Frigate budget blows out

An upgrade of the navy’s two frigates has resulted in a budget blow-out of almost $30 million and the HMNZS Te Kaha being out of the water for almost a year longer than expected.

Parliament’s foreign affairs committee yesterday heard that an upgrade to the platform systems on Te Kaha and Te Mana had suffered major setbacks as the ‘‘stretched’’ contractor struggled with the workload.

Defence Secretary Helene Quilter said the work on Te Kaha had cost $6m more than budgeted and taken 11 months longer than expected, while the work on Te Mana required additional funding of $22m.

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