Military history of New Zealand 3674789 224774404 2008-07-10T10:39:33Z Woohookitty 159678 disam [[Image:Flag of New Zealand.svg|thumb|right|300px|[[Flag of New Zealand]]]] [[Image:Naval Ensign of New Zealand.svg|thumb|right|300px|[[Royal New Zealand Navy|Naval Ensign of the Royal New Zealand Navy]]]] [[Image:Ensign of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.svg|thumb|right|300px|[[Royal New Zealand Air Force|Ensign of the Royal New Zealand Air Force]]]] The '''military history of New Zealand''' is an aspect of the [[history of New Zealand]] that spans several hundred years. When first settled by [[Māori]] almost a millennium ago, there was much land and resources, but [[war]] began to break out as the country's [[carrying capacity]] was approached. Initially being fought with close range [[weapon]]s of wood and stone, this continued on and off until Europeans arrived, bringing with them new weapons such as [[muskets]]. Colonisation by [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]] led to the [[New Zealand land wars]] in the [[nineteenth century]] in which settler and imperial troops and their Māori allies fought against other Māori and a handful of [[Pākehā]]. In the first half of the [[twentieth century]], New Zealanders of all races fought alongside Britain in the [[Boer War]] and both [[World War]]s. In the second half of the century and into this century the [[New Zealand Defence Force]] has provided token assistance to the [[United States]] in several conflicts. New Zealand has also contributed [[peacekeeping]] troops to various areas. ==Māori tribal warfare before 1806== The level of inter-tribal warfare amongst pre-European Māori is unknown. Oral histories, legends and [[whakapapa]] include many stories of battles and wars but little research has been carried out into how often wars actually happened. In ''Making Peoples'' [[James Belich]] argues that they were probably uncommon in the few centuries immediately after the arrival of Māori in New Zealand, as there was enough land and resources to go around. Archaeological evidence suggests that following population growth and the extinction of the [[moa]] (a large flightless bird), warfare increased as tribes and hapū (subtribes) competed over scarce resources. At some point, perhaps before this cultural change, one group migrated to the [[Chatham Islands]], where they developed the largely [[pacifist]] [[Moriori]] culture. Their pacifism left the Moriori unable to defend themselves when the islands were invaded by mainland Māori in the 1830s. In 'classic' Māori culture, warriors were held in high esteem, and fought with a range of weapons including stone and wooden clubs ([[patu]]) fighting staffs ([[taiaha]]) and spears (tao). Māori were unusual in having no distance weapons, so all fighting took place at close range. Defence was based on hill forts ([[pā]]), the remains of which can be seen all over New Zealand, especially the [[North Island]]. ==Musket Wars (1806-1845)== {{main|Musket Wars}} The [[Musket Wars]] were a series of battles in the early nineteenth century, fought between various Māori tribal groups, mainly on the North Island. Northern tribes, such as the rival [[Ngā Puhi]] and [[Ngāti Whātua]], were the first to obtain muskets and inflicted heavy casualties upon each other and on neighbouring tribes, some of whom had never seen firearms. In time, all the tribes traded to obtain muskets and the conflict ultimately reached an uneasy stalemate. The wars gave Māori experience in fighting with and defending against guns - experience which would be vital in the New Zealand Wars. In the '''Harriet Affair''' of 1834, a group of British soldiers of the 50th Regiment from Australia landed in Taranaki to rescue the wife and children of [[John Guard|John (Jacky) Guard]] and punish the kidnappers, the first clash between Māori and British troops. The expedition was sent by [[Governor Bourke]] from Sydney, but was subsequently criticized for use of excessive force by a British House of Commons report in 1835.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/maori-european-contact-pre-1840/the-harriet-affair|title=The Harriet affair - a frontier of chaos?|publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]]|date=[[25 January]] [[2008]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tpo.tepapa.govt.nz/ViewTopicExhibitDetail.asp?TopicFileID=0x000a4d82|title=The Harriet Affair|publisher=[[Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]]}}</ref> ==Land Wars / New Zealand Wars== {{main|New Zealand Land Wars}} The New Zealand or Land Wars were a series of wars fought between Māori on one side and a mixture of settler troops, imperial troops and other Māori on the other. What the wars were 'about' has been debated by historians, with [[Keith Sinclair]] arguing that they were about land, while [[James Belich]] has argued that although land was a major factor, the wars were essentially a contest over [[sovereignty]]. This debate is reflected in the naming of the wars: there is no real consensus over whether they should be called the 'New Zealand Wars' or the 'Land Wars', although Belich's television series about the conflict has popularised the former term. The name 'Māori Wars' has fallen into disuse. A Māori name for the conflict is 'Te Riri Pākehā' (white man's anger). While the fighting began in 1843 and the last shots were arguably fired in the early twentieth century, the bulk of fighting took place in the 1860s. The first skirmish of the New Zealand Wars was the [[1843]] [[Wairau Affray]] at the north end of the [[South Island]]. It was an isolated incident caused by the [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]] settlers trying to seize land they did not own, an extra-legal vigilante action that resulted in twenty-two of them being killed. The [[Flagstaff War|Flagstaff]] or Northern War took place in the far north of New Zealand, around the [[Bay of Islands]], in March [[1845]] and January [[1846]]. This was about [[mana]]&mdash;tribal prestige&mdash;and customs duties. It was really a war between rival Māori chiefs with the British fighting on one side for the prestige of the [[British Empire]]. This was followed almost immediately by the [[Hutt Valley Campaign]], March to August 1846, and the [[Wanganui Campaign]], April to July [[1847]], in the south-west of the [[North Island]]. Both these conflicts were about the encroachment of the European settlers onto Māori land. In the first three wars Māori fought the British to a standstill each time. From the engagements emerged an understanding: English law prevailed in the townships and settlements, and Māori law and customs elsewhere. There followed a period of relative peace and economic cooperation from 1848 to 1860. During this time European settlement accelerated and in about [[1859]] the number of Pākehā came to equal the number of Māori, at around 60,000 each. By now Pākehā had largely forgotten the painful lessons of the earlier conflicts. They tried to use military might to push through a very dubious land sale that one of their own courts later repudiated. The result was the [[First Taranaki War]]. Once again the local British forces were more than evenly matched by Māori, and after twelve months both sides were happy to settle for a draw. However this was clearly just a preliminary. The British settlers were not prepared to countenance Māori controlling and ruling most of the North Island. War broke out again in [[1863]] with the [[Invasion of the Waikato]]. The Waikato War, including the [[Tauranga Campaign]], was the biggest of all the New Zealand Wars. The outcome of this war was the major confiscation of Māori land, which quickly provoked the [[Second Taranaki War]]. By the mid 1860s the conflict had forced the closing of all the [[native schools]]. The period from the second half of 1864 until early 1868 was relatively quiet. Possibly the most notorious incident during this time was the murder of the missionary [[Volkner Incident|Carl Volkner]]. There were also two serious intra-tribal conflicts, civil wars in Māori tribes, between adherents and non-adherents of the [[Pai Marire]] or Hau Hau sect&mdash;a vehemently anti-Pākehā religious group which was intent upon destabilizing the developing cooperation between the Māori and Pākehā. These are sometimes known as the [[East Cape War]], but that label oversimplifies a complicated series of conflicts. The last major conflicts were [[Te Kooti's War]] and [[Titokowaru's War]]. These were fought at the same time but were not related to each other and should be considered as separate conflicts. This ended the major, violent conflicts between the new colonial government and the original occupants of the land. There were subsequently other conflicts and incidents that were a part of the overall conflict, but are not usually seen in the context of the New Zealand Wars. The invasion of [[Parihaka]] in [[1881]] was certainly one of these. There was an incident in the [[1890]]s that became known as the [[Dog Tax War]]. Another was the arrest of [[Rua Kenana]] in [[1916]]. It is even possible that events at [[Bastion Point]] in the [[1970s]] should be considered as part of the same scenario. ==Second Boer War 1899-1902== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Saw-004.