Dear Ministry of Defence,

The purchase of new frigates is likely to be the largest Defence procurement in the next twenty years. There are two separate but important questions in this space:

1, Are frigates the right solution for New Zealand? and,
2. If New Zealand decides to procure frigates, what type of frigate should be acquired?

With the apparent decision to procure frigates having been made, and with the Mogami and the UK’s Type 31 reportedly shortlisted, I am seeking information to understand how these decisions were made and the rigour behind them.

Please provide documentation relating to, and showing, how the decision to procure frigates was made, specifically to answer the following questions:

1. In developing the use case to determine that frigates were required, how did Defence answer the question from DCP25: “whether a different technology provides a better investment, and whether a generational technology jump is justified”?
2. What is the use case for frigates? Specifically, what effects does a frigate need to deliver?
3. What alternative courses of action were explored to deliver the same effects, and how were the different options assessed and compared?
4. What independent reviews were undertaken regarding the decision to procure frigates?
Please provide the indicative staff hours, word count of documentation, and cost associated with making the decision to procure frigates.

Please also provide documentation relating to, and showing, how the decision to shortlist the Mogami and UK Type 31 frigates was made, specifically to answer the following questions:

1. In developing the business case to select the type of frigate, how did Defence answer the question from DCP25: “what is the Australian approach, and is there any reason for New Zealand to take a different approach”?
2. How was the UK’s Type 31 frigate shortlisted, and what other frigates were considered?
What would be the grounds for selecting equipment that differs from the ADF solution, and what criteria would be used to assess the different options?
3. What independent reviews were undertaken regarding the decision to shortlist the two types of frigates?
4. Please provide the indicative staff hours, word count of documentation, and cost associated with making the decision to shortlist these frigates.

Yours faithfully,

Graeme Doull