We’re a force for New Zealand

We’re a force for peace and security

We’re a force for those in need

We’re a force for good

We’re a force for our communities

Inside the cockpit of a C-130 hercules, three aircrew members with headset on navigate a blue and cloudy sky

Evacuees board a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130H(NZ) Hercules aircraft at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. NZDF personnel stand at the ramp of the aircraft to support them and provide security

A C-130 Hercules aircraft carries out a load drop during an exercise

In the foreground a young child smiles while sitting on his bike out of excitement seeing the Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter flying in the background. It's a sunny summer day with some cloud and dry grass.

Latest
Stories

NZDF Person of the Year 2023

01 December 2023

People

Aviator chalks up air miles in RNZAF career

30 November 2023

Media Release

NZDF People of the Year Awards 2023

30 November 2023

Story Collection

Diversity champion earns Peter Rule inclusion honour

30 November 2023

People

Soaring at Wings Over Wairarapa 2023

27 November 2023

In the community

Winched to safety by RNZAF NH90 helicopter

24 November 2023

Capability

Registration opens for 2024 Gallipoli services

22 November 2023

Media Release

Silver Dagger

21 November 2023

Ops & exercises

The Black Falcons, the Royal New Zealand Air Force display team, will kick off their summer display season with an appearance from the T-6C Texan II aircraft at Wings over Wairarapa Air Festival

New Zealand Defence Force on display at Wings over Wairarapa

21 November 2023

Media Release

NZDF Sportsperson of the Year

17 November 2023

People

Looking beyond the plaque towards the crash site - there is a New Zealand flag on the right.

Dutch village honours Kiwi airmen killed in Second World War

16 November 2023

Media Release

Support to Ukraine

15 November 2023

Story Collection

NZDF contingent to support Solomon Islands during Pacific Games

14 November 2023

Media Release

RNZAF Poseidon finds suspect fishing boats in vast Pacific Ocean search

09 November 2023

Ops & exercises

Personnel walk through the snow, in uniform, in a line as part of five-day cold weather survival course on Mt Ruapehu. In the background you can see rock formation that have a dusting of snow and snow around them.

Surviving the cold

07 November 2023

Life in service

A red and yellow Westpac Rescue helicopter crashed in dense bush with a person inspecting the helicopter in the foreground. The area of bush around the helicopter has been cut and cleared, ready for recovery.

Helicopter recovers helicopter

06 November 2023

In the community

Corporal Nicole Smith on stage in front of a large screen ready to powerlift large weights while three spotters are on hand behind her.

Air Force corporal with passion for powerlifting

03 November 2023

People

RNZAF Band set to take flight in annual Wellington concert

31 October 2023

Media Release

Methven man awarded Aviator of the Year for intelligence work

26 October 2023

Media Release

Combined RNZAF, Police and civilian effort brings injured tramper out of Waikato bush

17 October 2023

Media Release

Introducing the C-130J

16 October 2023

Story Collection

Crucial step towards journey to the C-130J

16 October 2023

Capability

C-130J Hercules simulator takes off

16 October 2023

Capability

RNZAF Poseidon crew find missing Fijian fishers missing for nine days

13 October 2023

Media Release

Top Air Force roles filled

11 October 2023

People

A Chinook helicopter delivers two large bags of chalk to the green hillside in Wiltshire. A gate in the foreground reads 'The Kiwi'.

Kiwis chalk up hillside facelift for historic memorial in UK

10 October 2023

Partnering

New Air Force Chief begins role

03 October 2023

People

75 years of Defence First Aid competition

03 October 2023

Life in service

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules in Antarctica sitting on the ice.

Summer season gets under way for NZDF's Operation Antarctica

28 September 2023

Media Release

Textbooks wing their way to Fiji

27 September 2023

Media Release

See all stories

See all news

We are the Royal New Zealand Air Force – Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa

We provide New Zealand with responsive and effective air power to meet its national interests. We are an agile and adaptive Air Force with the versatility essential for New Zealand Defence Force operations. As such, we are a modern and dynamic part of the Defence Force. We’ve got the right equipment to perform our primary roles: airborne surveillance and reconnaissance, combat, and air mobility.

Learn more about what we do

We are a force of highly trained professionals.

We come from all walks of life and share a strong sense of what it means to be Kiwi - our culture is based on our values Tū Kaha (courage), Tū Tika (commitment), Tū Tira (comradeship) and Tū Maia (integrity). Together, we are Force for New Zealand and are proud to serve Aotearoa and its diverse communities.

More about our people

We operate a number of different aircraft types used for both training and operations.

Aircraft

Meet our leaders

About our structure

Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb

Chief of Air Force

Air Commodore Ian Mower

Deputy Chief of Air Force

Air Commodore Andy Scott

Air Component Commander

Warrant Officer Kerry Williams

Warrant Officer of the Air Force

Considering a career in the Air force?

A big part of our work in the Air Force involves assisting communities affected by conflict or natural disasters. The fact that we work to protect and help people is one very good reason why we're so passionate about what we do. It gives our lives real meaning and purpose.

Find out more