Under fire: Chief of Army admits error launching Army’s bicultural policy as Winston Peters says ‘the only culture that matters is the New Zealand culture’
The New Zealand Chief of Army, Rose King, admitted it was an error to use mandatory language in the Army's bicultural policy. Despite political pushback from coalition partners like NZ First, the policy remains under development.
Why it matters
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions regarding cultural identity and government policy in New Zealand's defense sector.
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Chief of Army Rose King told former Minister of Defence Chris Penk it was an error to use compulsory language in the Army's bicultural policy. She is yet to brief Penk's replacement Paul Goldsmith.
A New Zealand Army bicultural policy has been on pause since a leaked version was shown to former Defence Minister Judith Collins. Before the pause, Chief of Army Rose King told a Waitangi Tribunal inquiry that she believed its development would survive the influence of politics. Troy Matich and David Fisher report on NZ First leader Winston Peters’ dismissal of the policy because “the only culture that matters is the New Zealand culture” and new details of how King sought to progress the policy after political influence threw it into jeopardy.
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