New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army (Māori: Ngāti Tūmatauenga, "Tribe of the God of War"[2]) is the principal land warfare force of New Zealand, a component of the New Zealand Defence Force alongside the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
New Zealand Army
1845
Colony of New Zealand (1845–1907)
Dominion of New Zealand (1907–1947)- New Zealand
(1947–present)
4,234 (Regular)[1]
2,065 (Reserve)
Red and black
Governor-General Dame Alcyion Cynthia Kiro, as representative of Charles III as King of New Zealand
Air Marshal Kevin Short
Major General John Boswell
Formed in 1845, as the New Zealand Military Forces, the Army traces its history from settler militia raised in that same year.[3] The current name was adopted by the New Zealand Army Act 1950.[4]
During its history, the New Zealand Army has fought in a number of major wars, including the Second Boer War, the First and Second World Wars, Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, Vietnam War, and more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Since the 1970s, deployments have tended to be assistance to multilateral peacekeeping efforts. Considering the small size of the force, operational commitments have remained high since the start of the East Timor deployment in 1999. New Zealand personnel also served in several UN and other peacekeeping missions including the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, the Sinai, South Sudan and Sudan.[5]
Commemorations[edit]
New Zealand Army Day is celebrated on 25 March, the date in 1845 when the New Zealand Legislative Council passed the first Militia Act.[91]
ANZAC Day is the main annual commemorative activity for New Zealand soldiers. On 25 April each year the landings at Gallipoli are remembered, though the day has come to mean remembering the fallen from all wars in which New Zealand has been involved. While a New Zealand public holiday, it is a duty day for New Zealand military personnel, who, even if not involved in official commemorative activities are required to attend an ANZAC Day Dawn Parade in ceremonial uniform in their home location.
Remembrance Day, commemorating the end of World War I on 11 November 1918, is marked by official activities with a military contribution normally with parades and church services on the closest Sunday. However, ANZAC Day has a much greater profile and involves a much higher proportion of military personnel.
New Zealand Wars Day is commemorated on 28 October, this is the national day marking the 19th-century New Zealand Wars.[92]
The various regiments of the New Zealand Army mark their own Corps Days, many of which are derived from those of the corresponding British regiments. Examples are Cambrai Day on 20 November for the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps, St Barbara's Day on 4 December for the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery.
