The Military history of New Zealand spans a period of around two centuries. Over the course of those years, New Zealand went from fighting under the control of the British Empire to fighting along side its allies during the Cold War and afterwards.
The New Zealand Wars 1861-1864
- Further information: Taranaki War and Invasion of the Waikato
The New Zealand Wars were fought over disputed land being sold to the settling population, by the various tribes, and so involved both the native Māori, and the new European settlers, known as the Pākehā, who were assisted by thousands of experienced British Imperial troops. During the conflict, 16 British servicemen were awarded the Victoria Cross.
Wars were fought in the 1850s and 1860s over land issues in the Waiarapa, Taranaki and the Waikato. The Maori fought on the side of the British Crown. Those Maori hostile to the Crown won some of the battles but the Imperial and locally raised troops kept on advancing and eventually won the war by occupying the land, and exhausting the enemy into surrender.
Second Boer War 1899-1902
The Second Boer War, fought from October 11, 1899 until May 31, 1902 and between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics of the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (Transvaal Republic), resulted from the history of British encroachment into or involvement in areas already settled by Afrikaaners — who were known colloquially as Boers (farmers) — the descendants of the original Dutch settlers. This was exacerbated by the discovery of gold and diamonds in the South African Republic, after which many miners from British Empire countries migrated there.
New Zealand decided to help fight for the Empire and sent 6,500 mounted troops to assist the British efforts. Virtually every man in New Zealand was desperately keen to get to war, so the first soldiers to go were selected on the basis of who could afford to go. If one could provide your own horse, rifle and equipment, to the tune of about 25 pounds, one could go to war. The first two of the 10 contingents paid their own way. The proposal to send the first contingent - 200 mounted rifleman - was approved by Parliament prior to the outbreak of war on September 28, 1899. Prime Minister Richard Seddon's proposition to do so was overwhelmingly supported, meeting opposition from only five members of parliament.
In total, New Zealand provided ten conginents to the British, numbering 6,500 men. New Zealand losses were 71 men killed in action, 25 killed in accidents and 133 of disease. Figures for New Zealanders serving with units outside of the New Zealand contingents are unknown.
First World War 1914-1918
When the United Kingdom declared war on Germany at the start of World War I, the New Zealand government followed without hesitation, despite its geographic isolation and small population. It was believed at the time that any declaration of war by the United Kingdom automatically included New Zealand.
The total number of New Zealand troops and nurses to serve overseas in 1914-18, excluding those in British and other Dominion forces, was 103,000, from a population of just over a million. Forty-two percent of men of military age served in the NZEF. 16,697 New Zealanders were killed and 41,317 were wounded during the war - a 58 percent casualty rate. Approximately a further 1,000 men died within five years of the war's end, as a result of injuries sustained, and 507 died whilst training in New Zealand between 1914 and 1918.
The First World War saw Māori soldiers serve for the first time in a major conflict with the New Zealand Army (although a number had fought in the Second Boer War when New Zealand recruiters chose to ignore British military policy of the time of disallowing 'native' soldiers). A contingent took part in the Gallipoli campaign, and later served with distinction on the Western Front as part of the New Zealand (Māori) Pioneer Battalion. 2688 Māori and 346 Pacific islanders served with New Zealand forces in total.
Samoa
New Zealand's first act of the war, in August 1914, was to send an expeditionary force to seize and occupy German Samoa. On 6 August 1914 the British government indicated that it would be "a great and urgent Imperial service" if New Zealand forces seized Samoa, so a mixed for of 1,413 men plus six nursing sisters sailed on the 15th and, after stopping in Fiji to collect some guides and interpreters landed at Apia on the 29th. Although Germany refused to officially surrender the islands, no resistance was offered and the occupation took place without any fighting - the first German territory to be occupied in the name of King George V.
Middle East
As early as October 1914 the New Zealand Expeditionary Force sailed from Wellington. Diverted from their original destination in Europe, the New Zealanders were landed in Egypt, where they helped repulse a Turkish attack on the Suez Canal in February 1915.
