View source for New Zealand Defence Force

{{Short description|Combined military forces of New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox national military
| name = New Zealand Defence Force
| native_name = {{native name|mi|Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa}}
| image = [[File:New Zealand Defence Force logo.svg|200px]]
| alt = 
| caption = The NZDF Tri-Service logo
| image2 = 
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| motto = 
| founded = 1909
| current_form = 1990
| disbanded = 
| branches = {{Ublist
|{{navy|New Zealand}}
|{{army|New Zealand}}
|{{air force|New Zealand}}
}}
| headquarters = [[Wellington]]
| flying_hours = 
| website = {{Official URL}}
<!-- Leadership -->| commander-in-chief = [[Monarchy of New Zealand|King]] [[Charles III]]
| commander-in-chief_title = [[Head of the Armed Forces (New Zealand)|Head of the Armed Forces]]
| chief minister = [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor-General]] [[Cindy Kiro]]
| chief minister_title = [[Governor General of New Zealand|Commander in Chief]]
| minister = [[Christopher Luxon]]
| minister_title = [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]]
| chief_of_staff = [[Judith Collins]]
| chief_of_staff_title = [[Minister of Defence (New Zealand)|Minister of Defence]]
<!-- Manpower -->| age = {{Ublist
|17 with parental consent; cannot be deployed until 18 ({{as of|September 2017}})<ref name="Service_Age">{{cite web |title= New Zealand Defence Act 1990 |date= 1 September 2017 |url = http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0028/latest/DLM206039.html?search=sw_096be8ed8165d999_age_25_se&p=1 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180217083156/http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0028/latest/whole.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 17 February 2018}}</ref>
|18 for voluntary service
}}
| conscription = 
| manpower_data = 
| manpower_age = 20–49<ref>{{cite web |url = http://archive.stats.govt.nz/~/media/Statistics/Browse%20for%20stats/NationalPopulationEstimates/HOTPAt30Jun17/npe-jun17-tables.xlsx |title = Table 3: Estimated residential population by five-year age group |year = 2017 |publisher = New Zealand Ministry of Statistics |access-date = 16 October 2018 |archive-date = 11 September 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190911012034/http://archive.stats.govt.nz/~/media/Statistics/Browse%20for%20stats/NationalPopulationEstimates/HOTPAt30Jun17/npe-jun17-tables.xlsx |url-status = dead }}</ref>
| available = 955,640
| available_f = 981,050
| fit = 
| fit_f = 
| reaching = 
| reaching_f = 
| active = 10,037 (June 2024)<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title= NZDF Website About |date= 2021|url = https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/search/SearchForm/?Search=NZDF+ANNUAL+REPORT  |access-date= 18 December 2024 }}</ref>
| ranked = 
| reserve = 3,281 (June 2024)<ref name="auto" />
| deployed = <!-- Financial -->
| amount = Total budget for 2025/26<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.budget.govt.nz/budget/2025/by/vote/deffor.htm |title=Total Annual Appropriations and Forecast Permanent Appropriations and Multi-Year Appropriations |work=Budget 2025/26 |date=22 May 2025 |publisher=The Treasury |access-date=10 June 2025 }}</ref><br />''Vote Defence Force (NZD)''<br />$5,193,270,000
| percent_GDP = 1.3%<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/new-zealand/#military-and-security |title= The World Factbook |website=Cia.gov |access-date= 2022-05-04 }}</ref>
<!-- Industrial -->| domestic_suppliers = 
| imports = 
| exports = <!-- Related articles -->
| history = [[Military history of New Zealand]]
| ranks = [[New Zealand military ranks]]
| commander = [[Air Marshal]] Tony Davies {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM}}
| commander_title = [[Chief of Defence Force (New Zealand)|Chief of Defence Force]]
}}

The '''New Zealand Defence Force''' ('''NZDF'''; {{langx|mi|Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa}}, {{abbr|lit.|literally}} "Line of Defence of New Zealand") is the three-branched [[military]] of [[New Zealand]]. The NZDF is responsible for the protection of the [[national security]] of New Zealand and its [[Realm of New Zealand|realm]], promoting its interests, safeguarding peace and security, as well as supporting peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. It consists of three services: the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] (RNZN), the [[New Zealand Army]] and the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] (RNZAF), as well as tri-service components. As of June 2024, the NZDF has a strength of 15,383 employees, consisting of 10,037 regular force personnel, 3,281 reserve force personnel and 3,294 civilian members.<ref name="auto"/> It is supported by the [[Ministry of Defence (New Zealand)|New Zealand Ministry of Defence]] (MOD) and is commanded by the [[Chief of Defence Force (New Zealand)|Chief of Defence Force]] (CDF).

The principal roles and tasks expected of the NZDF is to provide a [[combat]] capable force to defend New Zealand's [[sovereign territory]], and protect critical lines of communication. To provide [[Civil defense|civil defence]] support, meet [[Whole-of-government approach|whole-of-government]] security objectives, as well as commitments to allies and partners, support government agencies, protect and promote regional peace, security and resilience in the [[Indo-Pacific|South Pacific]], and uphold the international rules-based order.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=NZDF Strategic Plan: 2019–2025 |url=https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/assets/Uploads/DocumentLibrary/NZDF-Strategic-Plan-2019-2025-v2.pdf |website=NZDF}}</ref>

The NZDF delivers [[Military|military effects]] in support of New Zealand’s [[National security|national security objectives]]. It follows a government set [[Military policy|defence policy]] framework that defines its principles, outcomes and priorities. The NZDF is a critical component of New Zealand’s national security system. New Zealand takes an "all-hazards" approach to national security that brings [[Government agency|government agencies]] together to respond to all risks to national security, whether internal or external, human, natural or artificial.<ref name=":1"/>

The [[commander-in-chief]] is the [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor-General]] (as the representative of the [[King of New Zealand]]). Control of the NZDF is under the [[Minister of Defence (New Zealand)|Minister of Defence]], under the [[Defence Act 1990]].<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1983/0225/latest/DLM90804.html|last=Elizabeth II| author-link=Elizabeth II| title=Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand| date=28 October 1983| publisher=Parliamentary Counsel Office|access-date=23 October 2018|quote=We do hereby constitute, order, and declare that there shall be, in and over Our Realm of New Zealand … a Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief}}</ref> The current Governor-General is [[Cindy Kiro]], and the Minister of Defence is [[Judith Collins]].

