AHC: Largest & most capable NZDF after 2001

With a pod after 2001, your challenge is to have the largest and most capable military that New Zealand can sustain, with a defense budget of 2 - 3 % of GDP. Also assume that such a build up has bipartisan support.
 
Although, not mandatory I think a degree of interoperability with the ADF is a good thing. Are there any legacy Hornets that the RNZAF could purchase?
 
The problem is one of motivation, why do the Kiwis need a strong military, unless we turn on them?
 
Maybe a terrorist attack occurs in New Zealand making NZ commit more forces to the War on Terror? Or if National was in power in 2003 (Winston goes with Labour and they lose in 1999) then they would go into Iraq.
 
Maybe a terrorist attack occurs in New Zealand making NZ commit more forces to the War on Terror? Or if National was in power in 2003 (Winston goes with
Labour and they lose in 1999) then they would go into Iraq.

Let's go with that option, and this is after a far bloodier East Timorese intervention.
 
Hmm, so in ttl there are battalion + sized engagements during the initial stages of Interfet (1999), including cross border artillery duels. There is a terrorist attack in Wellington circa 2002 with 200 + fatalities, and there is armed resistance to the Solomon island intervention (2003). The 2006 Fiji coup leads to the deployment of a battery of Chinese anti ship missiles and there are regular port visits by PLAN ships to Fiji.

In this environment, how does the NZDF develop?
 
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