Map of the landing at Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915.
The New Zealand volunteer soldiers remained encamped in Egypt, alongside their Australian comrades, undergoing training prior to being sent to France. On April 25, 1915, as part of the New Zealand and Australian Division, the New Zealanders landed at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, and fought in the Battle of Gallipoli under the command of Australian General Alexander Godley. The combined British Empire and French operation was mounted in order to eventually capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople (now Istanbul). Because of a navigational error, the Anzacs came ashore about a mile north of the intended landing point in their initial landing. Instead of facing the expected beach and gentle slope they found themselves at the bottom of steep cliffs, offering the few Turkish defenders an ideal defensive position. Establishing a foothold, the Anzacs found an advance to be impossible. On April 30 1915, when the first news of the landing reached New Zealand a half-day holiday was declared and impromptu services were held - the origin of the commemorative pulbic holiday, ANZAC Day, recognised by New Zealand and Australia.
Despite the blunder at Anzac Cove, the New Zealand soldiers fought valiantly throughout the campaign but the it was a failed venture overall, and an estimated 505,000 soldiers were killed and 262,000 wounded, including New Zealand casualties of 2,701 dead and 4,852 wounded. The Allied forces eventually evacuated in early December and early January of 1916. The significance of the battle of Gallipoli was strongly felt in New Zealand (and Australia) where it was the first great conflict experienced by the fledgling nation. Before Gallipoli the citizens of New Zealand were confident of the superiority of the British Empire and were proud and eager to offer their service. The campaign in Gallipoli shook that confidence.
Back in Egypt, the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was reorganised into the New Zealand Mounted Brigade and the New Zealand Division (infantry). Reinforcements from New Zealand replaced the Australian component of the Division, which embarked for France in April 1916. The New Zealand Mounted Brigade, 147 officers and 2,897 other ranks, remained in Egypt as part of the Anzac Mounted Division. In April 1916 it was deployed to the Sinai Peninsula where it took part in the ultimately successful Sinai and Palestine Campaign against the Turks. New Zealanders fought in most of the battles leading up to the fall of Jerusalem and the defeat of the Ottoman Army, and were praised for their fighting alongside their Australian and British comrades. In 1919 Field Marshall Sir Edmund Allenby, said this of the New Zealand soldiers in the Sinai campaign;
- "Nothing daunted these intrepid fighters: to them nothing was impossible."
A total of 17,723 New Zealanders served in this campaign and New Zealand casualties were 640 killed in action and 1,146 wounded.
Western Front
Infantry from the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment, New Zealand Division in the Switch Line near Flers, taken some time in September 1916, after the
Battle of Flers-Courcelette.
In France, the New Zealand Division settled in on the stalemated Western Front and their first major trial was during the Battle of the Somme. It took part in the Fourth Army's attack on 15 September, under the command of the British XV Corps. By the time they were relieved on 4 October, the New Zealanders had advanced three kilometres and captured eight kilometres of enemy front line. 7,048 had become casualties, of whom 1,560 were killed. In June 1917 the New Zealand Division further distinguished itself in the storming of Messines ridge and the capture of the village of Messines. During the fighting at Passchendaele in the following October, however, it was bloodily repulsed in its second attack, with 850 dead in exchange for no more than 500 yards of ground gained. This was the first time the Division had failed in a major operation; but more notably remains the worst disaster in New Zealand's history in terms of lives lost in a single day.
The Division now had four battalions, making it one of the largest on the Western Front, and was stationed in the Polygon Wood area, before again seeing action in a major battle. As the Germans launched their great Spring Offensive of 1918, the New Zealand Division was rushed to stem a breakthrough in the First Battle of the Somme, which threatened Amiens. The gap was between British IV and V Corps in the Ancre Valley. After confused fighting the New Zealanders eventually gained the upper hand and soon were counter-attacking advantageous land, stabilising the British line. Later in the year, they excelled in the open country fighting that was brought about by the Allied counter-offensive.
