A high activity tempo has become the new norm for the NZDF. This is due to the combination of our commitments to peace–building and peace–keeping operations overseas, and our commitments in and around New Zealand – including multi–agency tasks, training and modernisation.
Our vision remains: “Three Services as One Force being the best in everything we do”.
The underlying notion is excellence; we need to do the things we currently do better and to seek ways of doing better things – to do our business simpler and better. As highlighted in this Annual Report, and with the full support of my Executive Leadership Team, I intend this notion to underscore everything we do.
The high operational tempo is good reason for the investment we are currently making in rebuilding personnel numbers, and modernising our equipment and infrastructure.
During the year the NZDF commenced the introduction into service of HMNZS Canterbury – the first of the Project Protector vessels; continued with aircraft upgrades, completed a major baseline review, and initiated a transformation programme to ensure that we can deliver government’s expectations now and into the future.
Other significant milestones included a continuation of projects under the Defence Sustainability Initiative; consolidation of the NZDF Strategic Plan, including performance measurement and reporting; building military capability and consolidating organisational capacity in Headquarters NZDF. In concert with the Ministry of Defence we achieved significant progress with the Defence Long–Term Development Plan.
I believe 2009 will be another year of opportunities and challenges. I am confident that all the men and women who serve in the NZDF will keep achieving positive results as we all continue to build the NZDF into an agile, resource efficient and valued Defence Force.
In closing, I wish to thank all members of the NZDF (military and civilian) for their continued contribution to achieving our mission. I would also like to thank their families, Service–related organisations and the wider public who have continued to encourage and support us.
J. MATEPARAE
Lieutenant General
Chief of Defence Force
Previous | Contents | Next