Over the last 12 months the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has continued its commitment to whole-of-government multi-agency operational activities within New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the Southern Ocean, as well as helping build peace and stability overseas in furtherance of New Zealand’s foreign policy goals.
The impacts of the global recession and the tighter fiscal realities New Zealanders face are being factored into our future planning. It is becoming increasingly clear the Defence Force will be even more reliant on sound planning and robust reporting systems to target its effort, so we can be sure we continue to deliver maximum effect.
The contribution that the NZDF is making to New Zealand’s strategic interests and foreign policy goals is reflected in our high operational tempo. As in previous years, the level of our operational tempo has been above that planned for during what was envisaged as a period of restoration. Major missions continued in the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Afghanistan, the Sinai (Multinational Force Observers), and Antarctica. Individuals also deployed to United Nations missions in the Middle East, the Republic of Korea and Sudan.
Peace support missions can only be performed by well-trained and equipped military personnel. Exercise Cooperative Spirit, held in Germany, demonstrated the NZ Army’s competency in a contemporary warfighting environment when compared with our closest allies. When independently measured by other nation assessors and compared to US, UK, and Australian forces, the NZ infantry company performed exceptionally. Similar results were achieved with the involvement of our Navy and Air Force in overseas exercises.
It is essential that sufficient resources are allocated to the activities we undertake so that we are able to sustain our commitments and deliver the level of security our country needs. Accordingly, the NZDF has set in train measures that will better target resource allocation. For example, the operational preparedness of force elements has now been adjusted to ensure that we are appropriately ready for plausible and more likely contingencies. Our priority remains a fully prepared level of readiness for possible contingencies in New Zealand and the Pacific, as reported in the Statement of Service Performance section of this report.
Recruitment and retention have been critical issues for the NZDF as we have sustained overseas deployments and prepared for future operations. Personnel issues have also been a factor as we acquired new and upgraded capabilities. With the tighter economic conditions in New Zealand, combined with innovative recruitment and retention strategies the NZDF has implemented, growing the NZDF is looking more promising. Fewer people are choosing to leave the NZDF. This assists us in addressing relative experience levels, which remain low in certain operational and technical trades, and it is recognised that it will take time before these levels can be restored fully.
Our reserve forces continue to play an important role in fulfilling our mission. During the reporting year, reservists provided the bulk of our personnel in the Solomon Islands and recently increasing numbers are deploying to Timor-Leste. Other individuals deployed to Afghanistan and elsewhere.
At the same time that we are managing our serving personnel, including our civilian staff, we are also assisting our veterans. During the year, Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand became an operational unit of the NZDF. The NZDF provided a comprehensive submission to the Law Commission’s review of the War Pensions Act 1954. Along with veterans’ groups, we also supported a number of commemorative events, including Anzac Day and Armistice Day remembrance services.
In close co-operation with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), we have also progressed our major equipment upgrade programme across all three Services. Overall, the modernisation of the NZDF’s equipment is a huge step forward for the Services. With this ambitious programme, involving complex projects with multiple interdependencies, there have been delays, but notable successes during the year have included the delivery of the inshore patrol vessels for the Navy, the completion of the upgrade for the Air Force’s two Boeing 757 transport aircraft, and the acquisition of night vision equipment, new weapon sights and communication equipment for the Army.
From a strategic management point of view, together with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), I have turned our attention to ensuring that the NZDF achieves value for money. We have accelerated change initiatives of the Defence Transformation Programme (DTP). In its first year, the DTP returned some $45 million that was invested back into our people and capabilities and in helping to keep New Zealand secure.
My expectation is that in 2010, the DTP will start delivering a new way of conducting logistics support and a new way of training, managing and leading our people through human resource management and education and training initiatives. The utility of Headquarters NZDF (HQ NZDF) is also being improved so that it provides the strategic underpinning an organisation the size and complexity of the Defence Force needs.
The opportunities are exciting. My primary concern will remain to ensure the ability of the NZDF to provide effective military response options for the Government. The NZDF is improving its management processes and will continue to drive the changes necessary, via the DTP, to ensure we can keep delivering effective military capabilities into the future.
The Government’s Defence White Paper, expected in early 2010, will be a chance to take stock of what we have been doing over the past 10 years, and deciding what we need to continue, and what we need to change over the next 25 years.
In closing, I wish to acknowledge the valued role of all members of the NZDF - military and civilian - as we move closer to our vision of “Three Services as One Force, being the best in everything we do.” In particular, I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution made by the recently retired Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson, and Chief of Army, Major General Lou Gardiner during the reporting period. I also wish to express my gratitude to the families of our personnel, Service-related organisations, contractors and the wider public who have continued to support and encourage us.
J. MATEPARAE
Lieutenant General
Chief of Defence Force
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