The armed services of New Zealand

Norman L. Dodd colonel UK Army, retired

New Zealand is not an easy country to defend. accorded them the rights and privileges of British Situated in the temperate zone of the South Pacific, subjects. Rights which they still hold today and in the same general latitude as Spain in the North- under which they are completely integrated into ern hemisphere, New Zealand is 1200 miles east the life of the country. of Australia. The two main islands have an area of 103,000 square miles, slightly larger than that of Military assistance to Britain Great Britain and Northern Ireland; two thirds of the total population of around 2.85 million live in Britain's wars have always been New Zealand's the smaller North Island. The New Zealand Gov- wars; her contribution in two world wars, in the ernment administers the Tokelau and Niue Islands Malayan emergency and in Borneo was far greater and has responsibility for the external affairs and than would normally be expected from so small a defence of the self-governing Cook Islands. population. New Zealanders have regularly joined Her own coastline is more than 4300 miles but the British armed forces and many have reached there are only about half a million men in the age the highest ranks. Until 1941 the New Zealand group between 17 and 50 years eligible for military Navy was a division of the , and ships service and so available for its defence. There is and indeed air force squadrons and army units, little heavy industry and therefore very few arm- have always followed British traditions and orga- aments can be manufactured in New Zealand. nizations. This has allowed them to fit easily into Her economy is based upon agricultural products British formations. There had never been any sold overseas, these she produces extremely effi- requirement for formal agreements and under- ciently but her high standard of living depends takings; until a few years ago it was quite unthink- upon their continuing success in the world, parti- able that these would be required between the two cularly British, markets. The average income per countries. This is probably still true but unfortuna- head in New Zealand is fourth after the United tely Britain's power and strategie position in the States, Canada and Switzerland and there is a world have been severely reduced so making it far marked degree of equality in incomes throughout more difficult for her to assist New Zealand in the the community. For example there is a motor distant South Pacific. vehicle for every 3.4 persons in New Zealand. The standard of education is high and there is in- ... not vice versa telligent co-operation between the managers and labour, New Zealand so far has not suffered from As early as 1950 New Zealand realized that this 'wild cat' strikes. The Labour Government has might occur and because of her experiences in never been 'ultra left' and always accepted the World War II it became important that the United need for capitalistic industry. States should become involved in her defence ar- New Zealanders are hardy, tough and independent- rangements. On l August 1951 she signed an ly minded people, proud of their country and of agreement with the United States and Australia; their British connection. It is this British con- this became known as the ANZUS Treaty. The nection which has kept New Zealand secure since signatories agreed to consult together if any of 1840 when the British Government decided to ex- them feit threatened in the Pacific region and each tend its sovereignty over the country. In that year recognized 'that an armed attack in the Pacific Captain William Hobson negotiated a treaty with Area on any of the Parties would be dangerous to the Maori chiefs under which Britain guaranteed its own peace and safety' and declared 'that each the Maori people possession of their lands and would act to meet the common danger in accord-

130 States had suffered defeat in Vietnam, to be follow- ed by the withdrawal of her forces from Thailand and a severe fit of isolationism at home. The events in Angola were to show the confusion of interest between the Administration and Congress and to act as a warning to friendly factions and states on the periphery of the area of the vital interests of the United States.

