NZDF Archives - CONTACT magazine

Australian Defence Force and New Zealand Defence Force personnel combine for the Anzac Cove dawn service. Story by Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather. Photos by Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

Australia and New Zealand join forces at Gallipoli

29/04/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 801 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Governor-General of Australia, Lone Pine, NZDF, Turkey

ADF and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel supported three parades in the Anzac Day 2025 commemorations at Gallipoli. CAPTION: Australian

The Foreign Forces Desert Immersion Course instructs military personnel in Bedouin culture and desert tactics, techniques and procedures. Story by Flight Lieutenant Sharon Aldrich.

Australian Army Middle East News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

UAE survival training taps into Bedouin skills

26/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1628 Views 0 Comments Headquarters Middle East, NZDF, survival course

Military personnel have seized a chance to enhance their skills through a one-of-a-kind tactical desert training course. CAPTION: The Foreign

From left, a Royal Air Force corporal, Royal Australian Air Force Leading Aircraftman Benjamin Selwood, Royal New Zealand Air Force Corporal Rikki Rawleigh and Patrol Dog McClane patrol the apron at RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Pitch Black 24. Story by Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Kiwis send largest contingent to Pitch Black 24

25/07/202426/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1325 Views 0 Comments Exercise Pitch Black, NZDF, RAAF Darwin

Australia’s friends from across the ditch have sent their largest contingent to the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest international exercise.

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) correctional officer Olga Toata Junior demonstrates learned first-aid skills during a 'train the trainer' course at RSIPF Police Station, Rove. Story by Sergeant Felicity Richardson Major Simon Hampson. Photos by Lieutenant John Townsend.

Uncategorized

Delivering life-saving training skills

25/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1360 Views 0 Comments NZDF, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF)

ADF members of the Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) have supported the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and Correctional

The RHIB crew from HMNZS Te Mana, with the saved yachtsman, battling big seas off Great Barrier Island during Cyclone Gabrielle. NZDF image supplied.

New Zealand News

Te Mana crew-members among NZDF personnel awarded

26/08/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2406 Views 1 Comment New Zealand Defence Force, NZDF

Four Royal New Zealand Navy personnel who rescued a stricken yachtsman in atrocious conditions during Cyclone Gabrielle have been recognised

NZDF personnel who were deployed on Operation Tīeke return home on a RNZAF B757 after delivering basic soldiering courses to Ukrainian recruits in the UK for six months. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News

First NZ soldiers home from Ukraine training mission

12/12/202212/12/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1785 Views 0 Comments NZDF, Ukraine

The first New Zealand Defence Force personnel to deliver infantry training to Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) recruits have returned

Sapper Jack Arrowsmith carries the ball in attack with Corporal Joshua Allen and Lance Corporal Siaka King in support, during ADF v NZDF rugby union test, Brisbane. Story by Lieutenant Kirsti Welling-Burtenshaw. Photo by Corporal Miguel Anonuevo.

Australian Army New Zealand News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Rugby union team breaks 50-year drought

15/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2196 Views 0 Comments NZDF, Rugby

In front of almost 1000 raucous fans at North Brisbane Rugby Club, the Australian Defence Force Men’s team (ADFRU) broke a

Pallets of humanitarian assistance and engineering equipment bound for Tonga, are loaded onto a RAAF C-17A Globemaster III, at RAAF Base Amberley. Story by Eamon Hamilton. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Emma Schwenke.

New Zealand News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Relief flights arrive in Tonga

25/01/202219/02/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2370 Views 0 Comments C-17A Globemaster III, No. 36 Squadron, NZDF, Operation Tonga Assist 2022

A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III has delivered urgently needed relief to Tonga following a volcanic eruption and

A New Zealand Army soldier fires a machine-gun practice during the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting 2019 at Puckapunyal, Victoria. Photo by Corporal Jessica de Rouw.

Australian New Zealand News Overseas

NZDF extends Thales Australia contract to supply ammo

10/12/201910/12/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3049 Views 0 Comments ammunition, New Zealand Army, NZDF

The New Zealand Defence Force and Thales Australia’s Australian Munitions business have signed an agreement to continue the supply of

HMNZS Hawea approaches a fishing vessel while on fisheries and customs patrols off Fiji. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

NZ Navy’s Fijian maritime patrols end

03/11/201703/11/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3783 Views 0 Comments Fiji, HMNZS Hawea, maritime patrols, NZDF

Combined maritime patrols between New Zealand and Fiji involving HMNZS Hawea have ended on a high note, with about 550