[[Air Marshal]] Tony Davies was appointed Chief of Defence Force on 6 June 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Change of Command Ceremony for the Chief of the Defence Force |url=https://gg.govt.nz/governor-general/blog/2024/06/change-command-ceremony-chief-defence-force |website=gg.govt.nz |publisher=[[Government House, Wellington|Government House]] |access-date=6 June 2024 |language=en |date=6 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Our people, structure and leadership |url=https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/who-we-are/our-people-structure-and-leadership/ |website=www.nzdf.mil.nz |publisher=New Zealand Defence Force |access-date=7 June 2024 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

==History ==
{{See also|Military history of New Zealand}}

===Militia (1845–1886)===
{{Main|New Zealand Wars}}

After the [[Treaty of Waitangi]] in 1840, New Zealand's security was dependent on [[British Army|British Imperial troops]] deployed from [[Australia]] and other parts of the empire. By 1841 the settlers, particularly those in the [[New Zealand Company]] settlement of [[Wellington]], were calling for local militia to be formed.<ref>Editorial, ''New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator'', Vol 14 issue 70, 14 August 1841, p&nbsp;2</ref> In 1843 a local militia had been formed in Wellington without official sanction.<ref>Editorial, ''New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advisor'', Vol 1 issue 104, 28 July 1843, p&nbsp;2</ref> This prompted the Chief Police Magistrate Major Matthew Richmond to order its immediate disbandment. Richmond also dispatched 53 soldiers from the [[96th Regiment of Foot|96th Regiment]] from Auckland to Wellington.

These calls for a militia continued to grow with the [[Wairau Affray]], the start of the [[New Zealand Wars]]. The calls eventually led to a bill being introduced to the Legislative Council in 1844.<ref>Legislative Council, Daily Southern Cross, Vol 2 issue 76, 28 September 1844</ref> Those present noted their disapproval of the bill, unanimously deferring it for six months. On 22 March 1845 the [[Flagstaff War]] broke out, which proved to be the catalyst for passing the Bill.<ref>Bay of Islands, ''Daily Southern Cross'', Vol 2 issue 101, 22 March 1845, p&nbsp;2</ref>

In 1844 a [[Select committee (United Kingdom)|Select Committee]] of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] had recommended that a militia, composed of both settlers and native [[Māori people|Maori]], and a permanent native force be set up.<ref>Mounted Police, ''New Zealander'', Volume 2, Issue 59, 18 July 1846, page&nbsp;2</ref>

On 25 March 1845, the Militia Ordinance was passed into law.<ref>Militia Ordinance, ''Daily Southern Cross'', Vol 2 issue 103, 5 April 1845, p&nbsp;2</ref> Twenty-six officers were appointed in Auckland, thereby forming the start of New Zealand's own defence force.<ref>''Daily Southern Cross'', 19 April 1845, Page 4, Government Gazette Notices.</ref> Major Richmond was appointed the commander of the Wellington Battalion of the militia.<ref>District Orders, ''New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian'', Volume I, Issue 34, 31 May 1845, Page 2</ref> The newspaper article of the time notes that Wellington had a mounted Volunteer Corp. The Nelson Battalion of Militia was formed 12 August 1845.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theprow.org.nz/society/nelson-war-memorials/#.WmY24K6nGUk |title=Nelson's war memorials|website=www.theprow.org.nz |access-date=25 January 2018 }}</ref>

In June 1845, 75 members of the Auckland Militia under Lieutenant Figg became the first unit to support British Imperial troops in the Flagstaff War, serving as pioneers.<ref>Bay of Islands, ''New Zealander'', Volume 1, Issue 2, 14 June 1845, Page 3
</ref> Seven militia were wounded in action between 30 June and 1 July 1845. One, a man named Rily, later died of his wounds.<ref>Colonel Despard's Despatch, ''New Zealander'', Volume 1, Issue 7, 19 July 1845, Page 2</ref> The Auckland Militia was disbanded in August or early September 1845 because of budgetary constraints.<ref>Auckland, ''New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian'', Volume II, Issue 51, 27 September 1845, Page 3</ref> Disbandment of the Nelson and Wellington Militias followed much to the dismay of their supporters.<ref>Port Nicholson, ''Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle'', Volume IV, Issue 188, 11 October 1845, Page 127</ref> Those at Nelson under Captain Greenwood decided, regardless of pay or not, to continue training.<ref>Nelson Militia, ''Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle'', Volume IV, Issue 187, 4 October 1845, Page 122</ref>

Trouble in the Hutt Valley, near Wellington, in early March 1846 prompted the new Governor [[George Grey]] to proclaim [[martial law]] and call out the Hutt Militia, in what became known as the [[Hutt Valley campaign]].<ref>Editorial, ''New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian'', Volume II, Issue 74, 7 March 1846, Page 2</ref> Following on from this the local paper noted that the No 1 Company of the Wellington Militia had been called out, while the troops stationed in the town had been in the Hutt.<ref>Editorial, 'New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian', Volume II, Issue 75, 14 March 1846, Page 2
</ref> The paper further noted that Grey intended to maintain two companies of Militia in Wellington. As problems continued in the area at least 160 Militia remained.<ref>Port Nicholson,'New Zealander', Volume I, Issue 49, 9 May 1846, Page 3</ref> These were supplemented by volunteers and Māori warriors from the [[Te Aro#Te Aro Pā|Te Aro]] [[pā]].<ref>Port Nicholson, 'New Zealander', Volume 2, Issue 56, 27 June 1846, Page 3</ref>

On 28 October 1846, with the passing of the Armed Constabulary Ordinance in 1846, a fresh call was made by Mr Donnelly of the Legislature to do away with the Militia because of its expense.<ref>Legislative Council, 'New Zealander', Volume 2, Issue 74, 31 October 1846, Page 2</ref> The cost to Britain of maintaining a military force in New Zealand was considerable, prompting a dispatch on 24 November 1846 from The Right Hon [[Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey|Earl Grey]] to advise Lieutenant Governor George Grey that<ref>Military, 'New Zealander', Volume 3, Issue 119, 21 July 1847, Page 3</ref>{{blockquote|the formation of a well-organised Militia and of a force of Natives in the service of Her Majesty, would appear to be the measures most likely to be successfully adopted.}} Further pressure in the early 1850s from Britain for removing their forces prompted pleas for them to remain as the Militia were deemed insufficient for the purpose.<ref>Withdrawal of the troops, 'Daily Southern Cross', Volume VI, Issue 433, 22 August 1851, Page 2</ref>

1854 brought a new threat to the attention of the colony because up to that time the military focus had been upon internal conflicts between settlers and the Māori. [[Crimean War|War]] had broken out between [[Russia]] and [[Turkey]]. This war began to involve the major European powers and exposed New Zealand and [[Australia]] to a possible external threat from the [[Imperial Russian Navy]].<ref>Letters to the Editor. Our defences, 'Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle', Volume XIII, Issue 639, 3 June 1854, Page 5</ref> Parliament discussed providing guns at ports around the country for use in the event of a war with a foreign power.<ref>Proceedings of the General Assembly, ''Taranaki Herald'', Volume V, Issue 211, 16 August 1856, Page 2</ref>

By 1858 attention had swung back to local issues with a land dispute in [[New Plymouth]] prompting Governor [[Thomas Gore Browne]] to call out its militia under Captain Charles Brown.<ref>Proclamation, ''Taranaki Herald'', Volume VI, Issue 288, 6 February 1858, Page 3</ref> A prelude to what was to become the [[First Taranaki War]] and a period of conflict in the North Island until 1872.