Royal New Zealand Navy, HMNZS Otago Self-reliance and co-operation

ance with its constitutional processes'. The ab- New Zealand, and Australia, had to look more sence of Great Britain from this Agreement caused carefully at their regional defence interests; ob- much comment at the time but in September 1954 viously in a major world war they would be align- she joined with the other three countries and with ed with the Western Powers and therefore must France, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand to place their trust in the provisions of the ANZUS sign the Manilla Treaty under which the South Pact. But in minor and local affrays they would East Asia Organization (SEATO) was created. In have to rely upon their own resources; the best way 1955 New Zealand agreed to redirect her wartime of avoiding such affairs is to help to maintain sta- commitment of one division from the Middle East bility in the region. The defence forces of New to Singapore and Malaya and to station a small Zealand have been organized and trained in ac- force there in peacetime. This force, a battalion cordance with this reasoning. and a small RNZAF squadron, is still in Singapore Firstly there has to be close co-operation with but is now there under the provisions of the 1971 Australia and the United States to ensure that in Five Power Defence Arrangements. At that time case of a major war their forces can operate and New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom fight together, secondly assistance in training and signed separate agreements with Malaysia and technical projects and in the provision of minor Singapore, these are designed to give form to the equipment must be provided to other countries in concern of all the partners for the stability of the the region and, thirdly, a small 'intervention force' area. In the event of an externally organized threat from the three Services must be readily available to against either of the latter countries the five powers defend New Zealand's local interests and to assist will 'consult together for the purpose of deciding friendly neighbours if required. what measures should be taken jointly or separate- With her limited manpower it is not possible for Iy'... New Zealand to fulfil all these requirements by France soon left the SEATO arrangements and means of a permanent force; she has therefore was followed by Pakistan, the whole political si- opted, particularly in the army, for a small per- tuation in the area concerned altered and by 1974 manent force with an integrated and rapidly mo- the Organization had virtually become moribund. bilized reserve. Under def ence economies the United Kingdom de- cided to withdraw her forces from Singapore leav- Organization ing only a small contribution to the air defence arrangements. By l April 76 the only U.K. forces At the highest level the armed forces are under left in the Far East were a Gurkha brigade in Hong the control of the unified Ministry of Defence. The Kong and Gurkha battalion in Borneo. The United Defence Act of 1971 was the culmination of the

HMNZS Tui

131 ., major defence reorganization which began in 1964. of their respective Services and are responsible to This Act not only established centralized disciplin- the Chief of Defence Staff for the operational ary Acts and confirmed the operation of the Min- comrnand of their Service. istry of Defence but also it formalizes the centrali- zation of full functional control whilst leaving the The (RNZN) has a Chiefs of Staff of the individual Services with the strength of about 2800 regular officers and ratings main responsibility for ensuring operational effect- with about the same number of regular reservists iveness of their fighting units. and some 280 Territorials (part-time officers and ratings). Included in these numbers are a small The Commander-in-Chief is His Excellency the number of women members of the Women's Royal Governor-General acting on behalf of Her Majesty New Zealand Naval Service. The backbone of the the Queen but responsibility for the command of Navy are the four , HMNZS Canterbury, the Forces, through officers appointed for the pur- Waikato, Taranaki and Otago, armed with pose, rests with the Defence Council, the member- surface-to-air missiles. Two of the frigates carry ship of which is: the Minister of Defence (Chair- Wasp anti-submarine helicopters. There are two man), the Chief of Defence Staff and the Secretary minesweepers of which one is used as a training of Defence as Deputy Chairman, the Chiefs of ship and about fourteen patrol craft. HMNZS Tui Naval, General (Army) and Air Staffs with the is a research ship and HMNZS Lachlan has done Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of excellent work in surveying the coast line and so Treasury as voting members. helped to produce up-to-date charts of the area. The Chief of Defence Staff commands the three HMNZS Monowai, a former merchant ship, is Services through their respective Chiefs of Staff, undergoing conversion to a hydrographic survey the Secretary of Defence is the Permanent Head ship in a Scottish shipyard. One spends of the Ministry of Defence and principle civilian much of the year on deployment in the Malaysia/ adviser of the Minister, hè co-ordinates the busi- Singapore area in support of the Five Power De- ness of the Ministry as a whole. fence Arrangements. The Ministry of Defence headquarters comprises the three Service Staffs and six functional branches The RNZN is popular and very efficiënt. A high covering Policy, Personnel, Support, Administra- standard is demanded for entry either as a pro- tion, Finance and Management Services. The three spective officer or as a rating. Midshipmen can Service Chiefs of Staff are the professional heads enter between the ages of 15,5 and 16 and are sent

