Dear New Zealand Defence Force,

In March 2025, statements to the media about the maintenance or major systems work for the four P-8A aircraft NZDF has taken delivery indicated that not all would not be performed entirely within New Zealand, and that some maintenance and/or work on major systems would be performed by the RAAF at a maintenance base in Australia.

Since August 2025, a maintenance base for the P-8A has been opened at Ohakea.

What maintenance or systems work will be performed at Ohakea or any other maintenance base within New Zealand, and what, if any, maintenence or systems work will take place outside New Zealand, and by what parties?

How often does NZDF expect it would need to send P-8A planes outside New Zealand for maintenance or major systems work, over the next 20 years?

Does NZDF intend to change the posture of the maintenance and systems capabilties at Ohakea in the future?

Yours faithfully,
David Zanetti