Yeoman,
NZ hasn't really had a viable air defence capability except for the distances baddies would have to go to bomb our sheep. Preventing interdiction of our trade routes is another matter. We did have a limited attack capability, enhanced toward the end of its existence, but still limited.
We have never had GCI capability (no disrespect to the Ohakea ATC folks who used to help during international exercises), for example, nor the passive defence elements that anyone serious about air defence has.
The only jet fighters we have had were Vampires and Venoms (the latter leased, IIRC, and only used in Cyprus and Malaya-both as part of larger forces).
As I wrote at the time, " It is not unusual for individual politicians to commit treason, but it is quite novel for a government to do so". So it was with the Clark government.