Wellington Harbour r

132 to the Royal Australian Naval College for training. If suitable for a university course they return to New Zealand and study for a normal degree at the University of Auckland but live at the RNZN base, HMNZS Tamaki. Older entrants are posted direct to HMNZS Tamaki and also obtain their degrees at the University before attending appropriate Naval Courses in the United Kingdom. Uniform is worn whilst attending the University Course and full pay and allowances are received. Officers accepted for short service commissions attend a special course at HMNZS Tamaki. Wasp helicopter in Royal New Zealand Navy Youths between the ages of 15 and 17% may enlist as engineer apprentices, or as youth or adult en- tions which are based upon the British Regimental trants if over 16 but under 25. Basic training is system. carried out in New Zealand but where no local Men (and women) can join the Territorials provid- facilities exist technical and specialist training is ed they are fit and suitable. They are encouraged done in Australia, the United Kingdom and, in to carry out twelve weeks initial training, which special cases, in the United States. includes six weeks basic and six weeks specialist Officers, and selected senior ratings, later in their courses, at a training camp staffed by regular in- careers may attend suitable colleges and training structors and many do so. The course for women schools in Australia, the UK and the United States. only lasts three weeks. Thereafter the training There are also some exchange postings available obligation is twenty days a year which, when com- in these countries and 'loan' or similar appoint- pleted, entitles them to a useful cash bounty. ments in training centres and military colleges in Besides the annual camp formation training is South East Asia. carried out in January or February by the Ist In- No major warships can be built in New Zealand f antry Brigade and the Support Group in the North but ships up to light cruisers can be refitted and Islands and by the 3rd Infantry Brigade in the repaired in the Naval Dockyard in Auckland. South Island. Territorials are also encouraged to There are excellent harbours with modern facilities take part in regular exercises and to do attach- at Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch) ments to the battalion in Singapore. Employers are and Otago () and a large number of safe required by law to allow Territorials time off to anchorages. attend training, most are sympathetic to the Forces realizing that the present voluntary system is in the best interest of a small country. Selective, or national service, no longer exists in Regular officers, except for quartermasters and New Zealand; the Army, like the other Services, certain special categories who are commissioned must rely upon volunteers. To provide the forma- from the ranks, are commissioned after attending tions deemed necessary for her security New Zea- officer training colleges in England or Australia. land relies upon a combination of regular and re- Post graduate and specialist training is received serve units. The total strength is about 12,000 of either in New Zealand or overseas. Soldiers volun- which half are regulars and the other half active teer for a minimum period of three years extend- Territorials. There are two fully regular battalions, able thereafter. A pension is paid after twenty the Ist being in Singapore and the 2/lst at Christ- years service. Conditions of service are good and church in the South Island. The 161 Battery of pay compares favourably with that received in civil the 16th Field Regiment equipped with 105 mm life. pack howitzers is also a regular unit and is located The equipment is a mixture of British and Americ- near Auckland. Regular officers and NCO's form an weapons, adequate but getting somewhat elder- the nucleus of the remainder of the units which to- ly. There are about a dozen M-41 light tanks, ten gether complete the present order of battle of two Ferret scout cars, seventy Ml 13 APCs, twenty brigade groups and a support group. The Army in- seven 25 pdr field guns, twenty 105 mm pack cludes the full range of Corps and Regiments — howitzers, ten 5.5 inch medium guns and two armour, artillery, ordnance, signals, medical and dozen 106 mm rocket launchers. The engineers dental, etc., — part regular and part Territorials, have a wide range of equipment including heavy all of whom are proud of their history and tradi- earth moving equipments; support and logistic

