Hayden Ricketts: Retired Lieutenant Colonel from Mission Homefront on NZDF scrapping flu vaccines, international sports travel, gym memberships - Holiday Breakfast

The New Zealand Defence Force is making more cuts in a bid to help its nearly $130-million budget shortfall. 

Documents obtained by the NZ Herald under the Official Information Act show the NZDF is looking to scrap flu vaccines for all civilian staff, international travel for sports teams, some support to Gallipoli and staff gym memberships. 

The documents acknowledge the move could lead to “impact on morale and possible increased staff absence in the 2025 flu season”. 

Retired Lieutenant Colonel from Mission Homefront, Hayden Ricketts tells Tim Beveridge “this is just another series of symptoms from a defence force that is struggling to keep the aircraft flying, the ship sailing and the tanks driving”. 

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