The newly formed [[New Zealand Parliament]] revised and expanded the Militia Ordinance, replacing it with the Militia Act 1858.<ref>Arts of the General Assembly, ''Colonist'', Issue 84, 10 August 1858, Page 4</ref> Some of the main changes were clauses enabling volunteers to be included under such terms and conditions as the Governor may specify. The act also outlined the purposes under which Militia could be called upon, including invasion. Debates in Parliament had included expressions of concern about Russian naval expansion in the northern Pacific, pointed out that the sole naval defence consisted of one 24-gun frigate, and the time it would take for Britain to come to the colony's aid.

British Imperial troops remained in New Zealand until February 1870, during the later stage of the New Zealand Wars, by which time settler units had replaced them.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/B/BritishTroopsInNewZealand/BritishTroopsInNewZealand/en |title=BRITISH TROOPS IN NEW ZEALAND – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |website=Teara.govt.nz |date=2009-04-22 |access-date=2015-06-24}}</ref>

The Defence Act 1886 reclassified the militia as volunteers. These were the forerunners of the Territorials.

===Volunteers (1858–1909)===
{{main|Volunteer Force (New Zealand)}}
Although there were informal volunteer units as early as 1845, the appropriate approval and regulation of the units did not occur until the [[Militia Act 1858]]. Those who signed up for these units were exempt from militia duty, but had to be prepared to serve anywhere in New Zealand. One of the earliest gazetted units (13 January 1859) was the [[Taranaki Regiment|Taranaki Volunteer Rifle Company]].<ref>Taranaki Volunteer Rifle Corps, ''Taranaki Herald'', Volume VII, Issue 340, 5 February 1859, Page 3</ref>

To the Volunteer Rifle Corps were added Volunteer Artillery Corps in mid-1859. The first of these Volunteer Artillery Corps were based in Auckland.<ref>Auckland, Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 71, 3 September 1859, Page 2</ref>

By late 1859 the number of volunteer units was so great that Captain H C Balneavis was appointed Deputy Adjunct-General, based at Auckland.<ref>Untitled, ''Hawke's Bay Herald'', Volume 2, Issue 103, 10 September 1859, Page 2</ref>

===Colonial Defence Force (1862–1867)===
In 1863 the government passed the Colonial Defence Force Act 1862 creating the first Regular Force. This was to be a mounted body of not more than 500 troops, with both Maori and settlers, and costing no more than 30,000 pounds per annum.<ref>Wellington – split in the Ministry, ''Otago Daily Times'', Issue 233, 18 September 1862, Page 5</ref> All were volunteers and expected to serve for three years.

Formation of the first unit did not begin until early April 1863, with 100 men being sought at New Plymouth under Captain Atkinson.<ref>(From our own correspondent), Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1782, 6 April 1863, Page 6</ref> Hawke's Bay was to have the next unit.<ref>Provincial Council, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 376, 11 April 1863, Page 2</ref> By late April, papers were reporting few had enlisted in New Plymouth.<ref>Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 37, 25 April 1863, Page 2</ref>

Formation of an Auckland unit under Colonel Nixon commenced in July and by the 14th had 30 men.<ref>Military and volunteer movements, Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1869, 14 July 1863, Page 3</ref>

====Authorised units by July 1863====
Commander: Major-General Galloway<ref>The Defence Force, ''Wellington Independent'', Volume XVII, Issue 1895, 16 July 1863, Page 2</ref><ref>Military and volunteer movements, Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1870, 15 July 1863, Page 3</ref><ref>''Taranaki Herald'', Volume XII, Issue 585, 17 October 1863, Page 2</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! header 1|Location
! header 2|Authorised
! header 3|Actual
! header 4|Commander
|-
| row 1, cell 1|Auckland
| row 1, cell 2|100
| row 1, cell 3| 50
| row 1, cell 4|Lieutenant Colonel [[Marmaduke Nixon|Marmaduke George Nixon]]
|-
| row 2, cell 1|Ahuriri (Hawke's Bay)<ref>Hawke's Bay (from our own correspondent) Napier, 17 July 1863, ''Daily Southern Cross'', Volume XIX, Issue 1876, 22 July 1863, Page 3</ref>
| row 2, cell 2|100
| row 2, cell 3|100
| row 2, cell 4|Major [[George Stoddart Whitmore]]<ref>Local Intelligence, ''Hawke's Bay Herald'', Volume 6, Issue 406, 29 July 1863, Page 2</ref>
|-
| row 3, cell 1|New Plymouth
| row 3, cell 2|100
| row 3, cell 3|-
| row 3, cell 4|Captain [[Harry Atkinson|Harry Albert Atkinson]]
|-
| row 4, cell 1|Otago<ref>Local Intelligence, ''Wellington Independent'', Volume XVIII, Issue 1897, 21 July 1863, Page 2</ref>
| row 4, cell 2|50
| row 4, cell 3|
| row 4, cell 4|Mr Branigan
|-
| row 5, cell 1|Wairarapa
| row 5, cell 2| 50
| row 5, cell 3|
| rwo 5, cell 3|
|-
| row 6, cell 1|Wellington
| row 6, cell 2|100
| row 6, cell 3|
| row 6, cell 4|James Townsend Edwards<ref>Appointments, ''Wellington Independent'', Volume XVIII, Issue 1970, 15 October 1863, Page 3</ref>
|}

By October 1863 there was no Wairarapa-based defence force, and 50 were based in Wanganui.<ref>News of the Week, ''Otago Witness'', Issue 622, 30 October 1863, Page 5</ref> The Otago force had earlier been moved to Wellington, with further Otago volunteers heading for the Auckland and Hawke's Bay Units. The total Defence Force numbered 375 by 3 November 1863.<ref>House of Representatives – Tuesday, 3 November 1863, ''Daily Southern Cross'', Volume XIX, Issue 1966, 4 November 1863, Page 4</ref>

In October 1864 the Government decided to reduce the numbers in the Colonial Defence Force to 75 with three units of 25 members each in Wellington, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki.<ref>Disbanding the Defence Force, 'Wellington Independent', Volume XIX, Issue 2121, 29 October 1864, Page 3</ref> By this time there were about 10,000 British Imperial troops in New Zealand, supplemented by about as many New Zealand volunteer and militia forces. There were calls, particularly from South Island papers, for the British Imperial troops to be replaced by local forces.<ref>Imperial v. colonial troops question, Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 74, 18 November 1864, Page 3</ref> Parliamentary debates in late 1864 also supported this view, especially as the cost of maintaining the Imperial troops was becoming a greater financial burden on the colony.<ref>Parliament of New Zealand, Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2298, 1 December 1864, Page 5</ref>

