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Honouring Te Ao Māori

The unique culture of our Force is a blend of our Māori and British heritage. While our military organisation follows the British system, our warrior ethos draws heavily from Te Ao Māori.

Te Ope Kātua O Aotearoa is the official Māori name of our Defence Force. Te Ope Kātua O Aotearoa translates to ‘the personnel of the main defensive stockade of New Zealand’ - a metaphor that describes that main line of defence for all of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Opening Pōwhiri of the RNZAF Tūrangawaewae at Base Ohakea.

Welcome home

One of the unique features about our military is our three service marae - Te Taua Moana Marae (RNZN Marae), Rongomaraeroa o ngā hau e whā (NZ Army Marae) and the Te Tūrangawaewae o Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa.

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A Te Reo strategy for 2025

The New Zealand Defence Force is committed to improving outcomes for Māori and meeting its partnership obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi. We have a Bicultural Policy that provides guidance for the use of tikanga Māori within the organisation and sets out how we will achieve a bicultural status that recognises Māori cultural interests.

Soldiers in camouflage uniform with a black patch on their right arm with a white kiwi on it do the haka.

The roots of Ngāti Tūmatauenga

Be inspired by our haka

Who we are

A New Zealand Army Light Armoured Vehicle (NZLAV) moves through the water after coming off a Landing Craft Mechanism (LCM). To the left is an NH90 helicopter and in the far distance, behind the LCM is HMNZS Canterbury. It's a sunny day and the sun is cre

Three Services, One Force
A group of sailors sit on the ground in a semi-cycle of the Royal New Zealand Navy marae with smiles on their faces and some laughing.

Living our values
Members of Te Taua Moana Marae performing in front of the marae in cultural dress.

Honouring Te Ao Māori
Royal New Zealand Air Force Band members walk down a street playing their instruments with rainbow flags.

Valuing Diversity and Inclusion