies, yet NZ officials have cleared 30 other contracts.
- Right Hemisphere "Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday that the Cabinet had agreed to lend Right Hemisphere up to $US8m ($NZ12.2m) over three years to keep the joint-venture company and its staff in New Zealand... The company designs software for several US military suppliers, including Black Hawk helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft, Bell Helicopter, Halliburton, the principal supplier to US armed forces in Iraq, and Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defence contractor." Right Hemisphere's website proudly proclaims "9 of the top 10 U.S. Aerospace and Defense companies" as customers