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August 18, 2022
Mark left in cold despite Ukraine hot spot visits
Gideon Porter
Posted On August 18, 2022
Download AudioFormer defence minister Ron Mark is offering to brief the current minister about conditions on the ground in Ukraine.
He’s welcoming the latest deployment of 120 New Zealand Defence Force personnel to the United Kingdom to train Ukrainian infantry and artillery troops but says more could be done.
But he says despite his own military background and his involvement in four humanitarian missions this year, Defence Minister Peeni Henare hasn’t contacted him.
“It frustrates and disappoints me Peeni still won’t use me and won’t ring me and say ‘Ron, I know you’ve been up there and you’ve done four missions,’ – two actually on the ground and I’m looking to go again when I can raise some money,” Mr Mark says.
He says Ukraine needs whatever help New Zealand can give.
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