The
New Zealand Defence Force consists of three services: the
New Zealand ArmyThe New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
; the
Royal New Zealand NavyThe Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
; and the
Royal New Zealand Air ForceThe Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zealand components of the British Royal Air Force, becoming an independent force in 1923, although many RNZAF aircrew continued to serve in the Royal Air Force until the end of the 1940s...
. The
Commander-in-ChiefA commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the...
of the NZDF is New Zealand's
Governor-GeneralThe Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the Sovereign in right of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state.The Constitution Act 1986 provides that a "The Governor-General...
Hon. Sir Anand SatyanandSir Anand Satyanand, GNZM, QSO is the Governor-General of New Zealand. He previously worked as a lawyer, judge and ombudsman.-Early life and family:...
who exercises his power on the advice of the
Minister of DefenceThe Minister of Defence is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the New Zealand military and the Ministry of Defence.The present Minister is Dr...
,
Hon. Dr Wayne MappWayne Daniel Mapp is a New Zealand politician, representing the National Party in the New Zealand Parliament. He has served as the MP for the North Shore electorate since the 1996 elections. Before entering politics, he lectured in commercial law at University of Auckland.He gained his LLB at...
, under the Defence Act 1990. The commander and head of the NZDF is the Chief of Defence Force (CDF), Lieutenant-General
Jerry MateparaeLieutenant-General Jeremiah "Jerry" Mateparae ONZM is the current Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force. A descendant of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Kahungunu tribes, he is the first Māori to hold this office. He took office on May 1, 2006.- Career :Mateparae enlisted in the Regular Force of...
, who also acts as the primary military adviser to the Minister of Defence.
New Zealand's armed forces have three defence policy objectives; to defend New Zealand against low-level threats, to contribute to regional security; and to play a part in global security efforts. New Zealand considers its own national defence needs to be modest, due to its geographical isolation and benign relationships with neighbours. As of September 2008, approximately 600 NZDF personnel served overseas in the South Pacific, Asia and Middle East areas.
History
New Zealand's armed forces developed from those of the United Kingdom, which initially provided security for the European settlers in New Zealand. The final stages of the
New Zealand WarsThe New Zealand Wars, sometimes called the Land Wars and also once called the Māori Wars, were a series of armed conflicts that took place in New Zealand between 1845 and 1872...
were conducted increasingly by settler units with the last British troops withdrawn in February 1870 . Independent New Zealand armed forces developed in the early twentieth century; the
Royal New Zealand NavyThe Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
was the last to emerge as an independent service in 1941 . Prior to that time it had been the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. New Zealand forces served alongside the British, as well as other Empire and Commonwealth nations, in both
World War IWorld War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
and
IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When the
Fall of SingaporeThe Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold of Singapore. Singapore was the major British military base in South East Asia and nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East"...
in 1942 made it obvious that Britain could no longer protect far-flung Dominions, closer military ties were developed with the United States. Links with Australia developed early; both nations sent troops to the Anglo-Boer War and New Zealand officer candidates started training at Australia's
Royal Military College, DuntroonThe Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment.It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911...
in 1911, a practice that continues to this day. A combined Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (
ANZACThe term ANZAC originated as an acronym for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, an army corps of Australian and New Zealand troops who fought against the Turks in 1915 at the Battle of Gallipoli during World War I...
) was formed for the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I, and its exploits are key events in the military history of both countries.
New Zealand is a signatory of the
ANZUSThe Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty is the military alliance which binds Australia and New Zealand and, separately, Australia and the United States to cooperate on defense matters in the Pacific Ocean area, though today the treaty is understood to relate to attacks in any...
treaty, a defence pact between it, Australia and the United States dating from 1951. After the 1986 anti-nuclear legislation that refused access of nuclear powered or armed vessels to ports, New Zealand membership of
ANZUSThe Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty is the military alliance which binds Australia and New Zealand and, separately, Australia and the United States to cooperate on defense matters in the Pacific Ocean area, though today the treaty is understood to relate to attacks in any...
was suspended, and
ANZUSThe Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty is the military alliance which binds Australia and New Zealand and, separately, Australia and the United States to cooperate on defense matters in the Pacific Ocean area, though today the treaty is understood to relate to attacks in any...
exercises are now bi-lateral between Australia and the United States. Under anti-nuclear legislation, any ship must declare whether it is nuclear propelled or carrying nuclear weapons before entering New Zealand waters. Due to the US policy at that time of "neither confirm nor deny", ship visits ceased. Despite the Presidential Directive of 27 September 1991 that removed tactical nuclear weapons from U.S. surface ships, attack submarines, and naval aircraft, ship visits have not resumed. Despite signs of rapprochement in recent years, military relationships with the US remain limited, although senior US officials have been complimentary about New Zealand contributions to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts . New Zealand retains a close bi-lateral defence relationship with Australia.
