Southland hosts major New Zealand–Australian Reserve Force exercise

Exercise Tauwharenīkau 2026 is the NZ Army Reserve Force's premier warfighting exercise, bringing together soldiers from across the country, alongside 50 Australian Army Reserve personnel from 5th Brigade.

Led by the 2nd/4th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, the exercise will operate from a base near Gore from 18 to 26 July.

Training areas will be sign posted and the New Zealand Defence Force has worked closely with local authorities and landowners to ensure the exercise is conducted safely and with minimal impact on the community.

Members of the public should not be alarmed if they hear simulated gunfire or explosions and see soldiers carrying military equipment and blank-firing weapons through the Hokonui Hills and Waikaia area. No live ammunition will be used during the training.

The public may also see soldiers patrolling, military vehicles, and Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft – including a C-130J Hercules transporting troops in and out of Invercargill, and NH90 helicopters flying in the area.

Exercise Director, Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Seeds, says the exercise will be the largest Reserve Force-led activity conducted in the South Island in decades.

"Exercise Tauwharenīkau reflects the scale, complexity and uncertainty of the contemporary security environment our soldiers must be prepared to operate in.

“It is designed to strengthen combat readiness, enhance interoperability with our Australian counterparts, and ensure our Reserve Force can integrate rapidly and effectively with the Regular Force to deliver increased combat capability, force protection, and operational effectiveness.

"We also look forward to further strengthening our longstanding defence relationship with Australia throughout the exercise."

The Southland region provides an ideal dynamic environment for large-scale field training, enabling soldiers to operate across a variety of terrain and conditions that contribute to realistic military training outcomes, Lieutenant Colonel Seeds said.

The Reserve Force provides the NZ Army with  trained personnel who can augment Regular Force capability and support domestic responses, security tasks and military operations when required, including infantry, engineers, signallers, medics, dental specialists, mounted capability, combat support, intelligence specialists, and uncrewed aerial systems operators.

NZ Army Reservists train for a minimum of 20 days each year while balancing their military service with civilian employment, study, and family commitments. 

In turn, service in the NZ Army develops leadership, teamwork, resilience and decision-making skills that Reservists apply in their workplaces and communities. 

During the exercise, employers of Reserve Force personnel will be invited to visit the operating base, providing an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the training, leadership development and operational roles undertaken by their employees. 

The NZ Army routinely trains in communities around the country in order to be able to respond in times when we are called upon to assist. The NZ Army appreciates the continued support of the Gore, Waikaia and wider Southland communities in ensuring the Reserve Force remains ready to support New Zealand at home and overseas.