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Members of the Seventh Contingent packing up camp in South Africa.]] --> {{further|[[Second Boer War]]}} The [[Second Boer War]], fought from [[11 October]] [[1899]] until [[31 May]] [[1902]] and between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics of the [[Orange Free State]] and the [[South African Republic]] (Transvaal Republic), resulted from the history of British encroachment into or involvement in areas already settled by [[Afrikaners]] — who were known colloquially as Boers (''farmers'') — the descendants of the original Dutch settlers. This was exacerbated by the discovery of gold and diamonds in the [[South African Republic]], after which many miners from British Empire countries migrated there. New Zealand decided to help fight for the Empire and sent 6,500 mounted troops to assist the British efforts, making the war New Zealand's first overseas military campaign. Virtually every man in New Zealand was desperately keen to get to war, so the first soldiers to go were selected on the basis of who could afford to go. If a man could provide his own horse, rifle and equipment, costing about £25 in total, he could go to war. The first two of the 10 contingents paid their own way. The proposal to send the first contingent - 200 mounted rifleman - was approved by [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]] prior to the outbreak of war on [[September 28]], 1899. [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] [[Richard Seddon]]'s proposition to do so was overwhelmingly supported, meeting opposition from only five members of parliament. In total, New Zealand provided ten contingents to the British, numbering 6,500 men. New Zealand losses were seventy-one men killed in action, twenty-five killed in accidents and 133 of disease. Figures for New Zealanders serving with units outside of the New Zealand contingents are unknown. ==First World War 1914-1918== {{main|Military history of New Zealand in World War I}} [[Image:1918 NZ troops at French port.jpg|thumb|300px|New Zealand troops unloading at a French port in 1918.]] When the [[United Kingdom]] declared war on [[Germany]] at the start of the [[World War I|First World War]], the [[New Zealand]] government followed without hesitation, despite its geographic isolation and small population. The total number of New Zealand troops and nurses to serve overseas in 1914-1918, excluding those in British and other Dominion forces, was 103,000, from a population of just over a million. Forty-two percent of men of military age served in the NZEF. 16,697 New Zealanders were killed and 41,317 were wounded during the war - a 58 percent casualty rate. Approximately a further thousand men died within five years of the war's end, as a result of injuries sustained, and 507 died whilst training in New Zealand between 1914 and 1918. New Zealand had the highest casualty and death rate per capita of any country involved in the war. The First World War saw Māori soldiers officially serve for the first time in a major conflict with the New Zealand Army. 2688 Māori and 346 [[Pacific Islander|Pacific islanders]] served with New Zealand forces in total. New Zealand's first act of the war was to seize and occupy [[German Samoa]]. Although [[Germany]] refused to officially surrender the islands, no resistance was offered and the occupation took place without any fighting &ndash; the first German territory to be occupied in the name of [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]]. The first major battle fought by New Zealand troops was [[Gallipoli]]. A navigational error led to the [[Australian and New Zealand Army Corps|ANZAC]]s (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) being dropped off at the wrong place. 2701 New Zealanders were killed and 4852 wounded. Despite this, the significance of the battle of Gallipoli was strongly felt in New Zealand (and Australia) where it was the first great conflict experienced by the fledgling nation. The landing is commemorated in New Zealand and Australia each year, on [[Anzac Day]]. New Zealanders fought elsewhere in the Middle East, where they took part in the ultimately successful [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign]] against the Turkish. New Zealanders fought in most of the battles leading up to the fall of Jerusalem and the defeat of the Ottoman Army, and were praised for their fighting alongside their Australian and British comrades. A total of 17,723 New Zealanders served in this campaign and New Zealand casualties were 640 killed in action and 1,146 wounded. [[Image:New Zealand trench Flers September 1916.