====Defence review, March 1865====
At the request of the governor in January 1865 a formal statement on the defence of the colony was presented on 20 March 1865. This proposed an armed constabulary force supported by friendly natives, volunteer units, and militia as the case may require be established to take the place of the Imperial troops.<ref>On the defences of the Colony, ''Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle'', Volume XXIV, Issue 51, 29 April 1865, Page 3</ref> The proposed force was to consist of 1,350 Europeans and 150 Maori – 1,500 in total. They were to be divided into 30 companies of 50 men each based as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! header 1|Province
! header 2|Location
! header 3|Number
|-
| row 1, cell 1|Auckland
| row 1, cell 2|Queens Redoubt south, between the Waikato and Waipa Rivers
| row 1, cell 3|6
|-
| row 2, cell 1|
| row 2, cell 2|From the Bluff to Pukorokoro
| row 2, cell 3|3
|-
| row 3, cell 1|
| row 3, cell 2|In reserve at Papakura or vicinity
| row 3, cell 3|3
|-
| row 4, cell 1|
| row 4, cell 2|Tauranga
| row 4, cell 3|1
|-
| row 5, cell 1|Taranaki and Wellington
| row 5, cell 2|Taranaki and Wanganui Districts
| row 5, cell 3|12
|-
| row 6, cell 1|
| row 6, cell 2|Wellington
| row 6, cell 3|1
|-
| row 7, cell 1|Hawke's Bay
| row 7, cell 2|Napier
| row 7, cell 3|4
|}
The total Defence budget, which included purchasing a steamer for use on the Waikato, Patea, and Wanganui rivers, was 187,000 pounds per annum. The budget's focus was solely on internal conflict. The issue of external conflict did not begin to resurface until the following year, with thought being given again to coastal defences.<ref>Coastal defences, 'Colonist', Volume IX, Issue 916, 13 July 1866, Page 5</ref>

The Colonial Defence Force was disbanded in October 1867 by the Armed Constabulary Act 1867. Its members transferred to the Armed Constabulary.

===Evolution of volunteers and militia===
From 1863 to 1867 Forest Ranger volunteer units were formed, tasked with searching out Maori war parties, acting as scouts, and protecting lines of communication. They arose out of the need to prevent ambushes and random attacks on civilians near forest areas.<ref>Notice to the coast natives, Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1885, 1 August 1863, Page 4</ref> The Rangers were well armed and more highly paid. These units used guerrilla style tactics, moving through areas under cover of darkness and ambushing war parties. The Forest Rangers were disbanded on 1 October 1867.<ref>New Zealand Gazette, Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3209, 29 October 1867, Page 4</ref>

:''See [[New Zealand Police]]''
Alongside the militia and the British Imperial forces were the Armed Constabulary. The Armed Constabulary were formed in 1846 with the passage of the Armed Constabulary Ordinance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rnza.co.nz/artillery_heritage/legislation/1846_constabulary_act.htm|title=1846 Constabulary Act|website=rnza.co.nz|access-date=25 January 2018}}</ref> The Constabulary's role was both regular law enforcement and during the New Zealand Wars militia support. From 1867 to 1886 the Armed Constabulary were the only permanent force in New Zealand. In 1886 the militia functions of the Armed Constabulary were transferred to the New Zealand Permanent Militia by the Defence Act 1886. Lieutenant Colonel [[John Roberts]] was the Permanent Militia's first commander from January 1887 to his retirement in 1888.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1r12/1|title=Roberts, John Mackintosh|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|last=Taonga|access-date=2 November 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Henderson and the donkey.jpg|thumb|200px|Lt. Richard Alexander "Dick" Henderson, New Zealand Medical Corps, carrying a wounded soldier on a donkey during the [[Battle of Gallipoli]]]]

===Defence Act 1909===
The Defence Act 1909 replaced the Volunteer forces with a Territorial force and compulsory military training, a regime that remained until the late 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/defence-armed-services-army-new-zealand/5|title=The Territorial Force|first1=McLintock, Alexander|last1=Hare|first2=Richard Ainslie Barber, N.Z.L.A.CERT., Librarian, Army Department, Wellington.Richard Ainslie Barber, N.Z.L.A.CERT., Librarian, Army Department|last2=Wellington.|first3=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|last3=Taonga|access-date=2 November 2016}}</ref>

===Separate services (from 1909)===
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2012}}
:''See [[Royal New Zealand Navy]], [[New Zealand Army]], [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]]''
[[File:14 NZ Brigade Group landing, Point Cruz, Guadalcanal World War II (13971875862).jpg|thumb|New Zealand troops land on [[Guadalcanal]] in the Solomons.]]
Independent New Zealand armed forces developed in the early twentieth century; the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] was the last to emerge as an independent service in 1941.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.navymuseum.mil.nz/history/time/ww2/1941-rnzn/default.htm |title=1941 Royal New Zealand Navy Established |access-date=17 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017193216/http://navymuseum.mil.nz/history/time/ww2/1941-rnzn/default.htm |archive-date=17 October 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Prior to that time it had been the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. New Zealand forces served alongside the British and other Empire and Commonwealth nations in [[World War I]] and [[World War II]].

The fall of [[Battle of Singapore|Singapore]] in 1942 showed that Britain could no longer protect its far-flung Dominions. Closer military ties were therefore necessary for New Zealand's defence. With United States entering the war, they were an obvious choice. Links with Australia had also been developed earlier; both nations sent troops to the [[Boer War|Anglo-Boer War]] and New Zealand officer candidates had trained at Australia's [[Royal Military College, Duntroon|Royal Military College Duntroon]] since 1911, a practice that continues to this day. A combined Australian and New Zealand Army Corps ([[ANZAC]]) was formed for the [[Gallipoli campaign]] during World War I, and its exploits are key events in the military history of both countries.

The NZDF came into existence under the [[Defence Act 1990]]. Under previous legislation, the three services were part of the [[Ministry of Defence (New Zealand)|Ministry of Defence]]. Post-1990, the Ministry of Defence is a separate, policy-making body under a Secretary of Defence, equal in status to the Chief of Defence Force.

