Made me chuckle. NZ has less population than the Chicago greater city area fellas, its defence force about the same personnel as the Chicago PD. Navy ships are the most expensive platforms in existence, to buy, maintain, staff and service. New zealand currently only affords a fleet of 4 and two are patrol boats. The idea of getting an economy that small to build a navy that can patrol " one of the largest EEZ's" is sheer comic book fantasy.
Excuses, not reasons. Your allies are more apt to help you if you try to defend yourself and need help, rather than totally rely on others.
Let's compare it with three countries with slightly larger populations. New Zealand has a population of 5 million. Norway, Denmark and Finland all have a population of less than 6 million, so they are slightly larger. Here are their military strengths--
New Zealand- 2 frigates, 2 light infantry battalions, one mechanized battalion, 3 MPA, no fighter/bombers, no armor.
Norway- 4 frigates, 6 subs, 6 corvettes, 1 armored brigade, 6 MPA, 44 F16 & 15 F35.
Denmark- 2 brigades, 1 tank battalion, 5 first line frigates, 4 patrol frigates, 41 F16, 4 MPA.
Finland- 100+ Leopald 2 tanks, 3 brigades, 8 FAC, 60 F18.
As you can see, all 3 other countries have much larger, and well rounded armed forces. I don't expect NZ to match them. However, since the army is so small, has no armored vehicles or attack helicopters and the air force only has transport aircraft, 3 MPA and no combat aircraft, the money saved could be put to good use getting 1-2 more frigates and a few more MPAs. Also, to mention, the Danish and Norwegian frigates are much newer and better armed than the New Zealand ones. New Zealand has always saved money on naval procurement by piggybacking on Australian ship orders. Now, NZ is keeping their obsolescent Anzac class frigates while Australia has ordered 9 Type 26 frigates to replace theirs. If they don't wake up and order, they'll be left behind. NZ reminds me of Ireland. They have tiny armed forces because they think Australia/United Kingdom can protect them. What they fail to realize is that neither of those countries can go it alone against the two major threats in the world today.
ETA--For those that don't know, except in times of national emergency, a navy is capable of keeping one of three ships fully capable at one time. When I was in Auckland in Jan/Feb 2018, the whole RNZN was there except one inshore patrol boat. One of the frigates did do some small boat exercises in the harbor, but that was it.
