New Zealand Archives - CONTACT magazine

Artist's impression of New Zealand's new Bushmaster.

NZ Army buys Aussie Bushmasters to replace Pinzgauer

09/07/2020 Brian Hartigan 330 Views 0 Comments

The New Zealand government has confirmed it will purchase 43 Australian-built Bushmaster NZ 5.5s as part of its Pinzgauer fleet replacement.

Aotearoa sails into Auckland Harbour for the first time. Photo from NZDF Facebook page.

New Zealand News Science & Technology

Aotearoa gets rousing welcome in Auckland

26/06/202026/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 808 Views 0 Comments

Royal New Zealand Navy’s new fleet tanker and replenishment ship Aotearoa sailed into Auckland Harbour today following a 15-day journey from South Korea.

The future HMNZS Aotearoa heading for New Zealand and commissioning into the Royal New Zealand Navy. Photo by RNZAF Orion crew.

New Zealand News Overseas

RNZ Navy’s Aotearoa heading for home

24/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 518 Views 0 Comments HMNZS Aotearoa

Royal New Zealand Navy’s newest and largest-ever ship Aotearoa is currently on her way to New Zealand and will be formally welcomed home on Friday.

Seasonal workers from Vanuatu board a Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 at Christchurch. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas

RNZAF returns seasonal workers to Vanuatu

19/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 537 Views 0 Comments

NZDF has begun taking more than 1000 Vanuatu nationals home, with the first group of passengers departing Christchurch on a RNZAF Boeing 757 this morning.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C130H Hercules prepares to deliver cyclone relief supplies to Vanuatu. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

NZDF continues to deliver Cyclone Harold relief

04/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 436 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

NZDF is returning citizens and continuing to deliver aid to Vanuatu this week, following widespread devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Harold in April.

New Zealand Army soldiers rappel from a Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter at the Rainbow Ski Area in Nelson during Exercise Southern Katipo 2015. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas

NZDF scales back major exercise

29/05/202029/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 651 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Exercise Southern Katipo 20 run regularly by the New Zealand Defence Force has been scaled back because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ADF Australian New Zealand News Science & Technology

Defence-organised supply-chain hackathon

13/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 431 Views 0 Comments

Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces will host a joint hackathon to identify opportunities to strengthen sovereign supply chains this weekend.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H Hercules delivering supplies including tarpaulins, tools, generators and personal hygiene kits to Fiji after Tropical Cyclone Harold. NZDF photo.

ADF Australian New Zealand News Overseas

Aus/NZ Defence ministers teleconference

10/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 686 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Australia and New Zealand have agreed to strengthen defence cooperation on both sides of the Tasman and in our Pacific neighbourhood.

A New Zealand soldier and NZLAV on patrol in north-east Bamyian province, Afghanistan. NZDF photo.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations Overseas

OMAR wins $6million contract to re-clear NZ’s cleared Afghan ranges

05/05/202005/05/2020 Brian Hartigan 1110 Views 0 Comments

NZDF has signed a contractor to carry out additional clearance of five firing ranges used by its Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan, Afghanistan.

The Wellington Infantry Battalion preparing to board a troopship in October 1914. Few survived Gallipoli unscathed. By late September 1915 the battalion had experienced an attrition rate of more than 170 per cent. Alexander Turnbull Library, PA1-f-022-6-1

Europe New Zealand News Overseas Veterans

NZ officially doubles Kiwi headcount for Gallipoli

24/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 756 Views 0 Comments

Two New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) historians have published an e-book confirming that the number of New Zealand soldiers who

HMNZS Otago, pictured with a Seasprite helicopter hovering overhead, is one of four Royal New Zealand Navy ships that will be visible in the Hauraki Gulf over the next few weeks as they carry out training essential to maritime operations. RNZN photo.

New Zealand News Overseas

Royal New Zealand Navy returning to routine training

24/04/202024/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 313 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

New Zealanders will see more activity by Royal New Zealand Navy ships and helicopters as the RNZN returns to routine training in the Hauraki Gulf next week.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H Hercules flew to Fiji yesterday, delivering supplies including tarpaulins, tools, generators and personal hygiene kits. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

NZDF continues to fly cyclone aid in Pacific

23/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 289 Views 0 Comments

New Zealand Defence Force is continuing to take aid to Pacific countries to help relief efforts following Tropical Cyclone Harold.

Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H Hercules aircraft are transporting vital emergency supplies to Fiji and Vanuatu following Tropical Cyclone Harold. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

NZ Hercules distributes aid and repatriates Kiwis after Pacific cyclone

18/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 430 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H Hercules are busy around the South Pacific in the wake of Cyclone Harold – distributing aid and repariating Kiwis.

A member of the New Zealand Defence Force at the militarised border between North and South Korea. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Rest of World

NZDF postpones o/s troop rotations – deployed pers left in place

16/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 724 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

The New Zealand Defence Force has postponed routine rotations of personnel on international missions because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

New Zealand Defence Force personnel onboard a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H Hercules on their way home after more than five months deployment in Iraq followed by two weeks in isolation to meet COVID-19 requirements. The Hercules dropped members off in Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and at RNZAF Base Ohakea in Manawatū before returning to RNZAF Base Auckland later today. NZDF photo.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations

NZDF Taji crew home after COVID-19 isolation

11/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 432 Views 0 Comments COVID-19, Taji

A group of NZDF personnel who returned recently from Iraq have finished their two-week COVID-19 isolation and are now on their way home to their families.

New Zealand Defence Force personnel from Palmerston North help pack more than 2500 care packages for families in need in remote areas. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Operations

NZDF planning for ‘long patrol’ against COVID-19

10/04/2020 Brian Hartigan 530 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Military planning skills are being put to use in New Zealand’s fight against COVID-19, as the NZDF help government agencies in ‘the long patrol’.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations

Kiwis end Taji mission – home to quarantine

30/03/202030/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 578 Views 0 Comments Taji Military Complex

NZDF’s contribution to train Iraqi Security Forces to combat ISIS is at an end and the first troops from the final contingent are home – in quarantine.

Sergeant Dean Hart sets a new New Zealand land speed record in his home-built Rolls Royce Viper jet-powered dragster at RNZAF Base Ohakea. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas

RNZAF Sergeant breaks NZ land-speed record

07/03/202007/03/2020 Brian Hartigan 1030 Views 0 Comments

The New Zealand land speed record has been smashed by Royal New Zealand Air Force Sergeant Dean Hart driving a jet-powered dragster at RNZAF Base Ohakea.