===2020s retention and capability issues===
In 2023, ''[[North & South (New Zealand magazine)|North & South]]'' and [[Radio New Zealand]] reported that the NZDF was experiencing a high attrition rate in the two-year period between 2021 and 2023 due to poor salaries and living conditions at military accommodation.<ref name="North & South">{{cite journal |last1=McKenzie |first1=Peter |title=Defence Force Funding |journal=[[North & South (New Zealand magazine)|North & South]] |date=11 February 2023 |issue=March 2023 |url=https://northandsouth.co.nz/2023/02/11/new-zealand-defence-force/ |access-date=13 April 2023}}</ref><ref name="RNZ April 2023">{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Charlotte |title=NZ Defence Force ongoing staff shortage affected Cyclone Gabrielle response |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018884377/nz-defence-force-ongoing-staff-shortage-affected-cyclone-gabrielle-response |access-date=13 April 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=3 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403070229/https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018884377/nz-defence-force-ongoing-staff-shortage-affected-cyclone-gabrielle-response |archive-date=3 April 2023}}</ref> According to ''North and South'' contributor Peter McKenzie, 77% of NZDF personnel were paid between 5% and 16% less than people in equivalent civilian jobs. By October 2022, the NZDF's military attrition rate averaged at 15.8% (ranging from 12.1% for the Navy and 17.4% for the Army).<ref name="North & South" /> In April 2023, Radio New Zealand reported that the high attrition rate had limited the NZDF's response to [[Cyclone Gabrielle]], its ability to crew three naval offshore patrol vessels, and accelerated the Air Force's decommissioning of its fleet of [[Lockheed P-3 Orion|P-3K2 Orions]]. The Chief of Defence Force [[Air Marshal]] [[Kevin Short (RNZAF officer)|Kevin Short]] also confirmed that a critical shortage of skilled trades including plumbers, electricians, carpenters, Special Forces, Navy propulsion experts and middle managers had led the Force to make two rounds of NZ$10,000 payments in an attempt to convince personnel to remain in the Defence Force.<ref name="RNZ April 2023" />

In July 2024, the NZDF confirmed that it would be investing NZ$490 million to expand and upgrade housing at the [[Waiouru Military Camp]] in partnership with local [[iwi]] (tribe) [[Ngāti Rangi]] over the next 25 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Moana |title=Defence Force's $490m housing upgrade for Waiouru military camp |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/07/16/defence-forces-490m-housing-upgrade-for-waiouru-military-camp/ |access-date=16 July 2024 |work=[[1News]] |date=16 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716001757/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/07/16/defence-forces-490m-housing-upgrade-for-waiouru-military-camp/ |archive-date=16 July 2024}}</ref> In early April 2025, Radio New Zealand reported that the NZDF had dropped some [[National Certificate of Educational Achievement]] (NCEA) Level 1 and Level 2 enlistment requirements in 2024 in a bid to boost recruitment.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Dwyer |first1=Ellen |title=NZDF drops entry requirements in bid to boost numbers |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/557355/nzdf-drops-entry-requirements-in-bid-to-boost-numbers |access-date=8 April 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=7 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408034301/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/557355/nzdf-drops-entry-requirements-in-bid-to-boost-numbers |archive-date=8 April 2025}}</ref>

On 7 April 2025, [[Minister of Defence (New Zealand)|Defence Minister]] [[Judith Collins]] announced that the New Zealand Government would be investing NZ$12 billion (US$5 billion) in the NZDF over the next four years to boost defence spending to over 2 percent of [[gross domestic product]]. Key priorities have included investing in enhanced strike capabilities, defence housing, unmanned aerial and aquatic vehicles, replacing maritime helicopters and the [[Boeing 757]] fleet, and upgrading existing military infrastructure at [[Ohakea]] and [[Devonport, New Zealand|Devonport]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schulenburg |first=Rupert |date=12 May 2025 |title='Enhanced strike' capabilities: a reckoning for New Zealand |url=https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2025/05/enhanced-strike-capabilities-a-reckoning-for-new-zealand/ |website=International Institute for Strategic Studies}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Anneke |title=Government unveils $12 billion Defence Capability Plan |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/557432/government-unveils-12-billion-defence-capability-plan |access-date=8 April 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=7 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407083650/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/557432/government-unveils-12-billion-defence-capability-plan |archive-date=7 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="AFP Star 4 May 2025">{{cite news |title=New Zealand to replace navy helicopters over 'global tensions' |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/05/04/new-zealand-to-replace-navy-helicopters-over-039global-tensions039 |access-date=7 May 2025 |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=4 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250504074915/https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/05/04/new-zealand-to-replace-navy-helicopters-over-039global-tensions039 |archive-date=4 May 2025}}</ref> On 6 May 2025, Collins confirmed that the Government would allocate NZ$2 billion (US$1.2 billion) from this defence funding allocation to purchasing new maritime helicopters for the Royal New Zealand Navy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Judith |title=New helicopters a commitment to global security |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-helicopters-commitment-global-security |website=Beehive.govt.nz |publisher=[[New Zealand Government]] |access-date=7 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250504111411/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-helicopters-commitment-global-security |archive-date=4 May 2025 |date=4 May 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AFP Star 4 May 2025" />

On 21 August, Defence Minister Collins and Foreign Minister Peters announced that the Government would purchase two [[Airbus A321XLR]] jets for the Air Force and five new [[MH-60R Seahawk]]s for the Navy as part of its long-term defence investment programme. The Airbus jets will replace the Air Force's two [[Boeing 757]] jets while the Seahawk helicopters will replace the Navy's eight [[Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite]]s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McDonnell |first1=Glenn |title=Ministers confirm replacements for aging Defence Force aircraft |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360798421/ministers-considering-replacements-air-force-troop-and-vip-jets |access-date=21 August 2025 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=21 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821232200/https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360798421/ministers-considering-replacements-air-force-troop-and-vip-jets |archive-date=21 August 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New planes, helicopters for Defence Force |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/08/21/new-planes-helicopters-for-defence-force/ |access-date=21 August 2025 |work=[[1News]] |date=21 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821232434/https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/08/21/new-planes-helicopters-for-defence-force/ |archive-date=21 August 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Higher direction of the armed services==
A new HQNZDF facility was opened by [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] [[Helen Clark]] in March 2007.<ref>[http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/media-releases/20070328-eedhobpm.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525184928/http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/media-releases/20070328-eedhobpm.htm|date=25 May 2009}}</ref> 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 initially was home to around 900 employees of the NZDF, the [[New Zealand Security Intelligence Service]] (NZSIS) and the Ministry of Defence; the NZSIS moved across to Pipitea House in early 2013,<ref>NZSIS Annual Report 2012-2013 [http://www.security.govt.nz/assets/media/annual-reports/nzsis-ar13.pdf], retrieved on 24 October 2017</ref> and the NZDF were forced to vacate the Aitken St building after the [[2016 Kaikōura earthquake]], which seriously damaged the building.<ref>Reports in several mainstream media outlets such as Newshub [https://web.archive.org/web/20170310095738/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/03/quake-damaged-defence-house-in-wellington-to-be-demolished.html], 3 March 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.</ref> HQNZDF functions having been moved into other buildings and facilities across the region. 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 Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand.

