New Zealand Defence Force

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa (Māori)
The NZDF Tri-Service logo
Founded1909
Current form1990
Service branches
HeadquartersWellington
Websitewww.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/ Edit this at Wikidata
Leadership
Head of the Armed ForcesKing Charles III
Commander in ChiefGovernor General Cindy Kiro
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
Minister of DefenceJudith Collins
Chief of Defence ForceAir Marshal Tony Davies MNZM
Personnel
Military age
  • 17 with parental consent; cannot be deployed until 18 (As of September 2017)[1]
  • 18 for voluntary service
Available for
military service		955,640 males, age 20-49[3],
981,050 females, age 20-49[3]
Active personnel8,669 (June 2023)[2]
Reserve personnel3,260 (June 2023)[2]
Expenditure
BudgetTotal budget for 2022/23[4]
Vote Defence Force (NZD)
$4,286,638,000
Percent of GDP1.3%[5]
Industry
Foreign suppliers
Related articles
HistoryMilitary history of New Zealand
RanksNew Zealand military ranks

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF; Māori: Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa, lit. "Line of Defence of New Zealand") is the three-branched military of New Zealand. The NZDF is responsible for the protection of the national security of New Zealand and her realm, promoting its interests, safeguarding peace and security, as well as supporting peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. It consists of three services: the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), the New Zealand Army and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), as well as tri-service components. As of June 2023, the NZDF has a strength of 14,996 employees, consisting of 8,669 regular force personnel, 3,260 reserve force personnel and 3,067 civilian members.[2] It is supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MOD) and is commanded by the Chief of Defence Force (CDF).

The principal roles and tasks expected of the NZDF is to provide a combat capable force to defend New Zealand’s sovereign territory, and protect critical lines of communication. To provide civil defence support, meet whole-of-government security objectives, as well as commitments to allies and partners, support government agencies, protect and promote regional peace, security and resilience in the South Pacific, and uphold the international rules-based order.[6]

The NZDF delivers military effects in support of New Zealand’s national security objectives. It follows a government set defence policy framework that defines its principles, outcomes and priorities. The NZDF is a critical component of New Zealand’s national security system. New Zealand takes an “all-hazards” approach to national security that brings government agencies together to respond to all risks to national security, whether internal or external, human, natural or artificial.[6]

The commander-in-chief is the Governor-General (as the representative of the King of New Zealand). Control of the NZDF is under the Minister of Defence, under the Defence Act 1990.[7] The current Governor-General is Cindy Kiro, and the Minister of Defence is Judith Collins.

Air Marshal Tony Davies was appointed Chief of Defence Force on 6 June 2024.[8][9]

  1. ^ "New Zealand Defence Act 1990". 1 September 2017. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "NZDF Website About". 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Table 3: Estimated residential population by five-year age group". New Zealand Ministry of Statistics. 2017.
  4. ^ "Total Appropriations for Each Vote". Budget 2022/23. The Treasury. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  5. ^ "The World Factbook". Cia.gov. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b "NZDF Strategic Plan: 2019–2025" (PDF). NZDF.
  7. ^ Elizabeth II (28 October 1983), Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand, Parliamentary Counsel Office, retrieved 23 October 2018, We do hereby constitute, order, and declare that there shall be, in and over Our Realm of New Zealand … a Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief
  8. ^ "Change of Command Ceremony for the Chief of the Defence Force". gg.govt.nz. Government House. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Our people, structure and leadership". www.nzdf.mil.nz. New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 7 June 2024.