UK minister queries viability of Northland dry dock without British frigates

UK Minister of State Chris Bryant visiting Auckland last week. (Image: Supplied)

Mon, 01 Dec 2025

The Royal New Zealand Navy may need to buy British frigates to make the Northland dry dock project viable, United Kingdom Minister of State Chris Bryant says.Bryant passed through Auckland last week after attending a meeting of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) ministers in Melbourne. He spoke with BusinessDesk about British interest in the two major procurement projects.The minister, whose responsibilities for the Keir Starmer government include trade promotion and export strategy, visited D...

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