Skip to main content

We're a force for New Zealand

20260211 NZDF P1024180 018

We’re a force for peace and security

Latest Story:

Explosive Detector Dogs
25 0398 OP TIEKE 50

We’re a force for modern training

Latest Story:

OP TIEKE

We’re a force for New Zealand

We are a combat-capable force, trained, equipped, and ready to respond every hour of the day, every day of the year.

Latest News and Stories

We are comprised of

15269

regular force personnel, reserves and civilian employees.

Our people, structure and leadership

We utilise a diverse range of modern military equipment.

20180125 PhotEx 024

Ships & watercraft

 New Zealand Army soldiers fire a Carl Gustaf M3 there are flames out the back and motion shown out the front of the weapon. the soldiers are training in the tussock grass

Firepower

 20230617 NZDF H1060583 012

Aircraft

 20240220 NZDF K1055157 023

Military vehicles
~
A black and white photo of three NZDF personnel. The left is Air Force and is wearing a flying helmet and mask. In the middle the personnel is Navy and wearing a lifejacket and helmet with a headset. The person on the right is soldier and wearing headgear

Considering a career in defence?

A career in the Defence Force gives you real purpose and you'll have the honour of representing New Zealand wherever you go.

Find out more

Through their eyes

LMUS Paine 1

Resourceful Navy musician realises Antarctic dream, armed with plastic French horn

06 November 2025

People

A soldier wearing full wet weather Army uniform including a life jacket and helmet is photographed between two other soldiers as they sit in small boats under grey skies.

Sharpening key combat engineer skills on the water

14 July 2025

Life in service

20252202 L999682 AGS 006

Army medic stays grounded at high altitude

11 July 2025

People

Soldiers in full uniform with weapons walk towards the camera down a wet gravel road with tussocks covering the hills in the background.

Former Takapuna Grammar student selected to train as Army Officer in Australia

30 May 2025

People

A person stands in the snow, looking and smiling at the camera. Hands in pockets and wearing a peaked cap. There is a truck in the background, along with some water.

Hawke’s Bay combat driver relishes once-in-lifetime job in Antarctica

12 May 2025

People

Uniformed people stand on the edge of an aircraft door ready to jump out over water. One person has already started to jump.

Mother of two juggles NZSAS Regiment and family life

09 May 2025

People

An aviator stands armed crossed looking at the camera in a flying suit.

Auckland aviator awestruck by Antarctica as RNZAF continues aerial support to ice

07 May 2025

People

See all stories