Nats loop the loop on air combat wing

National is preparing to rule out reinstating an air force combat wing, saying bigger priorities exist in government.

Leader John Key said yesterday it was "extremely unlikely" that National would want to restore the air force strike wing, and that would be made clear in a pending discussion paper.

"I'd be ruling out us bringing back a strike wing; I just don't see it as a priority," Mr Key said.

His long-awaited confirmation that National has buried its ambition to restore the strike wing follows comments by foreign affairs spokesman Murray McCully, endorsing the existing "niche" role of the New Zealand Defence Force.

It is a big U-turn from 2001 when the National Party roundly criticised the Government's decision to axe the air combat wing as gutting the Defence Force and a sign that New Zealand was shirking its regional responsibilities.

Speaking on TV One's Agenda programme, Mr McCully said National now acknowledged that the Government "had moved in the correct way so far with some of the niche expenditure ... and it is fair to say that we see the way forward is for New Zealand to focus on some capabilities that it can really execute well."

On some issues, particularly concerning approach, National disagreed with Labour.

Those differences would be spelt out in its discussion paper, which would also canvass greater involvement in the Pacific and a reprioritisation of aid toward the Pacific.

However, the paper would also spell out the National Party's commitment to an independent foreign policy - "and that's not something you've heard from the National Party in previous times".

One of his first tasks as leader was to distance himself from previous confusion over National's foreign policy and its position on the anti-nuclear free legislation, which he said National would not change.

- © Fairfax NZ News