New Zealand is a member of the
ABCA ArmiesABCA Armies refers to a program aimed at optimizing interoperability between member armies on combined operations. "ABCA" stands for America, Britain, Canada and Australia...
standardisation programme, the naval AUSCANNZUKUS forum, ASIC (Air and Space Interoperability Council) and other Western fora for sharing information and achieving interoperability with like-minded armed forces.
The NZDF came into existence under the Defence Act 1990. Under previous legislation, the three services were part of the Ministry of Defence. Post-1990, the Ministry of Defence is a separate, policy-making body under a Secretary of Defence, who is equal in status to the Chief of Defence Force.
Army
New Zealand's Army consists of around 4,500 full-time and 2,500 part-time troops. It is a small but well-regarded and professional force consisting of light infantry and motorised infantry equipped with 105 Canadian-manufactured
LAV IIIThe LAV III armoured vehicle is the latest in the Generation III Light Armoured Vehicle series built by General Dynamics Land Systems, entering service in 1999. It is based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha IIIH 8x8....
Light Armoured Vehicles, known as the
NZLAVThe NZLAV armoured fighting vehicle is a variant of the General Dynamics LAV III which itself is a variant of the MOWAG Piranha IIIH 8x8. The New Zealand army purchased 105 vehicles in 2003. It was developed by Canada and is the primary armoured vehicle of the New Zealand military...
. There are also armoured reconnaissance, artillery, logistic, communications, medical and intelligence elements. The New Zealand Special Air Service, is the NZDF's
special forcesSpecial forces and special operations forces are generic terms for elite highly-trained military teams/units that conduct specialized operations such as reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, direct action and counter-terrorism actions.In the United States, the term special operations forces is...
capability which operates in both conventional warfare and counter-terrorist roles. The Corps and Regiments of the New Zealand Army include:
- Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment is the main combat unit in the regular New Zealand Army. It was formed January 9 1947 as the New Zealand Regiment with a single infantry battalion as part of the newly created infantry corps....
- Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps
The Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps is the overall umbrella grouping of Regular Force and Territorial Force units equipped with armoured vehicles in the New Zealand Army. The corps was formed in 1942 as the New Zealand Armoured Corps, before being given the Royal prefix in 1947...
- Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery
The Royal New Zealand Artillery forms the artillery section of the New Zealand Army. In its current form it was founded in 1947 with the amalgamation of the regular and volunteer units of artillery in New Zealand...
- Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers
The 2nd Engineer Regiment is housed in Linton Military Camp that is situated approximately 10 km South of the City of Palmerston North. Raised on the 1st of July 1993 the Regiment is the only major Engineer Unit in the New Zealand Army. Linton Camp has been known throughout the Army as the...
- Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals
The Royal New Zealand Signals Corps provides, co-ordinates and operates the communications networks of the New Zealand Army.The role of RNZSigs is "To support other Arms by providing Communication Information System required for Command and Control of Units, Formations and Administrative...
- Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment
Formed on the 4th of December 1996, the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regement is the New Zealand Army's main Military Logistics & Combat Service Support element...
- Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps
The Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps is a corps of the New Zealand Army, the land branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. The Medical Corps provides for the medical needs of soldiers, such as diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries...
- Royal New Zealand Army Nursing Corps
- Royal New Zealand Army Dental Corps
- Corps of Royal New Zealand Military Police
- New Zealand Intelligence Corps
The New Zealand Intelligence Corps analyses information from a variety of sources and provides commanders with intelligence on such things as enemy locations, capabilities and intentions. The NZIC is one of the smallest corps in the New Zealand Army. It was formed in 1942, apparently disbanded in...
Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) includes two
Anzac class frigatesThe ten Anzac class frigates are the major surface units of the Royal Australian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy . They were based on a modified German MEKO type 200 design. Eight ships serve in the RAN and are numbered FFH 150 - FFH 157...
, developed in conjunction with Australia, and based on the German
MEKOThe MEKO family of warships was developed by the German company Blohm + Voss.MEKO is a registered trademark. The portmanteau stands for "Mehrzweck-Kombination"...
200 design. Eight other vessels are in use, consisting of patrol vessels and logistics vessels. The RNZN is in the process of acquiring seven new vessels: one large Multi-Role Vessel named the HMNZS Canterbury, two Offshore Patrol Vessels, and four Inshore Patrol Vessels. All of these new vessels will be part of Project Protector and will be built to commercial, not naval, standards on cost grounds.
Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force consists of 50 aircraft, consisting of
P-3 OrionThe Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft used by numerous navies and air forces around the world, primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare.-Development:...
maritime patrol aircraft and Lockheed C-130 Hercules and other transport aircraft. The RNZAF does not have an air combat force following the retirement without replacement of its
A-4 SkyhawkThe Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The delta winged, single turbojet-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas...
and
Aermacchi MB-339The Aermacchi MB-339 is an Italian military trainer and light attack aircraft. It was developed as a replacement for the earlier MB-326.-Design and development:The MB-339 is of conventional configuration, and shares much of the 326's airframe...
squadrons. A plan to acquire 28
F-16 Fighting FalconThe Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight, daytime Visual Flight Rules fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft...
aircraft was cancelled by the Labour Government in 2000. The NH90 helicopter has recently been ordered to replace Bell UH-1 Iroquois. The
PAC CT/4The Pacific Aerospace Corporation CT/4 Airtrainer series are all-metal construction, single-engine, two place side-by-side seating, fully aerobatic, piston engined, basic training aircraft manufactured in Hamilton, New Zealand.-History:....
Airtrainer is locally produced.
Administrative
A new HQNZDF facility was opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark in March 2007
http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/media-releases/20070328-eedhobpm.htm. The new facility on Aitken St in the Wellington CBD replaced the premises on Stout St that had been the headquarters of NZDF for nearly 75 years. The Aitken St facility is home to around 900 employees of the NZDF, the
New Zealand Security Intelligence ServiceThe New Zealand Security Intelligence Service is an intelligence agency of the New Zealand government.-Purpose:The Security Intelligence Service is a civilian organisation, and takes no part in the enforcement of security...
and the New Zealand Ministry of Defence.
HQNZDF operates as the administrative and support headquarters for the New Zealand Defence Force, with operational forces under the separate administrative command and control of HQJFNZ.
Joint Forces
The operational forces of the three services are directed from Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand on the opposite side of a road from Trentham Military Camp in
Upper HuttUpper Hutt is a satellite-town of Wellington City. It is New Zealand's smallest city by population, the second largest by land area. It is part of Greater Wellington.-Geography:...
. From this building, a former NZ government computer centre that used to house the Army's Land Command, the Air Component Commander, Maritime Component Commander, and Land Component Commander exercise command over their forces. Commander Joint Forces New Zealand (COMJFNZ), controls all overseas operational deployments and most overseas exercises.
Foreign Defence Relations
New Zealand states it maintains a "credible minimum force," although critics (including the
New Zealand National PartyThe New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties...
while in opposition) maintain that the country's defence forces have fallen below this standard. With a claimed area of direct strategic concern that extends from Australia to
Southeast AsiaManila
Bangkok
Ho Chi Minh City
Kuala Lumpur
Singapore
Yangon
Bandung
Hanoi
Surabaya
Taichung
Kaohsiung
Medan|-|}...
to the
South PacificOceania is a geographical, often geopolitical, region consisting of numerous lands—mostly islands in the Pacific Ocean and vicinity. The term "Oceania" was coined in 1831 by French explorer Dumont d'Urville...
, and with defence expenditures that total around 1% of
GDPThe gross domestic product or gross domestic income is a basic measure of a country's economic performance and is the market value of all final goods and services made within the borders of a country in a year...
, New Zealand necessarily places substantial reliance on co-operating with other countries, in particular Australia.
Acknowledging the need to improve its defence capabilities, the government in 2005 announced the Defence Sustainability Initiative allocating an additional NZ$4.6 billion over 10 years to modernize the country's defence equipment and infrastructure and increase its military personnel. The funding represented a 51% increase in defence spending since the
Labour governmentThe Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand between 5 December 1999 and 8 November 2008.-Overview:The fourth National government, in power since 1990, was widely unpopular by 1999, with much of the public antagonised by a series of free-market economic reforms, and...
took office in 1999.
New Zealand is an active participant in multilateral peacekeeping. It has taken a leading role in seeking to bring peace, reconciliation, and reconstruction to the
Solomon IslandsThe Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. Together they cover a land mass of 28,400 square kilometres . The capital is Honiara, located on the island of Guadalcanal.The Solomon Islands are believed to have been...
and the neighboring island of
BougainvillePolitically, Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, part of Papua New Guinea . This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 . It includes the adjacent island of Buka, and assorted...
. New Zealand maintains a contingent in the
Multinational Force and ObserversThe Multinational Force and Observers is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.-Background:...
and has contributed to UN and other peacekeeping operations in
AngolaAngola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean. The exclave province of Cabinda has a border with the Republic of the...
,
CambodiaThe Kingdom of Cambodia , formerly known as Kampuchea , is a country in South East Asia with a population of over 14 million people. The kingdom's capital and largest city is Phnom Penh...
,
SomaliaSomalia , officially the Republic of Somalia and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a country located in the Horn of Africa...
