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Record levels of attrition in our Defence Force has resulted in thousands of vacancies across the board, raising concerns our military isn't combat-ready. 
 
Data released under the Official Information Act shows there were more than 3066 regular force positions and 728 civilian roles vacant as of the end of March. 
 
Within the regular force - about half of the unfilled roles were in the Army, while there were more than 600 empty in both the Navy and the Air Force. 
 
Figures also show as of the end of February, about a third of all regular force were vacant. 
 
More than 1000 of those had been empty for more than a year - and almost 400 had never been filled. 
 
It comes as the Government plans to spend $12 billion on Defence over four years, including for equipment like maritime helicopters and improving strike capability. 
 
A NZDF spokesperson acknowledged the number of vacancies and says it will take time to address. 
 
They said the number of vacancies is the result of record levels of attrition, which has particularly impacted the numbers in middle ranks and specialist trades.   
 
“Regular Force attrition is dropping with it at 6.8 percent at the end of May, down from a peak of 15.8 per cent at the end of December 2022.” 
 
The spokesperson said the May Budget made available considerable new funding (totalling $4.2 billion) for the New Zealand Defence Force to address capabilities, operations, personnel and infrastructure. 
 
It includes $156 million over four years for military allowances, as well as new funding of $600 million for increased activity. 
 
They said the Defence Force has also recently launched a new recruitment campaign. 
 
The public sector union says this vacancy data shows our Defence Force isn't combat-ready. 
 
PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the numbers shows our personnel are under immense pressure trying to fill gaps. 
 
“We cannot afford these vacancies in our force, considering the uncertain geopolitical times we live in.” 
 
Serving personnel advocacy group Mission Homefront said our Defence Force's stretched thin and personnel aren’t being rewarded for the increased workload.   
 
Co-Director Erin Speedy said she is hearing some personnel are leaving because they are struggling to feed their families and cover bills. 
 
“When you're not entitled to conditions like overtime and working 24/7 to cover gaps, the pay's not worth it.” 
 
Co-Director and Former Lieutenant Colonel Hayden Rickets said the government’s investing billions into new equipment, but it needs to invest the same into the people. 
  
“During the Manawanui sinking, we had an inexperienced crew doing something they weren't trained for and the worst possible thing happened.” 
 
University of Waikato Global Security Senior Lecturer Dr Reuben Steff said to increase recruitment, the military career needs to be appealing, with good wages, skills and training, mentoring, and solid living facilities. 
 
He said we also need to make it clear that our geographic remoteness offers no guarantee of our security. 
 
Steff said with more severe climate change induced emergencies likely and growing tension in the South Pacific, a modern military is essential. 
 
“We have forgotten that Imperial Japan in WWII made it down to the South Pacific. Had that war gone differently, Australia and New Zealand would have been pulled into its brutal sphere of influence.”