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A firefighter with a red hose pipe over his shoulders runs towards a wooden shutter door on a red metal frame during the Firefighter Challenge in Wellington.

NZDF firefighters too hot for the competition

29 May 2023

People

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Afghanistan pioneer passes on

29 May 2023

Life in Service

Corporal Ash Peden

Machine Guns, Mortars and Shoddy Bike Parts – an Armourer’s trade

27 May 2023

People

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Third P-8A arrives

25 May 2023

Capability

Photo 3

NZ Army helps repair community halls and water tanks in Tonga

24 May 2023

Ops & exercises

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Art on our Arms

24 May 2023

Our Heritage

Sir Henry Wigram (centre, with bowler hat) with Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Bettington, from the British Air Ministry at Sockburn Aerodrome in 1919

Air Force Museum To Mark 100 Years Of New Zealand Military Aviation

23 May 2023
Croix du Sud 2

NZDF in largest ever New Caledonia Croix Du Sud exercise

23 May 2023

Ops & exercises

A female pilot wearing a green suit and helmet inside the flight deck of a Hercules aircraft.

RNZAF Successfully Drops In On South Island During Exercise

22 May 2023
Five female high school students with wide smiles siting inside an NH90 helicopter during flight. Both the left and right side doors are open and the students are looking out and can see the green pastures below them.

Hands Up For School To Skies Programme

22 May 2023
SOIC grad thin web

Specialist Kiwis bring their skills to the New Zealand Army

19 May 2023

Life in Service

Invictus Games banner
Invictus Games banner

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Invictus Games 2023

17 May 2023

Story Collection

Adam Modd

Bombs, deployments, explosions and scars

17 May 2023

People

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Double success on one mission earns RNZAF squadron Search and Rescue award

17 May 2023

Life in Service

Eleven ship formation of the Air Force's Texan aircraft on a nice day blue sky day.

Rare formation shows pilots' skills

15 May 2023

Capability

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A day in the life of an Air Force firefighter

15 May 2023

Life in Service

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A dog’s world

12 May 2023

Life in Service

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Pharmacist finds New Zealand Army Reserve Force just the tonic

12 May 2023

People

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New Zealand Army helps make mobility in family home possible

11 May 2023

In the community

Sub Lieutenant Emily Aull stands in an engine room with arms crossed, wearing blue ear protectors and white overalls with a black and gold name badge.

Palmerston North Navy trainee roams two oceans with UK Navy

11 May 2023

People

NZDF Kiwi

New Zealand-China strategic defence dialogue

11 May 2023

Organisation

Dotterels 5

Ohakea worker goes above and beyond to keep fearless dotterels flying

09 May 2023

People

LTCOL Ropitini stands with arms crossed, wearing Army uniform in from of two MHOVs.

Army’s newest Commanding Officer

09 May 2023

People

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Celebrating our veterans: Korean War

08 May 2023

Our Heritage

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History-making moment for NZDF Contingent marching in coronation of His Majesty King Charles III

07 May 2023

Organisation

NZDF personnel deliver infantry training in the UK to Armed Forces of Ukraine trainees. Photo credit: Australian Defence Force.

NZDF personnel train more than 1000 Ukraine recruits

04 May 2023

Organisation

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Personnel march in London at King Charles’ Coronation

03 May 2023

People

Able Hydrographic Systems Operator Kenneth Woodall.

Navy skills provide springboard to professional degree

02 May 2023

People

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Navy Officer experiences life on an icebreaker

02 May 2023

People

Former New Zealand Army Special Air Service soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, Willie Apiata, with auction items at his fundraiser for Ngāti Porou in Auckland

Apiata memorabilia auction raises more than $200,000 for cyclone-hit Ngāti Porou

01 May 2023

In the community

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

We keep Aotearoa New Zealand safe and secure. Our core task is to protect the sovereign territory of New Zealand including our Exclusive Economic Zone. We advance our nation’s interests through military operations at sea, on land and in the air. Our equipment and expertise supports people and communities in need at home, across our region, and around the world.

Learn more about what we do

We are comprised of

15191

regular force personnel, reserves and civilian employees.

Our people, structure and leadership

We utilise a diverse range of modern military equipment.

HMNZS Ships Otago, Canterbury and Wellington sailing together on the sea.

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

 The Royal New Zealand Air Force Black Falcons fly in formation (five T-6C Texan II aircraft). The sky is blue.

Aircraft

 A New Zealand Army Light Armoured Vehicle (NZLAV) on the tussock grass in the Waiouru Military Training Area. In the background you can see a snow-capped Mt Ruapehu

Military vehicles

Meet our leaders

About our structure
CDF webprofile

Air Marshal Kevin Short

Chief of Defence Force
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies - Vice Chief of Defence Force

Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies

Vice Chief of Defence Force
Warrant Officer Class One Mark Mortiboy

Warrant Officer Class One Mark Mortiboy

Warrant Officer of the Defence Force
Rear Admiral James Gilmour

Rear Admiral James Gilmour

Commander Joint Forces New Zealand
Rear Admiral David Proctor

Rear Admiral David Proctor

Chief of Navy
Major General John Boswell, DSD

Major General John Boswell

Chief Of Army

Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark

Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark

Chief of Air Force
Bridget Marks

Bridget Marks

Chief Financial Officer
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Jacinda Funnell

Chief People Officer
Brigadier Rob Krushka

Brigadier Rob Krushka

Chief Joint Defence Services
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. You'll work as part of a tight-knit team, protecting your whānau, your country and our environment from harm. And you'll have the honour of representing New Zealand wherever you go.

Find out more

Through their eyes

Able Marine Technician (Electrical) Gemma Townshend hold some tools in her arms and is wearing blue overalls. She stands in front of monitors in a control room.

Finding that niche trade

30 April 2023

Life in Service

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Our personnel reflect on their Gallipoli Journey

24 April 2023

Our Heritage

New Zealand Army's SGT Teaora Wright, an Electronics Technician working on electronics in a vehicle. He is wearing camouflage uniform and a head torch.

The eyes and ears of Army’s electronics

30 March 2023

People

Leighton Tanner profile

Naval anniversary sparks career at sea

29 March 2023

People

Squadron Anthony Leader Rose sitting inside the cockpit of a Texan aircraft

Invercargill man soars above old stomping grounds as Black Falcon

02 March 2023

People

NZDF Kiwi

Teaching law of war at West Point

02 November 2022

People

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NZ Army takes out top medic title at Medic Match 22

26 October 2022

People

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