In their last action of the war, the Division captured the ancient fortress (Vauban-designed) town of Le Quesnoy in a daring assault on 4 November 1918. The day proved to be Division's most successful of their whole time on the Western Front as they pushed east and advanced ten kilometres, capturing 2000 German soldiers and sixty field guns. The town occupied a strategic position in north-eastern France and had been held by the Germans since 1914. Although with no specific orders indicating that the town need to be captured with any haste, the New Zealand soldiers were determined to and just before midday the first New Zealand troops reached the outer walls and scaled them with ladders. Propping the ladders against the precariously narrow inner walls, sections of one New Zealand battalion ascended the walls and engaged with fleeing German defenders. The few thousand strong German garrison surrendered soon after New Zealand soldiers entered the town itself.
Other theatres
New Zealand also contributed to the war at sea. Just after its outbreak, the cruiser HMS Philomel, loaned to New Zealand as a training ship, was augmented with 70 New Zealand reservists and sailed with two Royal Navy cruisers to escort the New Zealand troops sent to occupy German Samoa. Later in 1914 these three ships also escorted the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to Egypt.
From January 1915, Philomel patrolled the Gulf of Alexandretta in the Eastern Mediterranean, supporting several landings and sustaining three fatal casualties, one being the first New Zealander killed in action in the war. She also took part in the defence of the Suez Canal, operations in the Gulf of Aden and patrols in the Persian Gulf. Although refitting from time to time at Malta or Bombay kept her seaworthy, age eventually forced her out of the war and in March 1917 she returned to Wellington for a major overhaul. In June 1917 a German raider laid minefields in New Zealand waters, causing the loss of a merchant ship off Farewell Spit and another off Three Kings Islands. Two fishing trawlers, the Nora Niven and Simplon, were fitted as minesweepers and took up sweeping duties in these areas.
New Zealand had no air force of her own during the First World War but several hundred New Zealanders served with the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Air Force.
Second World War 1939-1945
New Zealand entered World War II by declaring war on Germany on September 3, 1939. Politically, New Zealand had been a vocal opponent of European fascism and the national sentiment for a strong show of force was generally supported. New Zealand provided personnel for service in the RAF and Royal Navy, and its own NZ army contribution the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF).
In total, New Zealand provided nearly 200,000 personnel for the Allied war effort, and armed an additional 100,000 men for Home Guard duty. The costs for the country were high, with the highest per capita casualty rate of any Commonwealth nation (twice that of the United Kingdom and four times that of Australia).
The 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) was formed under Major-General Bernard Freyberg and despatched to see active service in Greece, Crete, North Africa, Italy, and Yugoslavia The main fighting unit of the expeditionary force was the New Zealand 2nd Division also commanded by Major-General Bernard Freyberg.
Greece
During April 1941 the 2NZEF was involved in the defence of Greece against an invasion by Italian and German troops. During most of the campaign the New Zealand troops were being pushed back and all units were evacuated by 1 May 1941
Total New Zealand casualities were 291 dead, 387 seriously wounded and 1,826 captured.
Crete
- Main article: Battle of Crete
Most of the New Zealand and other allied troops evacuated from Greece were transported to Crete where Freyberg was appointed commander of all allied forces.
The German invasion by Paratroops and Glider forces started on May 20 and after heavy losses the Germans managed to secure Maleme airfied and fly in additional troops. The final evacuation of allied forces took places on May 31.
New Zealand casualities were 671 dead, 967 wounded and 2,180 captured.
Charles Upham gained his first Victoria Cross during the battle.
North Africa
Between 1941 and May 1943 New Zealand forces were involved in fighting against Axis troops in North Africa.
Between 1940 and 1946, around 76,000 members of the First Echelon, 2NZEF main body were trained at a camp near Maadi, Egypt at the base of the desert slopes of Wadi Digla and Tel al-Maadi. During that time this area belonged to the Delta Land Company which created Maadi in 1907. The rocky plateau was leased to the New Zealand Forces, and became New Zealand's main overseas base for the next six years.