133 Traditions: presentation of new Co- lours to the Ist Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, the Queen's Colour on the left, the Reg- imental Colour on the right

units are well equipped and have sufficient trans- enlist for eight to twelve years, depending upon port for their needs. the branch chosen, with a reserve period of four years to follow if the man leaves at the end his It was not until 1937 that the Royal New Zealand engagement. The normal methods of obtaining a Air Force was constituted as a separate body. It commission in the non flying branches is through has always been closely connected with the Royal the ranks; a short service commission is granted Air Force, many pilots, air crews and specialists are to suitable men, this can later be converted to a still trained in the United Kingdom and a number regular commission. Candidates for commissions have actually served with the RAF. The personnel in the flying branch are drawn from civil life. strength is about 4400 with a further 1200 regular Initial flying training is in New Zealand but, as reservists and a hundred or so Territorials. With already mentioned, advanced training is carried these numbers the RNZAF does its best to retain out in the United Kingdom. Officer cadets carry a conventional capability in all forms of air power, out four years training and are given opportunities close support, maritime, air defence, counter-air, to obtain degrees and to attend the RNZAF staff interdiction and air transport. A tall task for an college and staff colleges in other countries. air force with only thirty six actual combat aircraft. There are six air force bases in New Zealand and Recruits are carefully selected. Airmen normally one in Singapore. Below Air Staff level there are

Territorial soldiers transported by M113 APC L 134 two functional groups: Operations and Support. Wasp helicopters. These provide battlefield support The Commander of the Operations Group is at for the Army and also operate from the ships of Whenuapi Airfield near Auckland and hè is re- the RNZN, for search and rescue and in aid of the sponsible for the operational efficiency of the units civil authorities. These are in all six Bell 47G, two in the strike, maritime, air defence and transport Sioux and thirteen UH-ID/H Iroquois helicopters; roles. The Support Group is at Wigram near four Iroquois are based in Singapore and opera- Christchurch, the commander is responsible for ted by 41 Squadron who also fly Bristol freight- co-ordination of all ground and flying training ex- ers. 42 Squadron at Ohakea is responsible for in- cluding that concerned with operations. ternal Communications, VIP flying and parachute Ohakea Airfield near Palmerstone North houses training and still is equipped with six Dakotas. the main 'teeth' of the RNZAF, the nine US A-4K and four TA-4K Skyhawks of the 75th Squadron The Support Group Headquarters is situated at and 14 Squadron's sixteen BAC-167 Strikemaster Wigram as are all its flying training units; the and a few training Shyhawks. The Skyhawks are ground training units are at Auckland, Wood- given a multi-role by the New Zealand Air Force, bourne and Wigram. The flying training flights they are used as fighter bombers for close support have twenty four Harvards, fifteen Devons, four as well as for interdiction and are also allotted air Airtourers, four Sioux trainers, and thirteen CT-4

A 105 mm howitzer of the Royal New Zealand Artillery

defence and anti-ship tasks. 14 Squadron is re- Airtrainers built in New Zealand will shortly be sponsible for jet conversion and operational train- delivered. ing and also trains pilots for duty as Forward Air Controllers. Strikemasters are jet trainers but have Involving the youth an effective combat capability as fighter bombers, they are operated by nine different air forces. The Armed Services consider it important to in- 5 Squadron is based at Auckland and is equipped terest and involve the youth of the country in de- with five Orions used for maritime reconnaissance fence matters; for this reason the New Zealand and anti-submarine duties. 40 Squadron, also lo- Cadet Corps is directed from the Ministry of De- cated at Auckland, has five C 130 Hercules trans- fence. Although primarily a youth service the port aircraft which are used for strategie and tactic- training is military based and the Cadet Forces al operations. This squadron provides air support form a source of recruits for both the regular and to the research stations in Antarctica besides flying Territorial forces. The strength is around 11,000, to Australia, the U.K. and America, l Squadron there are about thirty school units, fifteen Open has nine Bristol freighters and 3 Squadron, at Sea Cadet units and forty Air Training Corps squa- Auckland, is equipped with Iroquois, Sioux and drons participating in Cadet Corps activities. In

