Prosser Richard: Military Manoeuvres Act Repeal Bill — Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Prosser Richard: Military Manoeuvres Act Repeal Bill — Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 04 April 2012. Volume:679;Page:1666. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
RICHARD PROSSER (NZ First) 
: 
 I am pleased to rise on behalf of New Zealand First to speak to the third reading of the Military Manoeuvres Act Repeal Bill. The possibility of this bill passing and the consequent repeal of the Military Manoeuvres Act 1915 have been a source of great consternation amongst the New Zealand First caucus since our first opportunity to speak on this bill. The bill has gained importance in recent days which was not the case previously. The world is an uncertain and ever-changing place. New threats can and do present themselves without warning and from the most unexpected of quarters. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance and New Zealand must be prepared to meet any new threats as and when they arise.  
Without recourse to the Military Manoeuvres Act 1915 it is altogether possible that our defence forces may not be able to prepare for what New Zealand First has perceived as a possible new threat to our national security. It has come to our attention that a nation with whom we have until recently enjoyed a good—if in some ways inconsequential—relationship may now be emerging as a potential enemy. Thanks—or perhaps it should be no thanks—to recent comments made by the Leader of the House it is possible that Finland may now harbour hostile intentions towards this country. The Finn may I remind honourable members is a capable and noteworthy adversary with a long and proud military tradition and a history of victories over far larger and more powerful opponents.  
Finland is as we have heard in recent days a nation similar to ours in many regards. In terms of population Finland is not very much larger than New Zealand: there are a little fewer than 5.5 million Finns. Unlike us however Finland is well prepared for the eventualities of war. Finland’s defence forces are incomparably larger and more powerful than New Zealand’s. Finland’s professional military numbers in excess of 35000 personnel. It is three times greater than our own. In addition to this Finland employs universal military training giving it an active reserve of more than 350000 trained soldiers. In comparison our own already meagre Territorial Force numbering just 2500 is currently faced with a reduction from three battalions down to two and the loss of some 600 uniformed positions. It would appear that this Government’s continual cost-cutting and downsizing of New Zealand’s military may be a very unwise oversight indeed particularly if we are going to start picking fights with such powerfully armed nations as Finland.  
Finnish forces it has to be remembered defeated Napoleon’s troops and five times between 1918 and 1944 they beat the Soviets before ejecting a superior force of Nazi Germans from the Lapland territory at the end of the Second World War. In the winter war of 1944 the Finns proved themselves to be resourceful and cunning using simple technology and advanced tactics to overcome the Soviet armoured divisions. Finnish soldiers would hide behind the trees as Russian tanks approached leaping out at the last minute to halt the advance of the armour by jamming logs into the tracks and then dashing back into cover. Russian soldiers who ventured from the safety of their tanks to remove the logs would be shot and the ones who stayed inside would freeze to death. Either way the Finns claimed the victory and at the same time availed themselves of much captured Soviet armour with which to continue their fight.  
It would seem that even before they invented the Nokia cellphone the Finns had proved themselves a force to be reckoned with. I do hope that we do not all come to regret Mr Brownlee’s declaration of cultural war against this potentially awesome opponent. The Finnish navy travelling through the Baltic Sea and around the Horn of Africa could reach our shores within a matter of weeks and without recourse to the Military Manoeuvres Act 1915 our own pitifully underfunded and under-resourced defence forces may find themselves woefully short of the preparation needed to meet the threat. Finland’s air force the pronunciation of the name of which I am afraid with my native tongue of English is a feat that I find beyond me includes more than 120 jet combat and trainer aircraft including some 65 F/A-18s of the type flown also by the Royal Australian Air Force which caused such a show at the Ohakea air show in the weekend just gone. They are also used by the Canadians the Swiss and the United States Navy and Marine Corps.  
It is noteworthy that with a population only 15 percent larger than our own the Finns find this level of preparedness not only essential but also completely affordable. Perhaps they are doing something other than manufacturing cellphones that we are not in order to pay for it all.  
In the light of these recent developments and the threat that Finland may now pose to our safety and security New Zealand First is unable to continue with support for this bill. We would urge the House to reconsider its passage and at the same time give serious regard to the level of funding and preparedness we provide to our defence forces. New Zealand First is aware of the proud military tradition also provided by the Sikhs and the contribution they have made to the British Empire in two world wars. We would be terrified at the prospect of a Finnish secret agent being numbered among them. New Zealand First is gravely concerned about this evolving situation and we must oppose this bill. Thank you. 
A party vote was called for on the question that the Military Manoeuvres Act Repeal Bill be now read a third time. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Can I just remind members that when votes are taken they are taken in silence. If they are not and it is otherwise that can be seen as intimidation and can lead to a breach of privilege in the House.