NZSAS celebrates 70th birthday

For 70 years the New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) has been deployed on some of the most complex, challenging and dangerous missions faced by the New Zealand Defence Force, with the ultimate goal always being to protect New Zealand, its people and interests.

CAPTION: The New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment marks 70 years since its formation, on 7 June 1955. Image supplied by NZDF. 

NZSAS was raised as a response to a strategic dilemma in the 1950s, when the New Zealand government wanted to support the British in defending Malaya against the threat of communist expansion, while recognising its comparatively small defence force and resources.

As a result, a single NZSAS squadron was raised and deployed to give New Zealand a credible impact across both military and political circles.

From its humble beginnings, NZSAS has since grown to become a full regiment that gives the government of the day a range of high-readiness, highly effective military options to advance and protect its interests.

Chief of Army Major General Rose King said NZSAS operators had played a pivotal role in a number of significant engagements over the course of the unit’s existence.

“Our special forces personnel are among the best in the world at what they do,” Major General King said.

“They deploy into places that others can’t, they can achieve things that larger conventional units simply couldn’t.

“Their sense of service over self is second to none, and their will to succeed and achieve their mission is extraordinary.”

Throughout its history, members of NZSAS have been deployed throughout South East Asia and the Pacific, from Malaya to Timor Leste, Thailand to Papua New Guinea.

The Unit has also contributed to global peacekeeping and peace-monitoring missions, with NZSAS operators later being heavily involved in the Middle East, including reconnaissance operations and partnering with special police forces in Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan campaign was bookended with a NZSAS team leading the ground evacuation of nearly 400 people to safety following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

The Commanding Officer of 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment said that from the jungles of South East Asia and the Pacific, to the deserts, mountains and alleyways of the middle east and beyond, New Zealand’s Special Air Service Regiment has always stood ready for New Zealand, and always will.

“For 70 years SAS, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), commando, and special-operations enablers have delivered whenever government has asked, and whenever the Chief of Defence Force has tasked,” the Commanding Officer said.

From its early focus on special reconnaissance and deep infiltration in the jungle, the Regiment has developed counter-terrorism, direct action and special recovery capabilities in recent decades.

Commando and EOD trades have been established in order to support police and other agencies when responding to new threats at home, with further advances across intelligence, communications, logistics, female engagement and medical specialties to provide special-forces commanders with the broadest range of options and support.

The Regiment’s Commanding Officer said this weekend was a special occasion to reflect on what was a significant legacy of those who went before and would be marked with a series of events for both current and former members, beginning with the unveiling of new pou at Papakura Military Camp’s memorial area earlier this week.

“The memorial area is where the Regiment records its whakapapa.

“It’s where we thank those who have gone before and remember those who have paid the ultimate price.

“It is the spiritual hub of our camp and so these new pou carry a huge significance for us.

“We will reflect not just on the operational successes, but also the vigilance and dedication it takes to train and prepare at home, to maintain standards, to develop new tactics, and to ‘hold the pager’ for crisis response.”

Major General King said that whenever they were called upon, whatever the task, NZSAS members were always ready to deploy at immediate notice in order to uphold the values New Zealanders held so important.

“They are a huge credit to not only Ngāti Tūmatauenga, the New Zealand Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, but should be a source of pride for the country as a whole,” she said.

“A lot has changed within the regiment over the course of its seven decades, including evolved training methods, adapting to the changing nature of warfare, the physical locations of its home base and the hundreds of personnel and staff who have supported, enabled and maintained the regiment over the decades

“But many things have not, and will not change – the operational experience, professionalism and the unrelenting pursuit of excellence that embodies every member of New Zealand’s special forces.”

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