Time for soldiers to do civilian work extended until mid-February

The government has notified Parliament it is extending the time soldiers will be filling in for their striking non-uniformed colleagues until Valentines Day.

Defence Minister Judith Collins formally notified Parliament last week she had allowed Defence Force personnel to fill in as airport firefighters and security guards under Section 9 of the Defence Act.

Associate Defence Minister Chris Penk tried on Thursday to extend the length of time the order would cover, but he ran out of time after the Treaty Principles Bill's first reading as the debate was interrupted.

His motion to extend it was successful on Tuesday. It is now in effect until 14 February, having previously been set to last until 2 December.

Penk said the date of mid-February seemed prudent, partly because it would cover the summer holidays.

"My understanding is that the strike notice or the industrial action more generally has a specified date at the end of January to which it can take place.

"A further two weeks from that seems prudent then for the purpose of resetting normal arrangements whereby rosters can be made, people can be given notice for duties that they might undertake including out of ordinary 9-5 Monday to Friday work times."

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