===Joint Forces Headquarters===
The operational forces of the three services are directed from [[Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand]] opposite [[Trentham Military Camp]] in [[Upper Hutt]]. HQ JFNZ was established at Trentham on 1 July 2001. 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.<ref>[http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/hqjfnz/default.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511155613/http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/hqjfnz/default.htm|date=11 May 2012}}</ref>

===Senior officers===
{{As of|September 2024}}:<ref>{{cite web |title=Our leadership |url=https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/structure-and-leadership/ |website=www.nzdf.mil.nz |publisher=New Zealand Defence Force |access-date=13 September 2024 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"  style="width:98%;"
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center;" |'''[[Chief of Defence Force (New Zealand)|Chief of Defence Force]]'''<br />Air Marshal Tony Davies
|- align=center
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Vice Chief of Defence Force (New Zealand)|Vice Chief of Defence Force]]'''<br />Rear Admiral Mathew Williams
| colspan="4" |'''[[Commander Joint Forces New Zealand|Commander Joint Forces]]'''<br /> Major General Robert Krushka
|'''[[Chief of Navy (New Zealand)|Chief of Navy]]'''<br />Rear Admiral<br />Garin Golding
|'''[[Chief of Army (New Zealand)|Chief of Army]]'''<br />Major General<br />[[Rose King (army officer)|Rose King]]
|'''[[Chief of Air Force (New Zealand)|Chief of Air Force]]'''<br />Air Vice-Marshal<br />[[Darryn Webb]]
|- align=center
|'''Special Operations Component Commander'''<br /> Colonel 
Sean Bolton<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/about-us/nzsof/soc.htm|title=NZDF – soc|website=New Zealand Defence Force|access-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407110918/http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/about-us/nzsof/soc.htm|archive-date=7 April 2020}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=May 2025|reason=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/queens-birthday-honours-2015-citations-new-zealand-distinguished-service-decoration explains the subject's identify was concealed until 2024, but does not mention his role as SOCC.}}
|'''Maritime Component Commander'''<br />Commodore<br />Shane Arndell
|'''Land Component Commander'''<br />Brigadier<br />Jason Dyhrberg
|'''Air Component Commander'''<br />Air Commodore<br />Andy Scott
|'''Deputy Chief of Navy'''<br />Commodore<br />Andrew Brown
|'''Deputy Chief of Army'''<br />Brigadier<br />Hamish Gibbons
|'''Deputy Chief of Air Force'''<br />Air Commodore<br />Daniel (DJ) Hunt
|}

The Defence Force created a joint-service corporate services organisation known as the Joint Logistics and Support Organisation (JLSO) in the 2000s, which later became Defence Shared Services.

Following the establishment of [[Special Operations Command (New Zealand)|Special Operations Command]] on 1 July 2015, the new position of Special Operations Component Commander was created. This officer reports to the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, and is of equivalent status to the Maritime, Land and Air Component Commanders.<ref name="Army News July2015">{{cite news|title=Changes Afoot for Special Operations Command|url=http://army.mil.nz/downloads/pdf/army-news/armynews464.pdf|access-date=6 August 2015|work=Army News|publisher=New Zealand Army|date=July 2015|page=10}}</ref>

For the first time, two of the Deputy Chiefs of service, Navy and Air Force, [[One-star rank|one-star]] Commodores and Air Commodores, were women. Captain [[Melissa Ross]] was promoted to [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]] and appointed as [[Deputy Chief of Navy]] in December 2019,<ref>{{Cite web |title=SunLive – First woman commodore takes over deputy chief role – the Bay's News First |date=9 December 2019 |url=https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/228792-first-woman-commodore-takes-over-deputy-chief-role.html}}</ref> while in August 2019 Group Captain [[Carol Abraham]] was promoted to [[Air Commodore]] and appointed as [[Deputy Chief of Air Force]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal New Zealand Air Force |url=http://www.airforce.mil.nz/about-us/who-we-are/key-personnel/dcaf.htm}}</ref> Another female officer, Colonel Helen Cooper, had previously held the post of [[Deputy Chief of Army]] though in an acting capacity without being promoted to the customary rank of [[Brigadier]]. In an unusual move, as of February 2020, the Deputy Chief of Army, Evan Williams, holds not just the customary rank of Brigadier but that of [[Major General]], usually only held by the [[Chief of Army (New Zealand)|Chief of Army]].<ref>[http://army.mil.nz/about-us/who-we-are/our-leaders/dca.htm Major General Evan G. Williams], accessed February 2020.</ref>

=== Support for servicemen and women ===
The New Zealand Defence Force has implemented revised policy to increase support for the active servicemen and women in a number of ways and has expanded its support for all veterans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/downloads/pdf/public-docs/2015-2016-nzdf-annual-report.pdf|title=NZDF Annual Report 2015-2016}}</ref> This includes starting the Defence Force [[KiwiSaver]] scheme, and appointing financial advisers<ref>{{Cite web |title=Become Wealth {{!}} Become Wealth |url=https://www.become.nz/ |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=}}</ref> to support the welfare of members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreturns.co.nz/article/976503443/milestone-gets-military-contract.html|title=Milestone gets military contract – Good Returns|website=www.goodreturns.co.nz|access-date=2018-04-07}}</ref>

==Branches==
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2012}}

===Navy===
[[File:HMNZS Te Kaha - Flickr - NZ Defence Force.jpg|thumbnail|HMNZS ''Te Kaha'' in Cook Strait along with other RNZN ships]]
{{Main|Royal New Zealand Navy}}

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has 2,219 regular force and 611<ref name="auto"/> reserve force sailors. The RNZN possess two [[Anzac class frigate|''Anzac'' class frigates]], developed in conjunction with Australia, based on the German [[MEKO 200]] design. Nine other vessels are in use, consisting of patrol vessels and logistics vessels. In 2010, the RNZN completed the acquisition of seven new vessels: one large multi-role vessel named [[HMNZS Canterbury (L421)|HMNZS ''Canterbury'']], two offshore patrol vessels, and four inshore patrol vessels. All of these vessels were acquired under [[Project Protector]], and were built to commercial, not naval, standards.

* [[HMNZS Te Kaha]]
* [[HMNZS Te Mana]]
* [[HMNZS Otago (P148)|HMNZS Otago]]
* [[HMNZS Wellington (P55)|HMNZS Wellington]]
* [[HMNZS Hawea (2007)|HMNZS Hawea]]
* [[HMNZS Taupo (2008)|HMNZS Taupo]]
* [[HMNZS Canterbury (L421)|HMNZS Canterbury]]
* [[HMNZS Aotearoa]]

===Army===
[[File:QAMR soldiers during an exercise.jpg|thumb|Two soldiers from the [[Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles]] during an exercise in 2010]]
{{Main|New Zealand Army}}
[[File:NZLAV at Tekapo Military Camp July 2010.jpg|thumbnail|A New Zealand Army NZLAV at Tekapo Military Camp]]
The New Zealand Army has 4,519 regular force and 2,065 reserve force soldiers.<ref name="auto"/> The army is a light combat force made up of infantry and motorised infantry equipped with 73 Canadian-manufactured [[LAV III]] light armoured vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twenty two Light Armoured Vehicles sold to Chilean Navy |url=https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/news/twenty-two-light-armoured-vehicles-sold-to-chilean-navy/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.nzdf.mil.nz |language=en-NZ}}</ref> There are also armoured reconnaissance, artillery, logistic, communications, medical and intelligence elements. The [[Special Air Service (New Zealand)|New Zealand Special Air Service]] is the NZDF's [[special forces]] capability, which operates in both conventional warfare and counter-terrorist roles. The Corps and Regiments of the New Zealand Army include:
* [[Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery]]
* [[Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps]]
* [[Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers]]
* [[Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals]]
* [[Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment]]
* [[Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment]]
* [[Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps]]
* [[Royal New Zealand Army Nursing Corps]]
* [[Royal New Zealand Army Dental Corps]]
* [[Corps of Royal New Zealand Military Police]]
* [[New Zealand Intelligence Corps]]
* [[New Zealand Army Legal Services]]
* [[New Zealand Army Physical Training Corps]]
* [[Royal New Zealand Army Chaplains Department]]