,
LebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of Lebanon
[Republic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies...]
and the
former YugoslaviaThe Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the second half of World War II until it was formally dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro,...
. It also participated in the Multilateral Interception Force in the Persian Gulf. New Zealand has an ongoing
peacekeepingPeacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace." It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
commitment to
East TimorEast Timor, also known as Timor-Leste is a country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecussi-Ambeno, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
, where it participated in the INTERFET, UNTAET and UMAMET missions from 1999–2002, with an infantry battalion which was withdrawn in late 2002. In response to renewed conflict in 2006 more troops were deployed as part of an international force. New Zealand troops currently maintains an infantry company and supporting elements in East Timor. New Zealand has participated in 2 NATO-led coalitions; SFOR in the Former Yugoslavia (until December 2004) and an ongoing one in Afghanistan (which took over from a US-led coalition in 2006). New Zealand also participated in the European Union
EUFOREuropean Union Force Althea is a military deployment in Bosnia and Herzegovina to oversee the military implementation of the Dayton Agreement. It is the successor to NATO's SFOR and IFOR. The transition from SFOR to EUFOR was largely a change of name and commanders: 80% of the troops remained in...
operation in the former Yugoslavia from December 2004 until New Zealand ended its 15-year continuous contribution there on 30 June 2007.
New Zealand participates in sharing training facilities, personnel exchanges, and joint exercises with the
PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
,
ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma...
,
IndonesiaThe Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia comprises 17,508 islands. With an estimated population of around 237 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country, with the world's largest population of Muslims.Indonesia is a republic, with an...
,
Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
,
BruneiBrunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
,
TongaTonga , officially the Kingdom of Tonga , an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprises 169 islands, 36 of which are inhabited, and stretches over a distance of about 800 kilometres in a north-south line...
, and South Pacific states. It also exercises with its
Five Power Defence ArrangementThe Five Power Defence Arrangements are a series of defence relationships established by bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971, whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression or threat of...
partners -
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
, the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
,
MalaysiaMalaysia is a country in Southeast Asia that consists of thirteen states and three Federal Territories, with a total landmass of . The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The population stands at over 28 million inhabitants...
, and
SingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island city-state located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, lying north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands. At , Singapore is a microstate and the smallest nation in Southeast...
. New Zealand military personnel also participate in a wide variety of training exercises, conferences and visits as part of military diplomacy.
Due to New Zealand's antinuclear policy, defence cooperation with the U.S., including training exercises, has been significantly restricted since 1986, when the
ANZUSThe Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty is the military alliance which binds Australia and New Zealand and, separately, Australia and the United States to cooperate on defense matters in the Pacific Ocean area, though today the treaty is understood to relate to attacks in any...
treaty defence obligations to NZ were suspended by the USA. However, New Zealand and the USA remain 'very, very good friends' . On 26 July 2008 during a visit to New Zealand, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice upgraded this status and said "New Zealand is now a friend and an ally". The NZDF has served alongside US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq in recent times, and in 2004 the NZSAS was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation by US President George W Bush for "extraordinary heroism" in action.
Previous Chiefs
- Chief of Defence Staff
- Rear-Admiral Sir Peter Phipps
Pete Phipps is a rock drummer. He was a member of Gary Glitter's backing band, The Glitter Band.He has also toured and recorded with*Eurythmics*Denim*Random Hold*The Secret*The Stranglers*The ElginsHe has also toured with*Boy George*Eurythmics...
(1963-66) (first, from 1 July 1963)
- Lieutenant-General Sir Leonard Thornton (1965–1971)
- Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Webb (1971–1976)
- Air Marshal Sir Richard Bolt (1976–1980)
- Vice-Admiral Sir Neil Anderson (1980–1983)
- Air Marshal Sir Ewan Jamieson (1983–1986)
- Air Marshal David Crooks (1986–1987)
- Lieutenant-General Sir John Mace (1987–1991)
- Chief of Defence Force
- Vice-Admiral Sir Somerford Teagle (1991–1995) (first, from 29 March 1991)
- Lieutenant-General Anthony Birks (1995–1999)
- Air Marshal Carey Adamson (1999–2001)
- Air Marshal Sir Bruce Ferguson
Air Marshal Sir Bruce Reid Ferguson, KNZM, OBE, AFC is the Director of Government Communications Security Bureau. He took up the appointment when the previous director Dr. Warren Tucker, took up his new role as Director of Security Intelligence Service on November 1, 2006, Mr...
(2001–2006)
- Lieutenant-General Jerry Mateparae
Lieutenant-General Jeremiah "Jerry" Mateparae ONZM is the current Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force. A descendant of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Kahungunu tribes, he is the first Māori to hold this office. He took office on May 1, 2006.- Career :Mateparae enlisted in the Regular Force of...
from 2006
See also