Partnerships and engagements

International diplomacy and engagement is key for our Defence Force, both in contributing to New Zealand’s security and to maintaining the rules-based international system. Effective defence engagement also supports New Zealand’s broader foreign and economic policy objectives.

Working in partnership to strengthen maritime security across the Pacific was a key focus of the 9th SWPHMF Meeting, hosted by the Royal New Zealand Navy in Auckland from 5-7 October.

Attendees were Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

"As maritime leaders, we face many common challenges, including transnational serious and organised crime, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, the management of vast maritime areas, resource constraints, and the increasing impacts of climate change on our maritime environments and communities."

“Through trusted partnerships, information sharing and coordinated action, we can deliver better outcomes for our Pacific communities." – Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of Navy

Chief of the Naval Staff India, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, and his delegation have conducted an official visit to New Zealand this week as military ties between the countries grow.

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New Zealand and Germany have signed a logistics arrangement between their two militaries, committing to practical logistics cooperation during exercises, operations and humanitarian assistance activities.

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Six senior enlisted personnel from partner and allied navies have been welcomed onto the Devonport Naval Base this week for our Warrant Officers Development Course (WODC).

The New Zealand Army has reinforced its long-standing commitment with Australia with the signing of the renewed Plan ANZAC in Canberra yesterday.

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Over 50 Navy and Air Force personnel from Five Eyes (FVEY) and military partners, came together at Devonport Naval Base last week for the Theatre Surface Warfare Commanders Conference.

US Chief of Space Operations General B Chance Saltzman visited the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s No. 62 Squadron.

Following on from the visit by the Royal Navy’s Second Sea Lord this week, we have also been privileged to host the Chief of Staff of the Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile).

A visit from the Royal Navy’s Second Sea Lord this week to the Devonport Naval Base underscores the close relationship between our two navies.

Ngāti Tūmatauenga, the New Zealand Army recently hosted representatives from two key Five Power Defence Agreement partners - Singapore and the United Kingdom - in a series of ...

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Last week, Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, attended the biennial Indo-Pacific Maritime Exposition and Sea-Power conference held in Sydney.

Deputy Chief of Navy, Commodore Karl Woodhead, hosted his Royal Australian Navy counterpart, Rear Admiral Matt Buckley, and delegations at the Devonport Naval Base.

New Zealand Defence Force personnel joined forces recently with military partners and other government agencies to rehearse procedures for a humanitarian assistance and disaster response to a tropical cyclone in the Pacific.

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Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, and the Japanese Ambassador to New Zealand, Mr Makoto Osawa, toasted the friendship between the two countries.

Major General Paul Maynard, OBE, Royal Marines and Director Strategic Policy for the Royal Navy visit New Zealand for bilateral Navy to Navy talks.

Last week Deputy Chief of Army Brigadier Hamish Gibbons hosted his Australian counterpart Major General Chris Smith and a delegation from the Australian Army for three days of constructive staff talks in Wellington.

Ngāti Tūmatauenga hosted United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) Commanding General, General Ronald P. Clark for a valuable few days of discussions. It reaffirmed the strong and enduring military relationship between key Indo-Pacific partners.

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Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, Chief of the German Army, received an official welcome to Wellington this week, laying wreaths at the Pukeahu National War Memorial before a seri...

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This week the Commander US Space Command General Stephen Whiting had a whirlwind visit to New Zealand, speaking with senior military leaders and meeting New Zealand Defence Forc...

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New Zealand’s Chief of Army, Major General Rose King, and Australia’s Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, combined for a joint visit to Timor-Leste last week.

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Australia’s Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart and his New Zealand Army counterpart Major General Rose King have met with senior Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) leaders in Suva this week to kick-start a week-long tour of the Pacific.

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Chief of Army Major General Rose King and the Chief of the Australian Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart are set to lead a joint delegation to Fiji and Timor-Leste for important talks with our partners in the Pacific.

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The Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, Air Marshal Tony Davies, hosted Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan in Wellington as part of ongoing engagement between Canada and New Zealand.

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Royal New Zealand Navy's (RNZN) Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding, welcomed Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral (VADM) Mark Hammond to Devonport Naval Base yesterday.

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