There was no snow, no elves or Santa. However, an empty hall across from Trentham Military Camp may as well have been Santa’s workshop as about 40 volunteers, including schoolchildren, packed hundreds of Christmas treats this morning for New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) members serving overseas. The Christmas packages included Kiwi treats such as Marmite, liquorice, Anzac biscuits and ingredients for onion dip, which NZDF personnel stationed overseas cannot buy easily. Each parcel also includes Christmas cards written by students from Mount Cook School in Wellington and Collingwood Area School in Nelson. “There were about 100 kids from our school who made those Christmas cards,” 11-year-old Eddie Nimh, a Year 7 student from Mount Cook School, said. “We wrote Christmas jokes in those cards to give them (Kiwi military personnel) a bit of a laugh. It’s important that we thank them for serving our country.” The yearly initiative, organised by the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RNZRSA), involved schoolchildren, veterans, staff from Foodstuffs and Z Energy, and NZDF personnel pitching in to pack the Christmas treats. With just 88 sleeps until Christmas, the NZDF will have these packages sent to its 13 missions overseas, starting next week to ensure they get there on time. RNZRSA national president BJ Clark said his organisation was pleased to continue the long-running tradition. “We hope this brings them comfort, since they’re away from their loved ones over Christmas. The least we can do is send a bit of New Zealand to our men and women serving overseas – something to remind them of great Kiwi times with family and friends. “The RNZRSA is thankful two New Zealand-owned, family-oriented companies – Foodstuffs and Z Energy – have come on board to support this.” Major General Tim Gall, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said the Christmas packages were a tribute to the NZDF’s servicemen and women stationed overseas. “We have personnel in six of the seven continents and their contribution makes our country proud both at home and abroad,” Major General Gall said. “They are making a personal sacrifice by serving overseas over the festive period. It is our way of saying, ‘You are in our thoughts this Christmas and we value the work that you do on behalf of New Zealand’.” About 300 Defence Force personnel are serving overseas. About 230, or 76 per cent, are based in the Middle East and 28 are conducting fisheries patrols in the South Pacific. Five are working for the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission Secretariat in South Korea, including two who serve as monitors along the Demilitarised Zone with North Korea. Four are supporting the UN mission in war-torn South Sudan, while seven are working as UN observers in Israel and Lebanon. The RSA has sent Christmas care packages to deployed military personnel for more than 76 years. Foodstuffs and Z Energy provided more than $10,000 worth of goods for this year’s Christmas packages.

Australian New Zealand News Overseas

CHRISTMAS IS ALREADY COMING…

28/09/201728/09/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3478 Views 0 Comments NZDF

…for Kiwis serving overseas There was no snow, no elves nor Santa – but an empty hall across from Trentham Military

A Zodiac from HMNZS Otago, with fisheries officers from New Zealand and Vanuatu, approaches a fishing vessel in the south-west Pacific during Operation Island Chief. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Pacific

NZDF boarded 26 vessels during Pacific fisheries patrols

10/08/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3337 Views 0 Comments Forum Fisheries Agency, HMNZS Otago, New Zealand Defence Force, NZDF, P-3K2 Orion, RNZAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force

New Zealand Defence Force personnel located 60 vessels of interest and boarded 26 others in multilateral fisheries patrols conducted recently

About 350 Afghan officer cadets graduated on 20 July after completing an intensive 11-month training course supported by New Zealand Defence, Australian, Danish and British mentors. Photographer unknown.

ADF Australian New Zealand News Operations Overseas Videos

New Army officers graduate in Afghanistan – 2 headed for Duntroon

21/07/201728/07/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5587 Views 0 Comments ADF, Afghan officer cadets, New Zealand Defence Force, NZDF

About 350 Afghan officer cadets graduated yesterday, 20 July 2017, after completing an intensive 11-month training course supported by Australian

New Zealand Defence Force Hercules contingent in the Middle East. ADF photo.

Middle East New Zealand News Operations

Kiwi Herc serving well in Middle East

22/06/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3565 Views 0 Comments C-130 Hercules, New Zealand Defence Force, NZDF, RNZAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) transported 120 tonnes of supplies and about 500 military personnel supporting coalition operations in

Australian and New Zealand Army trainers from Task Group Taji 4 conduct marksmanship training with an Iraqi Army training audience at Al Taqqadum, Iraq. ADF photo.

Middle East New Zealand News Overseas

Fifth rotation of Kiwis for Iraq leave home

23/05/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4143 Views 0 Comments NZDF, Task Group Taji 5

The fifth rotation of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) troops left today for a six-month mission training Iraqi soldiers. CAPTION: Australian

NZ Army engineers dismantle a building in Antarctica. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas

NZDF engineers put skills on ice

20/03/201720/03/2017 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3989 Views 0 Comments New Zealand Defence Force, NZDF

The 17 engineers sent by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to Antarctica in February recently completed six weeks of construction,

Tropic Twilight 2016 - Left to Right: Flying Officer Chloe Lowndes RAAF, SPC Hustin TRUSSO, USA Guam Army, SPR Jared HUMPHRIES, NZ Army and Cadet LUI Jian Bang, China. are part of combined New Zealand, US, Chinese and Australian military personnel are heading to Tonga for Exercise Tropic Twilight to help build much needed infrastructure on outlying Islands.

Australian New Zealand News Overseas

Kiwis lead multinational mission in Tonga

06/07/2016 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7274 Views 0 Comments 2nd Engineer Regiment, His Majesty’s Armed Forces Tonga, NZDF, People’s Liberation Army, Tonga, United States Army

A multinational task group led by New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel will be undertaking community projects to improve water

New Zealand News Operations Overseas

12 per cent of NZDF regular forces deployed overseas

26/06/201630/06/2016 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4785 Views 0 Comments 12 per cent, NZDF

About 1100 New Zealand Defence Force personnel, or 12 per cent of the country’s regular military force, are deployed either on

Task Group handover parade. Photo by Captain Bradley Richardson

Australian News Operations

Task Group Taji Rotation 2 takes point

05/12/2015 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4658 Views 0 Comments ADF, Daesh, NZDF, Taji

Task Group Taji Rotation 2 formally took point on responsibility for training Iraqi security forces when Australian and New Zealand personnel

News Overseas Science & Technology

New Zealand buys new pistol and new rifle

25/11/201516/01/2016 Posted by Brian Hartigan 9729 Views 6 Comments Glock, Glock 17, NZDF, P226, Sig Sauer, Sig Sauer P226

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) military personnel are to be issued with new generation Glock 17 pistols to replace the

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