I think you're right about lack of money - probably the root cause.
Have never met Lintott, but those I know speak highly of him.
There's a general perception in NZ that defence is a waste of money, because
the country is so far away it'll never be attacked and Australia is nearby, therefore there's long term lack of investment well below regional peers as a percentage of GDP, which inevitably leads to downgrading of operational capability and cost saving being a primary focus.
Without pointing the finger at anyone - it shows how bad things have become when three young guys die in part because someone was worried about a relatively small hotel bill.
They punch well above their weight with some pretty outdated equipment.