The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF; , "Line of Defence of New Zealand") is the three-branched military of New Zealand. The NZDF is responsible for the protection of the national security of New Zealand and its realm, promoting its interests, safeguarding peace and security, as well as supporting peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. It consists of three services: the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), the New Zealand Army and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), as well as tri-service components. As of June 2024, the NZDF has a strength of 15,383 employees, consisting of 10,037 regular force personnel, 3,281 reserve force personnel and 3,294 civilian members. It is supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MOD) and is commanded by the Chief of Defence Force (CDF).
The principal roles and tasks expected of the NZDF is to provide a combat capable force to defend New Zealand's sovereign territory, and protect critical lines of communication. To provide civil defence support, meet whole-of-government security objectives, as well as commitments to allies and partners, support government agencies, protect and promote regional peace, security and resilience in the South Pacific, and uphold the international rules-based order.
The NZDF delivers military effects in support of New Zealand’s national security objectives. It follows a government set defence policy framework that defines its principles, outcomes and priorities. The NZDF is a critical component of New Zealand’s national security system. New Zealand takes an "all-hazards" approach to national security that brings government agencies together to respond to all risks to national security, whether internal or external, human, natural or artificial.
The commander-in-chief is the Governor-General (as the representative of the King of New Zealand). Control of the NZDF is under the Minister of Defence, under the Defence Act 1990. The current Governor-General is Cindy Kiro, and the Minister of Defence is Paul Goldsmith.
Air Marshal Tony Davies was appointed Chief of Defence Force on 6 June 2024.
History
Militia (1845–1886)
After the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, New Zealand's security was dependent on British Imperial troops deployed from Australia and other parts of the empire. By 1841 the settlers, particularly those in the New Zealand Company settlement of Wellington, were calling for local militia to be formed.Editorial, New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Vol 14 issue 70, 14 August 1841, p 2 In 1843 a local militia had been formed in Wellington without official sanction.Editorial, New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advisor, Vol 1 issue 104, 28 July 1843, p 2 This prompted the Chief Police Magistrate Major Matthew Richmond to order its immediate disbandment. Richmond also dispatched 53 soldiers from the 96th Regiment from Auckland to Wellington.
These calls for a militia continued to grow with the Wairau Affray, the start of the New Zealand Wars. The calls eventually led to a bill being introduced to the Legislative Council in 1844.Legislative Council, Daily Southern Cross, Vol 2 issue 76, 28 September 1844 Those present noted their disapproval of the bill, unanimously deferring it for six months. On 22 March 1845 the Flagstaff War broke out, which proved to be the catalyst for passing the Bill.Bay of Islands, Daily Southern Cross, Vol 2 issue 101, 22 March 1845, p 2
In 1844 a Select Committee of the House of Commons had recommended that a militia, composed of both settlers and native Maori, and a permanent native force be set up.Mounted Police, New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 59, 18 July 1846, page 2
On 25 March 1845, the Militia Ordinance was passed into law.Militia Ordinance, Daily Southern Cross, Vol 2 issue 103, 5 April 1845, p 2 Twenty-six officers were appointed in Auckland, thereby forming the start of New Zealand's own defence force.Daily Southern Cross, 19 April 1845, Page 4, Government Gazette Notices. Major Richmond was appointed the commander of the Wellington Battalion of the militia.District Orders, New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 34, 31 May 1845, Page 2 The newspaper article of the time notes that Wellington had a mounted Volunteer Corp. The Nelson Battalion of Militia was formed 12 August 1845.
