Will's Word: A wake-up call in a world on edge

So the Government has decided to pump $12 billion into our New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), and honestly, it's long overdue.

For too damn long we've been reliant on the idea that we're at the bottom of the world away from harm and problems - but the world has changed.

From China expanding its influence in the Pacific to Russia's full-blown invasion of Ukraine, it's clear now more than ever that we live in a far more volatile and unpredictable world, right?

It's good to see we're also lifting our NZDF spending to over two per cent of our GDP, which signals that we're serious about working alongside our allies and, frankly, pulling our weight.

I'm not saying we should be gearing up for war. I'm saying we should be ready for whatever gets thrown our way, and currently, I'd argue we're not that well-placed.

Though I fully agree and concede that diplomacy should always be paramount. With that being said, we shouldn't be so blase or blind to the irony either - that someone out there is profiting from war.

Defence contractors, weapons manufacturers, and entire industries thrive when tensions rise. Isn't that kind of sick? And it shows human greed.

We need to stay aware of that and make sure this investment remains grounded in protecting people, not fuelling the military machine that is currently taking hold.

Be prepared, of course, but do not lose sight of the big picture, which to me is humanity.

That's Will's Word.

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