- Tobruk
- Minqar Qaim
- El Alamein
Italy
- October/November 1943 New Zealand troops assembled in Bari
- November 1943 crossed the Sangro River with a view to breaching the German Gustav Line and advancing to Rome
- 2 December 1943 captured the village Castelfrentano
- 3 December 1943 attacked Orsogna but were repulsed by the strong German defence
- January 1944 withdrew from stalled front line
- 17 February attacked Cassino but it was strongly defended and they withdrew in early April. Cassino was eventually captured on 18 May 1944 by British and Polish troops, with support of NZ artillery
- 16 July 1944 captured Arezzo and reached Florence on 4 August, by the end of October they had reached the Savio River
- 14 December 1944 captured Faenza
- 8 April 1945 crossed the Senio River then began their final push across the Santerno River and Gaiana River and finally the Po River on Anzac Day 1945.
- 28 April 1945 captured Padua
- 1 May 1945 crossed the Izonso River to reach Trieste on 2 May 1945, the day of the German unconditional surrender in Italy
Pacific
When Japan entered the war in December 1941, the New Zealand Government raised another expeditionary force known as the 2nd N.Z.E.F. In the Pacific, or 2nd N.Z.E.F. (I.P.), for service with the Allied Pacific Ocean Areas command. This force supplemented existing garrison troops in the South Pacific. The main fighting formation of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. (I.P.) was the New Zealand 3rd Division. However the 3rd Division never fought as a formation; its component brigades being involved in semi-independent actions as part of the Allied forces in the Solomons, Treasury Islands and Green Island.
The N.Z. army units were eventually replaced by American formations, which released personnel for service with the 2nd Division in Italy, or to cover civilian labour shortages. Air force squadrons and Navy units contributed to the Allied island hopping campaign.
In 1945, troops who had recently returned from Europe with the 2nd Division were drafted to form a contribution (known as J-Force) toward the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in southern Japan. No. 14 Squadron RNZAF, equipped with Corsair fighters, and RNZN ships also joined BCOF.
Other Theatres
Berlin Airlift 1948-49
From June 24, 1948 to May 11, 1949 the Soviet Union blocked Western railroad and street access to West Berlin (see Berlin Blockade). In response the British, American and French governments enacted the Berlin Airlift, one of the biggest food-drops in history, transferring supplies to 2.2 million inhabitants of West berlin for 324 successive days. Royal New Zealand Air Force aircrews were seconded to the Royal Air Force and flew in these supply missions - ultimately 278,228 flights were made and 2,326,406 tons of food and supplies were delivered to Berlin. This was the first involvment New Zealand had in what was to become the Cold War.
Korean War 1950-1953
When the United Nations Security Council called for combat assistance in the erupting Korean War, New Zealand was one of the first (of sixteen) nations to respond with support. On June 29, just four days aftr 135,000 North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel in Korea, the New Zealand government ordered two frigates (Loch class) of the Royal New Zealand Navy - HMNZS Tutira and Pukaki to prepare to make for Korean waters. On July 3 they left Devonport Naval Base, Auckland and met up other Commonwealth forces at Sasebo, Japan, on August 2. These vessels served under the command of a British flag officer and formed part of the US Navy screening force during the Battle of Inchon, performing shore raids and inland bombardment. Further RNZN Loch class frigates joined these later HMNZS Rotoiti, Hawea, Taupo and Kaniere, as well as a number of smaller craft. Only one RNZN sailor was killed during the conflict - during the Inchon bombardments.
