The goal is to improve the country's contributions to U.N. military operations in world trouble zones, with a focus on terrorist activity prevention, the 100-page document said.
The white paper was published just two days before U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in New Zealand for a three-day visit, prompting one newspaper to suggest it was a perfect gift for her.
Clinton is expected to sign, before the end of her visit this weekend, a declaration confirming closer ties between the two countries. Military relations have been icy since 1986 when New Zealand banned nuclear warships from its waters. The two countries haven't had joint military exercises from that date.
The white paper firmly states New Zealand's desires for closer cooperation, including for military spending, as well as a desire for Wellington to play a bigger role in the Pacific region should the government be called upon for help.
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On the ground the army will get more front-line soldiers and Special Air Service elite troops, while on the seas the Anzac frigates will be upgraded.
The air force is to replace its Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion, the main maritime patrol aircraft, and C-130H Hercules -- Vietnam-era transport planes -- within the next 15 years.
A program to upgrade the Orions will continue and could include self-protection equipment and anti-submarine sensors, the paper said. But they will be replaced "with an equivalent level of capability, manned or unmanned" by around 2025.
No specific planes were mentioned as an Orion replacement but analysts have said they likely would include the Airbus Military C-295, Embraer EMB-145 MP, Saab 2000 MPA and the Saab 340 MSA. Unmanned options might be the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk.
Upgrading of the five C-130Hs also will continue although they will be replaced by around 2020, the paper said. Equivalent planes on the market are the C-130J, Embraer's KC-390, or even Airbus Military's A400M.
The white paper, the first in 13 years, sidestepped a decision on the air force's two Boeing 757 transport aircraft, saying a study before the next defense review in 2015 will consider replacement options.
A similar review on replacing the Kaman SH-2 Seasprite helicopters will be completed by around 2015, and when they are due for upgrades.
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Around 45 percent of the defense department's operating spending is on front-line activities. Savings will be sought from backroom operations where up to 1,400 military jobs have been identified as potential civilian jobs.
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