Mana News editor Joe Trinder

The Royal New Zealand Navy has been unable to board tooth fishing vessels Kunlun, Songhua and Yongding from Equatorial Guinea in the southern ocean.  The defence minister Gerry Brownlee has declared the mission of HMNZS Wellington a success despite the primary objective of a boarding party is to board a vessel, like many New Zealanders I’m confused how that is a success.

I have done fisheries patrols in the southern ocean on board HMNZS Waikato.  The Navy like any organisation has to adhere to strict health and safety policies for example in 2007 when the inflatable Rhib flipped over and caused the death of able seamen Byron Solomon .The seas in the southern ocean are rough and this type of incident could easily happen again trying to board an uncooperative fishing vessel steaming at 20 knots. It’s not worth the risk endangering defence force personal lives boarding these vessels.

To be honest If I was still in the defence force I would be reluctant to risk my life for such a comical character such as Gerry Brownlee. Would thousands of patriotic New Zealanders  storm the beaches of Gallipoli, attack airfields in north Africa or trench through the steamy jungles of Vietnam at the command of Gerry Brownlee not really.

I spoke to Jim Albert a veteran of the Malaysian emergency, the only war communism was defeated in the cold war, I asked Jim would he have fought in Malayasia with Gerry Brownlee as the commander in chief he said “No bloody way”. To be an effective organisation the military needs an effective commander they can respect like Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae. The government needs to reconsider appointing  MP Gerry Brownlee as the minister of defence he just doesn’t come off as a military strategist that could command thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen.