Whanganui soldier following in father’s footsteps with South Korea deployment

He is currently the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) Command Warrant Officer for Operation Monitor, the NZDF’s long-standing deployment to the United Nations Command (UNC) and its Military Armistice Commission. 

His Army career began in 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment after leaving high school in Whanganui and a stint working in Australia. Over three decades, WO1 Collins has served in regimental, training, and staff appointments across New Zealand and abroad. His operational experience spans Bosnia, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Iraq, and now South Korea.

It was his father, a veteran of the Korean War, who first inspired WO1 Collins to serve.

New Zealand contributed both naval and ground forces in support of UNC during the Korean War in the early 1950s, with more than 6000 New Zealanders serving.

“As a boy I discovered his medals and listened to his stories. That’s where the spark came from.”

Now, he finds himself wearing several different hats in his role in the Republic of Korea.

As well as being New Zealand’s Command Warrant Officer, WO1 Collins is serving as Warrant Officer to the UNC Deputy Commander, Lieutenant General Derek Macaulay, and to the UNC Deputy Chief of Staff.

“It’s three jobs in one. One is strategic, one tactical, and one national. They overlap, but each requires a different approach. The challenge is consolidating those perspectives and giving leaders advice they can act on,” WO1 Collins says. 

A typical day might begin with a briefing to the Deputy Commander but quickly shift to multinational staff meetings, bilateral discussions with Republic of Korea counterparts, or engagements in the capital Seoul with ambassadors and defence officials. 

WO1 Collins interacts with representatives from a vast array of nations, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Thailand and Norway.

“There’s no fixed rhythm here. Things change quickly and you have to stay sharp.” 

Senior warrant officers bring a valuable perspective to their roles, he said. 

“I’ve walked in the shoes of soldiers at the tactical level. That experience gives me the ability to translate complex strategic issues into something meaningful and relevant for them, and for commanders it provides a complementary view that broadens decision making.”

Lieutenant General Macaulay says WO1 Collins’ ability to balance responsibilities has been critical. 

“He listens carefully, and when he speaks, he speaks with impact. That’s the hallmark of a good senior Non Commissioned Officer - fearless advice, given with integrity. 

“He carries his father’s legacy with humility, but he’s also carving out his own, showing that New Zealand has senior Non Commissioned Officers who can operate at the highest levels of international command,” Lieutenant General Macaulay said. 

WO1 Collins sees his role as both a representative and mentor. 

“New Zealand may be small, but here we stand as equals. Integrity, honesty, and the way we engage matter just as much as capability. And part of my job is preparing the next generation to step forward when it’s their time.” 

His advice to young soldiers is direct: “Believe in yourself! Chase the one percent gains every day. Those small efforts add up, and they matter.” 

Lieutenant General Macaulay believes what WO1 Collins is doing in South Korea will have a ripple effect.

“The example he’s setting ensures that when the next generation of warrant officers step up, they’ll know exactly what ‘right’ looks like.” 

Unwavering family support has been vital to WO1 Collins’ service. He said his wife Vicky - herself a former Army nurse - and their two sons have carried the load of absences and deployments. 

“They’ve done the hard yards as much as I have. I couldn’t have done this without them,” he said.