In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, New Zealand is having a similar debate to Australia on the appropriate size and capability of its military.
Its most recent budget set aside $NZ5.2 billion ($4.8 billion) on defence, including salaries, procurement and equipment refurbishment - around 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
David Seymour, right-wing ACT party leader, wants that upped, arguing it would strengthen the Anzac alliance.
"We need to start showing solidarity with our oldest ally which is Australia," he said.
"They've set the target of two per cent. We need an interoperable Anzac defence force in this world but it's not credible if we're at 1.5 per cent and they're at two."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern retorted she was confident in the trans-Tasman defence relationship.
"(Mr Seymour) implies we don't already have that strength in relationship, and we do, and that we aren't already playing the role of the Pacific, and we are," she said.
A shift would cost around $NZ1.5 to $1.7 billion ($A1.4 to $1.6 billion) annually, and Mr Seymour would start with agile warships.
"We need to look at the frigate replacement program that Australia has. We have frigates that will soon be obsolete. Are we going to have interoperability there?" he said.
"The Australians have a strike force of F35s (combat aircraft). We have a huge exclusive economic zone that claim but have very little ability to reach or patrol or enforce."
Ms Ardern pointed to a new ship, the Manawanui, and the purchase of four P8 patrol aircraft in her last term as proof her government was ably equipping Kiwi defence.
She did not rule out a shift to two per cent, but her defence and finance minister effectively did so.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said reaching that target in next month's budget would be a "hard ask", and Defence Minister Peeni Henare said an arbitrary target is "not useful".
"Defence and security matters have certainly changed rapidly in the past couple of years ... we'll make sure that we can align our defence capabilities to those particular threats," Mr Henare said.
Government partners the Greens are also opposed to increased defence spending, arguing instead to fund justice and peace-oriented organisations.
The opposition National party, which has urged the government to toughen up its response to the Ukraine invasion, seems likely to follow ACT's position.
Opposition Leader Chris Luxon has labelled Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal while Ms Ardern has not, and National has urged the government - which has not yet sent lethal aid to Europe - to send javelin missiles to Ukraine.
Mr Luxon has yet to agree to the two per cent pledge.
"The real question fundamentally is, do our partners feel that we're actually delivering and contributing to partnership and the arrangements that we have with them?" he said.
"We want to be in lockstep with our partners. We need able to support and make really meaningful contributions."
The two per cent pledge is a NATO initiative, first committed to by treaty members last decade.
The US-led military alliance, which does not include Australia or New Zealand, claims eight of its 30 members did so last year.
According to the World Bank, a majority of countries do not spend two per cent their military.
The United States (3.7 per cent), United Kingdom (2.2), India (2.9), Israel (5.6) and Saudi Arabia (8.4) among the countries that do.
Last week, Germany made a $A145 billion pledge to join them.
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