135 order to play their part in the ANZUS Treaty New Zealand's armed forces take part in regularly sche- duled joint exercises with Australian and United States forces. These are held in all three countries and on the adjacent oceans. Minor units carry out exchanges with each others forces and emphasis is placed upon the necessity of having New Zealand officers involved with her partners in joint defence planning, equipment purchases and aid program- mes. A joint Consultative Committee on Defence Co-operation has been established within the framework of the ANZUS Treaty and a Memo- A 106 mm recoilless rifle of the NZ Army randum of Understanding has been signed with Australia. This is concerned with the joint logistic tariat is located in Jakarta. The members of support in time of war. There is also a mutual ex- ASEAN are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, change of intelligence information between the Singapore and Thailand whose total population is three countries. about two hundred million. The object of ASEAN is to accelerate the economie growth, social pro- Stabilizing factor gress and cultural development of the region and to bring about peace and stability in the area. Ob- The armed services are taking an increasing role jects with which New Zealand can readily identify herself and in which she can assist. The emphasis in the Government's efforts to improve the general today is upon 'mutual assistance' rather than upon stability of the region. Officers are assisting the 'aid programmes' which imply a sense of inferior- Fijian Armed Forces in many ways including the ity. operation of a trade training school, harbours have been built in Atiu, Cook Islands, water supplies Loyal ally in UN provided on Tarawa Island, bridges in Western Samoa, instructors are in Papua New Guinea and On the larger question of world stability New Zea- assistance is being provided to Indonesia. Officers land is a support of the United Nations and is pre- have attended Staff Colleges in Malaysia and In- pared to supply personnel or units to any suitable donesia and officers from these countries, Singa- peacekeeping forces. She considers that her trained pore, Fiji and Papua New Guinea have been in and intelligent armed forces are highly suitable for New Zealand. A company from Malaysia have this role and that special units are not required. joined exercises in New Zealand and naval ratings Both New Zealand's political parties support the have been with the RNZN. Assistance is often concept of a nuclear f ree zone in the Indian Ocean given on technical problems and on resettlement and South Pacific Ocean. For this reason New arrangements for ex-servicemen. Contact is main- Zealand showed her disapproval of the French tained with the members of the Association of nuclear tests in the Pacific and the previous labour South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) whose Secre- administration even went so far as to send two

The C-130 H Hercules, the long range transport of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, in service with No 40 Sqn

136 frigates into the danger area. The present National support for the vital ANZUS Treaty and the Government takes a more relaxed view and has Western alignment whilst at the same time ob- permitted the US nuclear powered guided missile jecting to Allied activities and deployments design- cruiser Truxtun to visit Wellington. But the anti- ed to counter those of the Soviet Union. A contra- nuclear feeling amongst the Labour supporters was diction which must be understood by statesmen of so strong that a strike was called by the dockers both parties in New Zealand; unfortunately local whilst the ship was in port. However the leader of politics in democratie countries sometimes do not the Labour Party has recently expressed his con- allow the obvious to be stated too openly! cern at the presence of the Soviet Navy in the New Zealanders are intensely proud of their beau- Indian Ocean and the Soviet interest in the island tiful country and are prepared to fight to retain of Tonga in the Pacific. their way of life. In a world which is becoming increasingly devided by colour and ideological ar- Local versus global politics guments New Zealand, untainted by 'colonialism', It is a contradiction in policy to express full has an important role to play as a link between the many and divergent races in South East Asia and the countries of the Western World.

Important position held

Assistance provided to New Zealand, particularly with her economie problems over the sale of her agricultural products, is also, through her, aid to the less stable and less advanced countries in the whole of the region. This fact should be borne in mind by the European Common Market when re- negotiating the terms of the agreement made with New Zealand on Britain's entry into the EEC. Without a ready supply of foreign currency New Zealand will be unable to maintain and re-equip her already small, though efficiënt, forces; it is in the interests of the Free World that she should be able to do so.

An A-4K Skyhawk, in service with No 75 Sqn, heads back to the flight line after a servicing

137