New Zealand Defence Force
| Military of New Zealand |
| The tri-service badge |
| Military Manpower |
| Military Age | 17 years of age (no age limit) |
Availability
(males and females age 17+) | 3,052,000 (2006 est.) |
Fit for military service
(males and females age 17+) | 1,760,000 (2006 est.) |
| Total troops | 8,721 (Ranked 126th) |
| Military expenditures |
US$ figure
(FY 03/04) | $1.147 billion (FY 03/04) |
Percent of GDP
(FY03/04) | 1% (FY 03/04) |
The military of
New Zealand consists of three branches: the
New Zealand Army; the
Royal New Zealand Navy; and the
Royal New Zealand Air Force. New Zealand's military developed from the
United Kingdom, which provided security for the European settlers in New Zealand, and later when the colony achieved dominion status. An independent New Zealand military only developed in the early twentieth century, and later served with Australians alongside the British in both
World War I and
II. As New Zealand grew more independent of the British, closer military ties were developed with
Australia and the
United States. New Zealand is a signatory of the
ANZUS treaty, a defence pact between it, Australia and the United States. Since the United States suspended its obligations to New Zealand in
1986, due to the latter's anti-nuclear policy that refused US ships access to port, New Zealand co-operates only with Australia under the treaty.
New Zealand's military has three defence policy objectives--defend New Zealand against low-level threats, contribute to regional security, and play a part in global security efforts. New Zealand considers its own national defence needs to be modest, due to its isolated location and benign relationships with neighbours.
See main article New Zealand ArmyNew Zealand's Army consists of around 4,500 full time and 2,500 part time troops. Most troops are infantry. New Zealand does not deploy tanks, although it does have just over 100 LAV AFVs. The
New Zealand SAS is the army's special forces unit. Other Army regiments are:
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Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment*
Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles*
Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery*
Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers*
Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals*
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 |
HMNZ Te Mana, one of New Zealand's two frigates |
See main article: Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy consists of 2 Anzac'' class frigates, developed in conjunction with
Australia. 8 other vessels are in use, consisting of patrol vessels and logistics. In a few years it will acquire seven new vessels: one large Multi-Role Vessel, 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 standards,
See main article: Royal New Zealand Air ForceThe Royal New Zealand Air Force consists of 50 aircraft, consisting of
P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft and
Lockheed C-130 Hercules and other transport aircraft. The RNZAF does not have a strike force following the retirement of its
A-4 Skyhawk and
Aermacchi MB-339 squadrons. A plan to acquire 26
F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft was cancelled also. The
NH90 helicopter has recently been ordered to replace
Bell UH-1 Iroquois. The
PAC CT/4 Airtrainer is locally produced.
The operational forces of the three services are directed from Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand near Trentham Military Camp in Upper Hutt. From this building the Air Component Commander, Maritime Component Commander, and Land Component Commander exercise command over their forces. Commander Joint Forces New Zealand (COMJFNZ), currently Rear Admiral Jack Steer,controls all overseas operational deployments and most overseas exercises.
New Zealand states it maintains a "credible minimum force," although critics 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 Asia to the
South Pacific, and with defence expenditures that total around 1% of
GDP, New Zealand necessarily places substantial reliance on co-operating with other countries, in particular Australia.
New Zealand is an active participant in multilateral peacekeeping. It has taken a leading role in trying to bring peace, reconciliation, and reconstruction to the
Solomon Islands and the neighboring island of
Bougainville. New Zealand maintains a contingent in the
Multinational Force and Observers and has contributed to
UN peacekeeping operations in
Angola,
Cambodia,
Somalia, and the
former Yugoslavia. It also participated in the
Multilateral Interception Force in the Persian Gulf. New Zealand's most recent
PKO experience has been in
East Timor, where it initially dispatched almost 10% of its entire defence force and continues to be the second-largest force contributor.
New Zealand participates in sharing training facilities, personnel exchanges, and joint exercises with the
Philippines,
Thailand,
Indonesia,
Papua New Guinea,
Brunei,
Tonga, and South Pacific states. It also exercises with its
Five-Power Defense Arrangement partners - Australia, the
United Kingdom,
Malaysia, and
Singapore. Due to New Zealand's antinuclear policy, defense cooperation with the U.S., including training exercises, has been significantly restricted since
1986.
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New Zealand Defence Force*
Royal New Zealand Navy Association