In June 1845, 75 members of the Auckland Militia under Lieutenant Figg became the first unit to support British Imperial troops in the Flagstaff War, serving as pioneers.Bay of Islands, New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 2, 14 June 1845, Page 3 Seven militia were wounded in action between 30 June and 1 July 1845. One, a man named Rily, later died of his wounds.Colonel Despard's Despatch, New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 7, 19 July 1845, Page 2 The Auckland Militia was disbanded in August or early September 1845 because of budgetary constraints.Auckland, New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 51, 27 September 1845, Page 3 Disbandment of the Nelson and Wellington Militias followed much to the dismay of their supporters.Port Nicholson, Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 188, 11 October 1845, Page 127 Those at Nelson under Captain Greenwood decided, regardless of pay or not, to continue training.Nelson Militia, Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 187, 4 October 1845, Page 122
Trouble in the Hutt Valley, near Wellington, in early March 1846 prompted the new Governor George Grey to proclaim martial law and call out the Hutt Militia, in what became known as the Hutt Valley campaign.Editorial, New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 74, 7 March 1846, Page 2 Following on from this the local paper noted that the No 1 Company of the Wellington Militia had been called out, while the troops stationed in the town had been in the Hutt.Editorial, 'New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian', Volume II, Issue 75, 14 March 1846, Page 2 The paper further noted that Grey intended to maintain two companies of Militia in Wellington. As problems continued in the area at least 160 Militia remained.Port Nicholson,'New Zealander', Volume I, Issue 49, 9 May 1846, Page 3 These were supplemented by volunteers and Māori warriors from the Te Aro pā.Port Nicholson, 'New Zealander', Volume 2, Issue 56, 27 June 1846, Page 3
Armed Constabulary
On 28 October 1846, with the passing of the Armed Constabulary Ordinance in 1846, a fresh call was made by Mr Donnelly of the Legislature to do away with the Militia because of its expense.Legislative Council, 'New Zealander', Volume 2, Issue 74, 31 October 1846, Page 2 The cost to Britain of maintaining a military force in New Zealand was considerable, prompting a dispatch on 24 November 1846 from The Right Hon Earl Grey to advise Lieutenant Governor George Grey thatMilitary, 'New Zealander', Volume 3, Issue 119, 21 July 1847, Page 3 Further pressure in the early 1850s from Britain for removing their forces prompted pleas for them to remain as the Militia were deemed insufficient for the purpose.Withdrawal of the troops, 'Daily Southern Cross', Volume VI, Issue 433, 22 August 1851, Page 2
1854 brought a new threat to the attention of the colony because up to that time the military focus had been upon internal conflicts between settlers and the Māori. War had broken out between Russia and Turkey. This war began to involve the major European powers and exposed New Zealand and Australia to a possible external threat from the Imperial Russian Navy.Letters to the Editor. Our defences, 'Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle', Volume XIII, Issue 639, 3 June 1854, Page 5 Parliament discussed providing guns at ports around the country for use in the event of a war with a foreign power.Proceedings of the General Assembly, Taranaki Herald, Volume V, Issue 211, 16 August 1856, Page 2
By 1858 attention had swung back to local issues with a land dispute in New Plymouth prompting Governor Thomas Gore Browne to call out its militia under Captain Charles Brown.Proclamation, Taranaki Herald, Volume VI, Issue 288, 6 February 1858, Page 3 A prelude to what was to become the First Taranaki War and a period of conflict in the North Island until 1872.
The newly formed New Zealand Parliament revised and expanded the Militia Ordinance, replacing it with the Militia Act 1858.Arts of the General Assembly, Colonist, Issue 84, 10 August 1858, Page 4 Some of the main changes were clauses enabling volunteers to be included under such terms and conditions as the Governor may specify. The act also outlined the purposes under which Militia could be called upon, including invasion. Debates in Parliament had included expressions of concern about Russian naval expansion in the northern Pacific, pointed out that the sole naval defence consisted of one 24-gun frigate, and the time it would take for Britain to come to the colony's aid.
British Imperial troops remained in New Zealand until February 1870, during the later stage of the New Zealand Wars, by which time settler units had replaced them.
The Defence Act 1886 reclassified the militia as volunteers. These were the forerunners of the Territorials.
Volunteers (1858–1909)
Although there were informal volunteer units as early as 1845, the appropriate approval and regulation of the units did not occur until the Militia Act 1858. Those who signed up for these units were exempt from militia duty, but had to be prepared to serve anywhere in New Zealand. One of the earliest gazetted units (13 January 1859) was the Taranaki Volunteer Rifle Company.Taranaki Volunteer Rifle Corps, Taranaki Herald, Volume VII, Issue 340, 5 February 1859, Page 3
To the Volunteer Rifle Corps were added Volunteer Artillery Corps in mid-1859. The first of these Volunteer Artillery Corps were based in Auckland.Auckland, Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 71, 3 September 1859, Page 2
By late 1859 the number of volunteer units was so great that Captain H C Balneavis was appointed Deputy Adjunct-General, based at Auckland.Untitled, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 103, 10 September 1859, Page 2
Colonial Defence Force (1862–1867) In 1863 the government passed the Colonial Defence Force Act 1862 creating the first Regular Force. This was to be a mounted body of not more than 500 troops, with both Maori and settlers, and costing no more than 30,000 pounds per annum.Wellington – split in the Ministry, Otago Daily Times, Issue 233, 18 September 1862, Page 5 All were volunteers and expected to serve for three years.
Formation of the first unit did not begin until early April 1863, with 100 men being sought at New Plymouth under Captain Atkinson.(From our own correspondent), Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1782, 6 April 1863, Page 6 Hawke's Bay was to have the next unit.Provincial Council, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 376, 11 April 1863, Page 2 By late April, papers were reporting few had enlisted in New Plymouth.Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 37, 25 April 1863, Page 2
Formation of an Auckland unit under Colonel Nixon commenced in July and by the 14th had 30 men.Military and volunteer movements, Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1869, 14 July 1863, Page 3
Authorised units by July 1863 Commander: Major-General GallowayThe Defence Force, Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1895, 16 July 1863, Page 2Military and volunteer movements, Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1870, 15 July 1863, Page 3Taranaki Herald, Volume XII, Issue 585, 17 October 1863, Page 2