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Infantry from the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment, New Zealand Division in the Switch Line near Flers, taken some time in September 1916, after the [[Battle of Flers-Courcelette]].]] In France, the New Zealand Division participated in the [[Battle of the Somme]], where they advanced three kilometres and captured eight kilometres of enemy front line. 7,048 had become casualties, of whom 1,560 were killed. In June 1917, the New Zealand Division further distinguished itself in the [[Battle of Messines|storming of Messines ridge]] and the capture of the village of [[Messines]]. During the fighting at [[Battle of Passchendaele|Passchendaele]] in the following October, however, it was bloodily repulsed in its second attack, with 850 dead in exchange for no more than 500 yards of ground gained. This was the first time the Division had failed in a major operation; but more notably remains the worst disaster in New Zealand's history in terms of lives lost in a single day. The Division also fought against the German [[Spring Offensive]] of 1918. Later they captured the town of [[Le Quesnoy]] in a daring assault on [[4 November]] [[1918]]. The day proved to be Division's most successful of their whole time on the Western Front as they pushed east and advanced ten kilometres, capturing 2000 German soldiers and sixty field guns. New Zealand also contributed to the war at sea. The cruiser [[HMS Philomel|HMS ''Philomel'']] patrolled the [[Gulf of Alexandretta]] in the Eastern Mediterranean, supporting several landings and sustaining three fatal casualties, one being the first New Zealander killed in action in the war. She also took part in the defence of the Suez Canal, operations in the [[Gulf of Aden]] and patrols in the [[Persian Gulf]]. In June 1917, a German raider laid minefields in New Zealand waters, causing the loss of a merchant ship off [[Farewell Spit]] and another off [[Three Kings Islands]]. New Zealand had no air force of her own during the First World War but several hundred New Zealanders served with the [[Royal Flying Corps]], the [[Royal Naval Air Service]], the [[Royal Air Force]] and [[Royal Australian Air Force|Australian Flying Corps]]. The main base for New Zealanders while in Europe was [[Sling Camp]] on the Salisbury Plains in England, the camp is now gone but the 420 foot high chalk [[Bulford Kiwi]] that the troops carved into hillside while awaiting repatriation remains to this day. ==Second World War 1939-1945== {{main|Military history of New Zealand during World War II}} <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:New Zealand recruits, WWII.jpg|200px|thumb|Recruits marching to [[Papakura]] camp.]] --> New Zealand entered the [[World War II|Second World War]] by declaring war on [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] at 9.30 pm [[3 September]] [[1939]] ([[Time in New Zealand|NZT]]). Politically, New Zealand had been a vocal opponent of European [[fascism]] and also the [[appeasement]] of those dictatorships, national sentiment for a strong show of force was generally supported. Economic and defensive considerations also motivated the New Zealand involvement; reliance on Britain meant that if she were threatened, New Zealand would be too in terms of economic and defensive ties. There was also a strong sentimental link between the former British colony and the United Kingdom, with many seeing Britain as the "mother country" or "Home". Prime Minister of the time [[Michael Joseph Savage]] summed this up at the outbreak of war with a quote that would become a popular cry in New Zealand during the war;:''"Where Britain goes, we go! Where she stands, we stand!"''{{ref|Savagequote}} New Zealand provided personnel for service in the [[Royal Air Force]] and [[Royal Navy]], the Royal New Zealand Navy was placed at the [[Admiralty]]'s disposal and new medium bombers waiting in the United Kingdom to be shipped to New Zealand were made available to the RAF. The New Zealand Army contributed the 2nd [[New Zealand Expeditionary Force]] (2NZEF). In total, around 140,000 New Zealand personnel served overseas for the Allied war effort, and an additional 100,000 men were armed for Home Guard duty. At its peak in July 1942, New Zealand had 154,549 men and women under arms (excluding the Home Guard) and by the war's end a total of 194,000 men and 10,000 women had served in the armed forces at home and overseas. The costs for the country were high - 11,625 killed, a ratio of 6684 dead per million in the population which was the highest rate in the Commonwealth (Britain suffered 5123 and Australia 3232 per million population). ===Middle East and Europe=== The 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) was formed under