The Defence Portfolio
Briefing to the Incoming Government 2002
Operational Commitments
The NZDF is presently committed to two major operations: East Timor and Afghanistan. In addition, the NZDF is involved in a number of smaller peace support operations. The functions that support political level decision-making involving NZDF operational commitments are:
- Meetings involving appropriate ministers and their staff as security issues arise.
- An Assessments Group comprised of the intelligence community (External Assessments Bureau, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, Government Communications Security Bureau, and the NZDF), provides briefings and assessments.
- A Watch Group chaired by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and comprising officials from the relevant departments coordinates and provides policy advice to senior officials.
- The Senior Executives' Group (of which the Secretary of Defence and CDF are members) provides advice to Ministers.
- The CDF provides updates, briefing and advice on operational matters to the Minister and Cabinet when required.
- The Secretary of Defence and the CDF provide advice, briefing and submissions for approval of all deployments and on policy matters.
In addition, the NZDF has a strategic planning system. The CDF receives advice from government departments, including the intelligence community, and submits a Military Strategic Estimate (MSE) to the Senior Executives' Group. The endorsed MSE provides NZDF planners with the guidance needed (including end states) to develop plans. Cabinet then approves the National Strategic and the Military Strategic End States. The End States provide a focus on achievable and finite outcomes of military operations, and inform Cabinet of the necessary resource approvals. The CDF then advises the best military option to meet the Military End State.
East Timor
New Zealand has made a major contribution to peace support operations in East Timor. Ten Military Liaison Officers plus Police personnel were committed to the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), which was established to oversee the referendum on the future of East Timor. New Zealand contributed a battalion group and a rotary wing element to the Australian-led, UN-sanctioned, multi-national force - International Force East Timor, or INTERFET when violence erupted throughout the territory. Our battalion group included an attached Canadian company and an Irish platoon. This grouping in INTERFET initially totalled approximately 830 personnel. At its peak, the NZDF contributed about 1100 personnel to INTERFET. The New Zealand battalion group was assigned an area of operations in the region centred on Suai, and adjacent to the border with West Timor.
In February 2000 our contribution to INTERFET was subsumed into the UN-mandated Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and in May 2002 into the UN's post-independence mission, the UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET). Our present commitment in theatre has downsized to an overall contribution of approximately 660 personnel and four helicopters. A number of countries have provided military forces to serve with our battalion group. In addition to the Irish platoon, a Fijian company was attached to our battalion group in March 2000, a Nepalese company replaced the Canadian contribution during April 2000, and in June 2001 the Singapore Armed Forces contributed a reinforced platoon. We provided staff officers to the UNTAET headquarters in Dili and to the Sector West Headquarters at Suai, and military observers.
Not only have we provided troops, helicopters and headquarters staff but also the logistical backup necessary to support a force of this size. We have provided transport aircraft and four air loading teams to the mission along with maritime forces comprising a frigate and a refuelling and supply ship. To facilitate the smooth transition of troops and equipment into and out of East Timor there is a small administrative and logistics element, located in Darwin, Australia. A battalion group changeover took place in May 2002 and our commitment to UNMISET will continue through to November 2002. Our troops have been involved along the border with West Timor where incursions from militia continue to pose a real threat to the peace process. A soldier was killed on duty in this area during a skirmish with militia in July 2000. Three of our personnel have been killed as a result of accidents.
The NZDF has also provided assistance with the establishment of the East Timor Defence Force (ETDF). In January 2001 we deployed a Lt Col (E) to the Office of Defence Force Development. In March 2001 we deployed a second Lt Col (E) to assist in determining personnel policies for the ETDF. The two Lt Col (E) have returned to New Zealand and have been replaced with two Maj (E) specialising in personnel and logistics. We also assist both Australia and Portugal (the two main countries involved in the basic training needs of the ETDF) by providing a small arms training team. This team not only trains the basic intakes of East Timor soldiers in shooting but also trains the East Timor senior and junior NCOs in preparing and running a small arms range. It is also intended that we assist the ETDF with its specialist and advanced soldier training.
Afghanistan
New Zealand is a small but valuable coalition partner in the campaign against terrorism. NZDF members have been deployed to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and we provide a range of military capabilities to the operation. We have five staff officers at US Central Command in Tampa Florida, and two staff officers at the Coalition Joint Task Force at Baghram, Afghanistan. In January 2002 we deployed a 13 person air loading management group to the UK-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Currently we have three staff officers deployed to the Headquarters ISAF in Kabul. New Zealand has also contributed special forces to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Bougainville
New Zealand, along with Australia and other Pacific Island countries, has played an important role in the efforts to bring peace to Bougainville. It is the second largest contributor after Australia to the PMG. In addition, the NZDF also meets the costs of Fiji and ni-Vanuatu personnel posted with the PMG. Involving peace monitors from neighbouring Melanesian nations has increased the ability of the PMG to communicate with and gain the trust and confidence of the people of Bougainville.
Since its establishment in 1998, the size of the PMG has been steadily reduced from 300 to its present size of 75. The presence of the four member NZDF weapons disposal team brings the total number deployed with the PMG to 79: 19 personnel from New Zealand (15 + a 4 member weapons disposal team), 35 from the ADF, 14 Australian civilians, 6 from Vanuatu and 5 from Fiji.
Global Peace Operations
The balance of the NZDF current peace operations comprise:
- UN Mission of Observers Prevlaka (UNMOP) - One NZDF observer is working with UNMOP in Croatia.
- Stabilisation Force, Bosnia (SFOR) - Seven NZDF officers are stationed in Bosnia, serving as staff officers at the resident British divisional headquarters. Twenty NZDF artillery, military police and administration personnel are currently deployed with the Stabilisation Force in Bosnia.
- UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) - Seven military observers are deployed with UNTSO in Israel, Lebanon and Syria, serving in various observer posts and staff appointments throughout the region.
- Mozambique Accelerated Demining Programme (MADP) - Two NZDF personnel are deployed on this programme.
- Multinational Force and Observers, Sinai (MFO) - The NZDF maintains its tri-service contribution of 26 personnel to the MFO in the Sinai, including a training advisory team, and headquarters staff.
- Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) - Two NZDF personnel are deployed on this programme.
- Unexploded Ordnance Programme Laos (UXOL) - Two NZDF personnel are serving with this mission, providing logistic and operational support.
- UN Observer Mission Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) - Two NZDF officers are deployed on this mission.
- UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) - One NZDF officer is deployed in Kosovo as the senior military liaison officer for Pristina.
Other Operations
- Antarctica - C-130 Hercules aircraft provide on average 15 return flights between Christchurch and McMurdo Base each year. Terminal operations teams at Christchurch and McMurdo support the Antarctic programme.
- The NZDF delivers annually a range of non-military services to the Government and the community using the capabilities developed for military tasks. Examples are disaster relief, search and rescue, EEZ surveillance, ceremonial support, VIP air transport and support to the Police.