After some debate, on July 26, 1950, the New Zealand Government announced it would raise a volunteer military force to serve with UN forces in Korea. The idea was notably opposed initially by Chief of the General Staff Major General K. L. Steward, who did not believe the force would be large enough to be self-sufficient. His opposition was ignored and the government raised what was known as KAYFORCE, a total of 1044 men were selected from among volunteers. An artillery regiment and support elements arrived later during the conflict from New Zealand. The force arrived at Pusan on New Year's Eve and on January 21 joined the 27th British Infantry Brigade. The New Zealanders immediately saw combat and spent the next two and a half years taking part in the operations which led the United Nations forces back to and over the 38th Parallel, recapturing Seoul in the process.
Following the armistice, Royal New Zealand Navy deployments continued, together with Army support elements until 1957 as Kayforce was gradually reduced in size. The majority of Kayforce had returned to New Zealand by 1955, though it was not until 1957 that the last New Zealand soldiers had left Korea. A single New Zealand military liaison officer on the Commonwealth Liaison Mission, Korea, remained in the country until 1971. A total of 3,794 New Zealand soldiers served in KAYFORCE and 1300 in the RNZN deploymen. 33 were killed in action, 79 wounded and 1 soldier was taken prisoner. That prisoner was held in North Korea for eighteen months and repatriated after the armistiics. A New Zealander flying with the Royal Air Force was also captured when he was shot down near P'yongyang, and was repatriated at around the same time.
Kashmir 1952-76
New Zealand provided military observers for the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan.
Malayan Emergency 1950-1960
The Malayan Emergency was declared on June 18, 1948 after three estate managers were murdered by the MCP (Malayan Communist Party). New Zealand's first involvement in Emergency operations occurred in 1949 following the deployment to Singapore of a flight of 41 Squadron's Dakotas in response to the threatening situation in Hong Kong. Attached to the British Far East Air Force, these aircraft were used, as a secondary task to their flights to Hong Kong, to drop supplies to forces engaging the MRLA. One aircraft was stationed in Kuala Lumpur to carry out this role. By the time the flight was withdrawn in December 1951, it had carried out 211 sorties, dropping 284,000 kilograms of supplies.
Several New Zealand Army officers served in Malaya while on secondment with British units from 1949. In January 1951 ten officers and fourteen NCOs also went there with 1st Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment. Under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R.A. Tinker initially, this unit gained a high reputation for effectiveness in operations against the guerrillas. By the time it was withdrawn in 1956 about forty New Zealanders had served with it, and two had been accidentally killed. In 1954 an RNZN frigate, HMNZS Pukaki, carried out a bombardment of a suspected guerrilla camp, while operating with the Royal Navy's Far East Fleet. This was the first of a number of bombardments by RNZN ships over the next five years.
New Zealand became more directly involved in Emergency operations in 1955, following its decision to contribute forces to the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve. The Reserve's primary role was to deter communist aggression against South-east Asia, and to provide a capacity for the immediate implementation of defence plans in the event that deterrence failed. As a secondary role, the forces committed to the Reserve were permitted to take part in actions against the guerrillas.
The Army's initial contribution to the Reserve, a Special Air Service Squadron commanded by Major Frank Rennie which formed part of 22nd SAS Regiment, was particularly suited for such operations, which now consisted of seeking out the guerrillas in their jungle sanctuary. From April 1956 it deployed in the Fort Brooke area bordering the states of Perak and Kelantan and in a series of operations eliminated the local MRLA organisation, at a cost of one fatal casualty. During 1957 the squadron operated in Negri Sembilan in an area dubbed Mountainous by the guerrillas, between the towns of Seremban, Kuala Pilah, and Tampin. Again it was successful in destroying the local MRLA group. In 1965/6, during Confrontation, SAS squadrons mounted cross-border operations in Borneo. RNZAF's role
Meanwhile RNZAF units in the Strategic Reserve were also operating against the guerrillas. On 1 May 1955 Vampires of 14 Squadron carried out the RNZAF's first operational strike mission since the Second World War and the first in jet aircraft. Between April 1955 and March 1958 the squadron, now equipped with Venoms, mounted 115 strike missions, which fell into two categories - 'Firedogs' (pre-planned bombing, strafing, and rocket attacks against suspected guerrilla targets) and 'Smash Hits' (immediate on-call strikes against opportunity targets in response to a guerrilla raid or 'hot' information). The Canberras of 75 Squadron, which replaced 14 Squadron in the Reserve in July 1958, were also used on bombing missions.
