NZ First: Candidate links warship loss to diversity policies

New Zealand First candidate Ron Mark stated that the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui in 2024 serves as evidence that diversity, equity, and inclusiveness policies have gone too far. The former defence minister released a campaign advertisement to social media where he described these policies as having a detrimental impact on military readiness. The incident occurred off the coast of Samoa and resulted in the loss of the vessel.

Commander Yvonne Gray was the captain of the ship when it sank. She has been formally charged for the loss of the vessel. Mark addressed the public debate surrounding the gender of the commanding officer during an interview with RNZ. He described the suggestion that women are unfit to serve in the defence force as appalling. Mark noted that Gray has a strong defense and argued that attention should shift to the men who made specific decisions leading up to the sinking.

Mark emphasized his personal experience with female officers in the military. He stated that he served alongside outstanding female officers who performed with distinction. He also recalled appointing a woman to a high-level intelligence job upon the request of a foreign nation, a role no man had previously held. These comments aim to counter the perception that his criticism of the ad is an attack on women in the defence force.

The New Zealand First defence policy includes a clause that protects female-specific roles when they are operationally advantageous. The policy cites specialized intelligence operations as an area where female operators may possess skills superior to their male counterparts. Mark described it as astonishing that this clause has been overlooked by critics. He maintained that the party’s stance is rooted in meritocracy rather than gender bias.

The advertisement also featured Mark commenting on soldiers with man buns, stating they do not scare anybody. He argued that the New Zealand military needs to restore its warrior ethos. Mark suggested that if the controversy is framed as an attack on women, the men and women of the defence force will see through the political narrative. He believed this narrative does a grave disservice to highly professional women in the service.

National leader Christopher Luxon responded to questions about whether he would rule Mark out from holding the defence role again. Luxon stated that Mark was not at the table during the review of the Manawanui incident and was therefore less familiar with the matter. He rejected the assertion that the review was flawed, describing the men and women of the defence force as incredible people who deserve respect. Luxon did not rule out the possibility of Mark holding the defence portfolio in the future.