===Air Force===
[[File:Air Force "Formation Thunder" - Flickr - NZ Defence Force.jpg|thumbnail|An RNZAF [[Boeing 757]], two [[Lockheed P-3 Orion|Lockheed P3K Orions]] and a [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|Lockheed C130H Hercules]] in formation]]
The [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] (RNZAF) has 2,477 regular force and 354 reserve force aircrew.<ref name="auto"/> The RNZAF consists of 51 aircraft, consisting of [[P-8 Poseidon]] maritime patrol aircraft and [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] and other transport aircraft. The [[NHIndustries NH90]] operates in a medium-utility role, and the [[AgustaWestland AW109]] operates the light utility helicopter role, in addition to the main training platform. RNZAF primary flight training occurs in [[Beechcraft T-6 Texan II]]s, before moving onto the [[Beechcraft King Air]].

The RNZAF does not have air combat capabilities following the retirement of its Air Combat Force of [[Douglas A-4 Skyhawk|A-4 Skyhawks]] in December 2001.<ref>Chapman, Paul [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/1329673/New-Zealand-scraps-air-force-warplanes.html New Zealand scraps air force warplanes] ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' 9 May 2011</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211208040453/http://australianaviation.com.au/2011/04/rnzaf-skyhawks-to-become-museum-pieces/ RNZAF Skyhawks to become museum pieces] ''[[Australian Aviation]]'' 8 April 2011</ref>

* [[No. 3 Squadron RNZAF]]
* [[No. 5 Squadron RNZAF]]
* [[No. 6 Squadron RNZAF]]
* [[No. 14 Squadron RNZAF]]
* [[No. 40 Squadron RNZAF]]
* [[No. 42 Squadron RNZAF]]
* [[No. 62 Squadron RNZAF]]
* No. 72 Space Squadron RNZAF
* No. 230 Squadron RNZAF
* Central Flying School

== Overseas deployments ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Country
!Command
|-
|{{Flagicon|Cook Islands}} [[Cook Islands]]
| rowspan="4" |New Zealand Mutual Assistance Program
|-
|{{Flagicon|East Timor}} [[East Timor]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Fiji}} [[Fiji]]
|-
|[[Solomon Islands]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|South Korea}} [[South Korea]]
|[[United Nations Command, Military Armistice Commission, Korea|United Nations Command & Military Armistice Commission]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Iraq}} [[Iraq]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve]]
[[United States Air Force]] [[609th Air Operations Center]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Kuwait}} [[Kuwait]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Qatar}} [[Qatar]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Bahrain}} [[Bahrain]]
|[[Combined Task Force 150]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Israel}} [[Israel]]
| rowspan="3" |[[United Nations Truce Supervision Organization|United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Lebanon}} [[Lebanon]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Syria}} [[Syria]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|Jordan}} [[Jordan]]
|Operation Gallant Phoenix
|-
|{{Flagicon|Egypt}} [[Egypt]]
|[[Multinational Force and Observers]]
|-
|{{Flagicon|South Sudan}} [[South Sudan]]
|[[United Nations Mission in South Sudan]]
|-
|Europe
|Operation Tieke
|}

==Foreign defence relations==
[[Image:Gate Pa Veh.jpg|thumb|New Zealand [[M113A1]] armoured personnel carriers of UNTAET at the Gate Pā base in the southern [[Suai, East Timor|Suai]] area, East Timor, 2002]]
[[File:SH 60F Sea Hawk helicopter in the Solomon Islands.jpg|thumb|New Zealand and Australian military personnel boarding a [[United States Navy]] helicopter to administer medical aid in outlying areas of the [[Solomon Islands]] during a humanitarian aid mission after the [[2007 Solomon Islands earthquake]]]]
{{See also|Foreign relations of New Zealand}}

New Zealand states it maintains a "credible minimum force", although critics (including the [[New Zealand National Party]] while in opposition) maintain that the country's defence forces have fallen below this standard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleId=4873 |title=News |publisher=National.org.nz |access-date=2015-06-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729083853/http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleId=4873 |archive-date=29 July 2013}}</ref> With a claimed area of direct strategic concern that extends from Australia to [[Southeast Asia]] to the [[Oceania|South Pacific]], and with defence expenditures that total around 1.5% of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]], New Zealand necessarily places substantial reliance on co-operating with other countries, particularly Australia.

New Zealand is an active participant in multilateral peacekeeping. It has taken a leading role in peace-keeping in the [[Solomon Islands]] and the neighbouring island of [[Bougainville Island|Bougainville]]. New Zealand has contributed to [[United Nations]] and other peacekeeping operations in [[Angola]], [[Cambodia]], [[Somalia]], [[Lebanon]] and the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|former Yugoslavia]]. It also participated in the [[Multilateral Interception Force in the Persian Gulf]]. New Zealand has an ongoing [[peacekeeping]] commitment to [[East Timor]], where it participated in the [[INTERFET]], [[UNTAET]] and [[UMAMET]] missions from 1999 to 2002. At one point over 1,000 NZDF personnel were in East Timor. The deployment included the vessels HMNZS Canterbury, Te Kaha and Endeavour, six Iroquois helicopters, two C-130 Hercules and an infantry battalion. In response to renewed conflict in 2006 more troops were deployed as part of an international force. 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 [[EUFOR Althea|EUFOR]] operation in the former Yugoslavia from December 2004 until New Zealand ended its 15-year continuous contribution there on 30 June 2007.

As of December 2015, New Zealand had 167 personnel deployed across the globe. These deployments are to Afghanistan(8), Antarctica(8), South Korea(5), Iraq(106), Middle East(8), Sinai(26), South Sudan(3) and the United Arab Emirates(11). 209 NZDF personnel are on other deployments and exercises.

New Zealand shares training facilities, personnel exchanges, and joint exercises with the [[Philippines]], [[Thailand]], [[Indonesia]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Brunei]], [[Tonga]], and South Pacific states. It exercises with its [[Five Power Defence Arrangement]]s partners, [[Australia]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Malaysia]], and [[Singapore]]. New Zealand military personnel participate in training exercises, conferences and visits as part of [[military diplomacy]].

