WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand’s Defence Force and intelligence agencies are on track to receive almost $4.3 billion (US$2.5 billion) in this year’s budget, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced on May 28. The NZDF is among the handful of government agencies exempt from trimming their budgets by 2% this year. Their funding includes $2.3 billion capital and $1.2 billion operating funding to retain NZDF personnel — currently more than 15,000 people — increase numbers in key areas and