While the effectiveness of the air strikes against targets in the jungle was inevitably limited, they provided much valuable training experience to the pilots. In July 1955 41 Squadron, half of which was deployed in the Strategic Reserve, had resumed supply dropping operations in support of anti-guerrilla forces using the highly effective Bristol Freighter. The end of the Emergency
From March 1958 1st Battalion, New Zealand Regiment, which had replaced the SAS Squadron in the Strategic Reserve, took part in operations designed to clear Perak of insurgents. Operating from Ipoh and later Grik, it mounted a series of deep jungle patrols. Its achievements in eliminating guerrillas were second to none among 28th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade's battalions. By the time that it was replaced by 2nd Battalion NZR in late 1959, most of the guerrillas had retreated across the border into southern Thailand. The greatly improved security situation was reflected in the official termination of the Emergency on 31 July 1960. For the next four years New Zealand infantrymen would periodically deploy in the Border Security Area as part of counter-insurgency measures. During Confrontation they helped hunt Indonesian infiltrators in Johore in 1964, and saw action on the Borneo frontier in 1965. The insurgents did not finally give up until the 1980s.
During this conflict the Special Air Service of New Zealand (NZ SAS) was formed.
Indonesian Confrontation 1962-66
New Zealand provided SAS Squadrons, an infantry battalion, RNZN ships, RNZAF attack and transport squadrons. New Zealand military personnel served in northern Borneo, on the Malay Peninsula and in the surrounding waters.
Vietnam War 1964-75
New Zealand's response was carefully considered and initially consisted of a detachment of Royal New Zealand Engineers. Consisting of two officers and 20 other ranks this contingent was despatched in June 1964. They were sent to the Southern Republic in a non-combatant capacity to undertake reconstruction tasks in and around the town of Thu Do Mot. At the same time a small administrative headquarters was established in Saigon.
On 27 May 1965 the Prime Minister, Sir Keith Holyoake, announced the Government's decision to send 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery to South Vietnam in a combat role. The Engineers were replaced by the Battery in July 1965. Comprised of nine officers and 101 other ranks, 161 Battery was initially under command of the United States Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade based at Bien Hoa near Saigon.
New Zealand forces with Viet Cong prisoners
In June 1966 the Battery was reassigned to the 1st Australian Task Force at Nui Dat, in Phuoc Tuy Province east of Saigon. From then until its withdrawal in May 1971, the Battery served with Royal Australian Artillery field regiments in support of Australian and New Zealand infantry units. In May 1967, New Zealand's combat strength in Vietnam was increased by a 182-strong rifle company, -designated Victor One Company, from the 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment in Malaysia. In December 1967 Victor One Company was joined by Whisky One Company, also from the 1st Battalion. Both companies came under the Australian Task Force's command and formed part of an ANZAC infantry battalion. The rifle companies were deployed on infantry operations in Phuoc Tuy Province and were replaced several times, usually after a 12-month tour of duty. Whiskey Three Company was withdrawn without replacement in November 1970 and Victor Six Company was withdrawn without replacement in December 1971.
New Zealand's military presence in South Vietnam was also increased in May 1967 with the arrival of the New Zealand Services Medical Team, a 19-strong tri-service detachment. The New Zealanders, provided under the Military Public Health Programme, relieved a United States Army medical team at Bong Son in Binh Dinh Province. They dispensed medical care to the local civilian community in the main, but also treated military casualties who were brought to the Bon Son Dispensary - including South Vietnamese Army personnel and Viet Cong prisoners. In June 1969 the team moved from the old dispensary into the new 100-bed Bong Son Impact Hospital. The average bed-state was 92 and approximately 46,000 outpatients (mostly civilians) were treated annually before the team's withdrawal in December 1971.