New Zealand is a signatory of the [[ANZUS]] treaty, a defence pact between New Zealand, 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, the USA withdrew its obligations to New Zealand under ANZUS. ANZUS exercises are now bilateral 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 although NZ and the USA remained "good friends".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/3995638a13135.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930043259/http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/3995638a13135.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 September 2007 |title=Clark and Bush: focusing on the common ground |work=[[The Press]] |date=19 March 2007 |access-date=6 May 2007 }}</ref> Following the Wellington Declaration<ref>{{Cite web |title=US / NZ Strategic Partnership launches new era |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/us-nz-strategic-partnership-launches-new-era |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=The Beehive |language=en}}</ref> in 2010, US and NZ government announced a resumption of military cooperation in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-10-28 |title=US and New Zealand resume military cooperation |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-29/an-nz-and-us-resume-military-ties/5051400 |access-date=2022-05-31}}</ref> Port visits resumed in 2016, when the U.S. Navy was invited to send a ship to participate in the RNZN's 75th Birthday Celebration, and destroyer [[USS Sampson (DDG-102)]] visited Auckland.

[[File:NZ Soldiers Afghanistan 2009.jpg|thumb|right|Two members of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan during 2009]]
The NZDF served alongside NATO-led forces in Afghanistan in the first decade of the twenty-first century, and in 2004 the [[NZSAS]] was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation by US President George W Bush for "extraordinary heroism" in action. In 2008 US Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] during a visit to New Zealand said "New Zealand is now a friend and an ally".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0807/S00761.htm|title=Scoop World Coverage: Sec. Condoleezza Rice in NZ – Scoop News|access-date=2 November 2016}}</ref>

New Zealand is a member of the [[ABCA Armies]] standardisation programme, the naval [[AUSCANNZUKUS]] forum, the Air and Space Interoperability Council (ASIC, the former ASCC, which, among other tasks, allocates [[NATO reporting names]]) and other Western '[[UKUSA Agreement|Five Eyes]]' fora for sharing [[signals intelligence]] information and achieving interoperability with like-minded armed forces, such as [[The Technical Cooperation Program]] (TTCP).

==Limited Service Volunteer programme==
Since 1993, the New Zealand Defence Force has run a six-week residential training course called the '''Limited Service Volunteer''' (LSV) programme in partnership with the [[Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand)|Ministry of Social Development]] (MSD) and [[New Zealand Police]]. The programme focuses on life skills, health and fitness, workforce skills development and financial management.<ref>{{cite web |title=Limited Service Volunteer course |url=https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/work/get-ready-to-work/training-study-and-qualifications/limited-service-volunteer/index.html |website=Work and Income |publisher=[[Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand)|Ministry of Social Development]] |access-date=12 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114003139/https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/work/get-ready-to-work/training-study-and-qualifications/limited-service-volunteer/index.html |archive-date=14 November 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MSD 2015 evaluation report">{{cite web |title=Effectiveness of the Limited Service Volunteer programme in 2014/15 – Evaluation report |url=https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/evaluation/lsv-effectiveness/index.html |publisher=[[Ministry of Social Development (New Zealand)|Ministry of Social Development]] |access-date=12 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241118232745/https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/evaluation/lsv-effectiveness/index.html |archive-date=18 November 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, an MSD evaluation report found that the LSV course improved participants' workforce participation, income, higher educational participation, and reduced incarceration rates.<ref name="MSD 2015 evaluation report" />

In June 2019, the Government established a new NZ$11 million facility at [[Whenuapai Airbase]] in Auckland to support plans to raise the cohort of LSV trainees to 1,600 in 2020. Wing Commander Tua Atkinson estimated that 80% of LSV participants completed the course.<ref>{{cite news |title=Limited Service Volunteer programme: Boot camps for young people set to double in size |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/394649/limited-service-volunteer-programme-boot-camps-for-young-people-set-to-double-in-size |access-date=12 January 2025 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=18 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216094841/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/394649/limited-service-volunteer-programme-boot-camps-for-young-people-set-to-double-in-size |archive-date=16 December 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

In late June 2024, an NZDF briefing paper reported an increase in behavioural issues among LSV participants, physical assaults on staff and decreased morale, well-being and retention among NZDF staff involved in the LSV course.<ref>{{cite news |title=NZDF documents reveal serious concerns about youth offender boot camps |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/06/30/nzdf-documents-reveal-serious-concerns-about-youth-offender-boot-camps/ |access-date=12 January 2025 |work=[[1News]] |date=30 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926051330/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/06/30/nzdf-documents-reveal-serious-concerns-about-youth-offender-boot-camps/ |archive-date=26 September 2024}}</ref> The briefing paper estimated that 60% of youths participating in the LSV course in 2022–2023 had complex needs. It also reported that NZDF staff were overwhelmed by participants' behavioural problems, with at least ten personnel experiencing serious mental harm including suicide ideation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCulloch |first1=Craig |title=Defence staff suffer 'serious mental harm' from running course cited as boot camp blueprint |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/520918/defence-staff-suffer-serious-mental-harm-from-running-course-cited-as-boot-camp-blueprint |access-date=12 January 2025 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=1 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216224844/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/520918/defence-staff-suffer-serious-mental-harm-from-running-course-cited-as-boot-camp-blueprint |archive-date=16 December 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|New Zealand}}
[[File:Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - HMNZS Endeavour refuels HMNZS Te Kaha and ROKS Choi Young..jpg|thumbnail|HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Endeavour and the South Korean destroyer ROKS Choe Yeong at RIMPAC 2012]]
* [[List of New Zealand military bases]]
* [[List of individual weapons of the New Zealand armed forces]]
* [[New Zealand Defence College]]
* [[Current Royal New Zealand Navy ships]]
* [[List of ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy]]
* [[Royal New Zealand Navy plans]]
* [[List of aircraft of the RNZAF and RNZN]]
* [[List of squadrons of the RNZAF]]
* [[New Zealand Cadet Forces]]
* [[List of former Royal New Zealand Air Force stations]]
* [[2025 New Zealand espionage case]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Rolfe |first=James |title = The Armed Forces of New Zealand |year=1999 |publisher = Allen & Unwin |location = Sydney, NSW |isbn = 1-86448-800-X }}
* {{cite book |last=Rolfe |first=James |title=Cutting their cloth: New Zealand's defence strategy |url=http://www.aspi.org.au/publications/publication_details.aspx?ContentID=124 |year=2007 |publisher=[[Australian Strategic Policy Institute]] |location=Canberra, ACT |isbn=978-1-921302-10-7 |archive-date=10 May 2013 |access-date=19 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510075304/http://www.aspi.org.au/publications/publication_details.aspx?ContentID=124 |url-status=dead }}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y}}
{{New Zealand Defence Force}}
{{NZ Public Sector Organisations outside the Core Public Service}}
{{Military history of New Zealand}}
{{New Zealand topics}}
{{Military of Oceania}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:New Zealand Defence Force| ]]
[[Category:Military of New Zealand| ]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1990]]