Defence Review 2009 Public Consultation Document
Defence Force Facts and Figures
New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)
The New Zealand Defence Force is Three Services – One Force. The three Services – Navy, Army, Air Force – are charged with developing and sustaining the specific military capabilities, professional skills and internal culture necessary to meet the unique requirements of their operating environments.
To deliver the maximum joint effect the Services then co-ordinate, and integrate, their capabilities in a joint and collaborative setting.
This recognises that the New Zealand Defence Force achieves greater success when its single Service strengths are skilfully woven together in operations. As One Force, the New Zealand Defence Force achieves greater things than the sum of its component parts.
Total NZDF personnel (including Reservists) by Service and HQNZDF civilians 14,734:
- Navy: 2,897 - 20%
- Army: 7,499 - 51%
- Air Force: 3,235 - 22%
- HQNZDF: 1,103 - 7%
Total NZDF personnel by employment status 14,734:
- Regular Force: 9,745 - 66%
- Reserve Force: 2,303 - 16%
- Civilian: 2,686 - 18%
NZDF gender breakdown:
- Male: 83%
- Female: 17%
NZDF median age by Service:
- Navy: 26.6 years
- Army: 26.5 years
- Air Force: 31.0 years
- NZDF Regular Force: 27.6 years
NZDF Regular Force strength by year:
- 2004: 8,641
- 2005: 8,564
- 2006: 8,860
- 2007: 9,076
- 2008: 9,137
- 2009: 9,745
NZDF Reserve Force strength by year:
- 2004: 2,383
- 2005: 2,402
- 2006: 2,451
- 2007: 2,318
- 2008: 2,226
- 2009: 2,303
Royal New Zealand Navy Facts and Figures
Total Navy personnel by employment status 2,897:
- Regular Force: 2,148 - 74%
- Reserve Force: 331 - 12%
- Civilian: 418 - 14%
Navy gender breakdown:
- Male: 77%
- Female: 23%
Force Elements:
Navy Reserve Unit locations
- AK (Auckland): HMNZS Ngapona
- TA (Tauranga): PHQ Tauranga
- WN (Wellington): HMNZS Olphert
- CH (Christchurch): HMNZS Pegasus
- DN (Dunedin): HMNZS Toroa
Naval Combat Force
- HMNZS Te Kaha
- HMNZS Te Mana
Naval Support Force
- HMNZS Endeavour
- HMNZS Canterbury
Mine Countermeasures (MCM) and MCM Diving Forces
- HMNZS Manawanui
- HMNZS Kahu
- Operational Diving Team
Naval Patrol Force
- HMNZS Rotiiti
- HMNZS Hāwea
- HMNZS Pūkaki
- HMNZS Taupō
- Two off-shore patrol vessels (under acquisition)
Military Hydrography
- HMNZS Resolution
New Zealand Army Facts and Figures
Total Army personnel by employment status 7,499:
- Regular Force: 4,988 - 67%
- Reserve Force: 1,772 - 24%
- Civilian: 739 - 9%
Army gender breakdown:
- Male: 87%
- Female: 13%
Force Elements:
Army Reserve Unit locations
- AK (Auckland): 3 Auckland Northland Battalion Group
- TA (Tauranga): 6 Hauraki Battalion Group
- WN ( Wellington): 5 Wellington West Coast Taranaki Battalion Group
- WN ( Wellington): 7 Wellington Hawke’s Bay Battalion Group
- CH (Christchurch): 2 Canterbury Nelson Marlborough West Coast Battalion Group
- DN (Dunedin): 4 Otago Southland Battalion Group
Land Combat Force
- Two Infantry Battalions (Motorised and Non-Motorised)
Land Combat Support Force
- Artillery
- Engineer
- Communications
- Military Police
- Command, Control and Intelligence
- Manoeuvre Elements
Land Combat Service Support Forces
- Transport
- Medical
- Supply
- Repair
- Movements
Special Operations Forces
- Special Operations
- Counter-Terrorist Operations
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Explosive, and Improvised Explosive Device Disposal
Royal New Zealand Air Force Facts and Figures (RNZAF)
Total Air Force personnel by employment status 3,235:
- Regular Force: 2,609 - 81%
- Reserve Force: 200 - 6%
- Civilian: 426 - 13%
Air Force gender breakdown:
- Male: 82%
- Female: 18%
Force Elements:
RNZAF Reserve Unit locations
Unlike the Royal New Zealand Navy and the New Zealand Army, the Royal New Zealand Air Force Active Reserve do not have a formed unit. The RNZAF Active Reserve (RAR) scheme is another way the Air Force is overcoming personnel shortfalls within trades and specialisations.
Naval Helicopter Force
- Five SH-2G Super Seasprite
Maritime Patrol Forces
- Six P-3K Orion
Fixed Wing Transport Forces
- Five C-130H Hercules
- Two Boeing 757-200
Rotary Wing Transport Forces
- Fourteen UH-1H Iroquois
- Six B47G-3B-2 Sioux
- Eight NH90 Medium Utility Helicopters (under acquisition)
- Five A109 Training/Light Utility Helicopters (under acquisition)
Training Aircraft
- Five Beech King Air B200 (leased)
- Thirteen CT-4E Airtrainers (leased)