In November 1968, New Zealand's contribution to the 1st Australian Task Force was increased by the deployment of 4 Troop, New Zealand Special Air Service, comprising an officer and 25 other ranks. The Troop was attached to the Australian SAS Squadron at Nui Dat and carried out long-range reconnaissance and the ambushing of enemy supply routes until being withdrawn in February 1971. In October 1970 the 1st New Zealand Army Training Team Vietnam, consisting of 25 advisers, arrived in Vietnam and established a training centre for South Vietnamese Regional Force soldiers at Chi Lang, west of Saigon near the Cambodian border. The Centre trained about 8,000 platoon commanders and junior leaders annually - in the use of small arms and minor tactics.
February 1972 saw the arrival in Vietnam of the 2nd New Zealand Army Training Team Vietnam, dispatched to assist a United States Army Training Team with the training of Cambodian infantry battalions. Eighteen advisers were stationed with the Americans at Dong Ba Thin near Cam Rhan Bay about 320 kilometres north of Saigon. Apart from military training, the Team provided first aid instruction and specialist medical instruction at Dong Ba Thin's 50-bed hospital. The last of the New Zealand Army's combat elements were withdrawn from South Vietnam in December 1971: the two training teams and the New Zealand headquarters in Saigon were withdrawn by the newly-elected Labour Government in December 1972. At the highest peak, in November 1968, New Zealanders in South Vietnam numbered 543: a total of 3,890 troops (all volunteers) served in Vietnam between June 1964 and December 1972.
Patrols by HMNZ Ships Canterbury and Waikato in 1982 and 1983 to monitor merchant shipping and belligerent activities in the Gulf region during the Iran-Iraq War.
Gulf War 1990-91
The Royal New Zealand Air Force provided transport aircrafts and tri-service medical teams to assist the US-led Coalition forces.
Somalia 1992-94
During this United Nations operation, New Zealand provided an army supply detachment, Royal New Zealand Air Force transport aircraft and staff officers. Royal New Zealand Air Force transport aircraft, staff officers and medical personnel were deployed to Somalia.
Haiti 1994-95
New Zealand provided military observers for service in Haiti during the United Nation mission.
New Zealand deployed an SAS detachment to Kuwait.
East Timor 1999-2003
New Zealand provided infantry, NZ SAS troops, Army engineers, RNZN ships, Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopters and transport aircraft, the Forward Surgical Team Light, staff officers in the mission headquarters, civilian police, corrections officers and customs officers.
The first deployment of combat troops was under the Australian-led INTERFET in September 1999. With the transition to UNTAET (United Nations Transitional Authority East Timor) the New Zealand contribution was continued. Significnat downsizing occurred in November 2003, when NZBATT6, the sixth infantry battalion depolyment to Suai, was brought home without replacement. However, to this day a small number of NZDF personnel remain in East timor training the East Timorese Defence Force.
Solomon Islands 2000-current
New Zealand has provided and continues to provide military personnel, civilian police and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade personnel.
Afghanistan 2001-current
Operation Enduring Freedom
In 2001, New Zealand took part in the Invasion of Afghanistan with SAS troops which were deployed in December 2001. New Zealand Defence Force staff officers have been sent to Afghanistan and have been part of the HQ Coalition Joint Task Force since 2002.
Royal New Zealand Air Force and Army personnel are currently in Afghanistan working as part of UK-led International Security Assistance Force.
A Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) of 122 personnel drawn from all three services of the NZDF has been located in Bamyan Province since 2003.
Iraq 2003-current
61 New Zealand Defence Force personnel were deployed in Oct 2003 as a Light Engineer Group to Basra, South-east Iraq to undertake humanitarian and reconstruction tasks consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 1483 and worked alongside UK forces. The engineers were brought home in Oct 2004, but New Zealand is still represented in Iraq by liaison and staff officers working with coalition forces.
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See also
External links
The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_New_Zealand_during_World_War_II under GFDL