Major-General [[Bernard Freyberg]] and would see active service in [[Greece]], [[Crete]], [[North Africa]], [[Italy]], and [[Yugoslavia]]. The main fighting unit of the expeditionary force was the [[New Zealand 2nd Division]] also commanded by Major-General Bernard Freyberg. The 2NZEF participated in the 1940 [[Battle of Greece]] along with British and other Commonwealth troops, and Greek defenders. After Germany invaded Greece the Allies were forced to retreat, and the New Zealanders lost 291 men killed, 1,826 captured and 387 seriously wounded. Most of the remaining New Zealand troops were evacuated to [[Crete]], where Freyberg became commander of the Allied forces on the island. The Germans subsequently invaded Crete, and after several days of heavy fighting in the [[Battle of Crete]], took the island. Ultimately 17,000 troops were evacuated to [[Alexandria]] by the British surrender on [[1 June]]. Most of the New Zealanders made it, but 2,180 were captured. Additional New Zealand casualties for the Battle of Crete were 671 dead and 967 wounded. New Zealand Second Lieutenant [[Charles Upham]], the only person to receive two [[Victoria Cross]]es during World War II and the only combat soldier to receive the award twice, gained his first award during the battle. From November 1941, the 2NZEF was heavily involved in the [[North African Campaign]]. As part of [[Operation Crusader]], New Zealand troops relieved [[Siege of Tobruk|Tobruk]] after the city had been besieged by the German [[Afrika Korps]]. Subsequently, the New Zealand government insisted that the Division be withdrawn to [[Syria]] to recover - 879 men were killed and 1700 wounded in Operation Crusader, the most costly battle the Division fought in the Second World War. In June 1942, the Afrika Korps captured Tobruk, and the 2NZEF was recalled from Syria. The Korps' advance was halted by the Allies in the [[First Battle of El Alamein]], where New Zealand troops captured [[Ruweisat Ridge]] in a successful night attack. Heavy casualties were suffered by the two New Zealand brigades involved as they were attacking by German tanks, and several thousand men were taken prisoner. [[Charles Upham]] earned a bar for his Victoria Cross in this battle. Subsequent fighting, including the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]] resulted in German retreat from the area. On [[13 May]] [[1943]], the North African campaign ended, with the surrender of the last 275,000 Axis troops in Tunisia. On the 15th the Division began the withdrawal back to Egypt and by [[June 1]] the division was back in Maadi and [[Helwan]], on standby for use in Europe. Total New Zealand losses since November 1941, were 2,989 killed, 7,000 wounded and 4,041 taken prisoner. New Zealand troops were transferred to Italy later in the year and participated in the taking of the country from Germany. ===Pacific=== When [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] entered the war in December 1941, the New Zealand Government raised another expeditionary force known as the '''2nd NZEF In the Pacific''', or 2nd NZEF (I.P.), for service with the Allied [[Pacific Ocean Areas]] command. This force supplemented existing garrison troops in the South Pacific. The main fighting formation of the 2nd NZEF (I.P.) was the [[New Zealand 3rd Division]]. However the 3rd Division never fought as a formation; its component brigades being involved in semi-independent actions as part of the Allied forces in the [[Solomon Islands|Solomons]], [[Treasury Islands]] and [[Green Island, Papua New Guinea|Green Island]]. The New Zealand army units were eventually replaced by American formations, which released personnel for service with the 2nd Division in Italy, or to cover civilian labour shortages. Air force squadrons and Navy units contributed to the Allied island hopping campaign. German and Japanese surface raiders and submarines [[Axis naval activity in New Zealand waters|operated in New Zealand waters]] on several occasions in 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1945 sinking a total of four ships. ===Naval war=== At the outbreak of war, New Zealand still contributed to the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. Many New Zealanders served alongside other commonwealth sailors in vessels of the Royal Navy and would continue to do so throughout the war. Not until 1941 was the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] formed. Before then New Zealand men and ships had already been in action. On the [[13 December]] [[1939]] [[HMNZS Achilles (70)|HMNZS ''Achilles'']] took part in The [[Battle of the River Plate]] as part of small British force against the [[German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee|German pocket battleship ''Admiral Graf Spee'']]. The action resulted in the German ship retiring to neutral [[Uruguay]] and being scuttled a few days later. Other cruisers [[HMS Gambia (C48)|HMNZS ''Gambia'']] and [[HMNZS Leander|HMNZS ''Leander'']] took the RNZN to all theatres - ''Leander'' destroyed Italian "[[auxiliary cruiser]]" ''[[Italian ship Ramb I|Ramb I]]'' and helped destroy the [[Japanese cruiser Jintsu|Japanese cruiser ''Jintsu'']]. Gambia was present at the Japanese surrender. A morale boosting episode was the encounter between two small and out gunned minesweepers — HMNZS [[HMNZS Kiwi (T102)|''Kiwi'']] and [[HMNZS Moa (T233)|''Moa'']] — and the much larger [[Japanese submarine I-1|Japanese submarine ''I-1'']], which was destroyed by ramming. ===Air war=== [[Image:486SqnVolkers1945.JPG|thumb|Pilots of 486 (NZ) Squadron, with Hawker Tempest, Volkel, Holland, 1945]]The role of the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] was initially seen as a purely training organisation which supplied pilots to the Royal Air Force. New Zealand's only modern aircraft - 30 [[Vickers Wellington]] bombers - had been loaned to the United Kingdom, along with their aircrew, in August 1938. Over ten thousand New Zealanders served as aircrew with the [[Royal Air Force]], 3290 of them lost their lives, and 580 were made prisoners of war. Three won Victoria crosses. While the majority served with squadrons composed of airmen from all parts of the Commonwealth, 7 squadrons of the Royal Air Force were designated New Zealand units, one of these, [[No. 75 Squadron RNZAF]] flew the most missions and suffered the highest casualties of any allied bomber squadron. Several New Zealanders rose to high rank in the Royal Air Force, of whom Air Vice Marshall Sir [[Keith Park]] is probably the best known. When Japan entered the war the RNZAF was immediately in the front line. The undertrained and equipped [[No. 488 Squadron RNZAF]] fought a futile defence of Singapore, while obsolete giant biplane [[Short Singapore]]s and [[Vickers Vincent]]s were operating from Fiji. The Royal New Zealand Air Force had already undertaken some combat operations, against German commerce raiders. However, in December 1941, it was still essentially a training organisation for the RAF. Over the next 12 months the RNZAF undertook rapid transition into a combat force - initially arming all available machines, including airliners, against possible Japanese attack, then, re-equipping with more modern lendlease machines, before moving forward to take the war to Japan. Including training establishments, more New Zealanders ended up serving with the RNZAF than RAF, (although fewer aircrew). Ultimately the RNZAF sent 13 squadrons of fighter aircraft, 6 bomber squadrons, two torpedo bomber squadrons, two flying boat squadrons and three transport squadrons against the Japanese , and this force achieved considerable success in 1943-1944. The highest scoring commonwealth ace in the Pacific was a New Zealander, [[Geoff Fisken]]. ===Aftermath=== Troops of the 2NZEF and an RNZAF squadron helped occupy Japan after the end of the war, remaining there until 1948.<ref name=Subritzky>Subritzky, Mike (1995). The Vietnam Scrapbook The Second ANZAC Adventure. Blenheim: Three Feathers. ISBN 0-9583484-0-5; Major M.R. Wicksteed RNZA NZ Army Public Relations pamphlet.</ref> The RNZAF was also involved in the airlift of supplies to [[West Berlin]] during the [[Berlin Blockade]] by the [[Soviet Union]] in the late 1940s. This was the first involvement New Zealand had in what was to become the [[Cold War]]. ==Compulsory Military Training 1949-1959, 1962-1972== {{main|Compulsory Military Training in New Zealand}} From the late 1940s to the early 1970s, compulsory military training (CMT) was twice established by a [[National Party of New Zealand|National Party]] government (the first time on the basis of a referendum) and then abolished by a [[Labour Party of New Zealand|Labour Party]] government. On [[August 3]], [[1949]] a national referendum was held in regards to instituting CMT, and conscription into the Territorial Force of the [[New Zealand Army]]. The vote was 553,016 in favour of [[conscription]] and 152,443 against, no doubt aided by a government propaganda campaign in favour of CMT. More than 60,000 young New Zealanders completed the 18 weeks of training. The [[Second Labour Government of New Zealand|second Labour government]] abolished the programme in [[1958]], but it was reinstated in revised form after Labour lost power. About 3,000 young 18 year olds were selected annually by a ballot of birthdates. The scheme was abolished by the [[Third Labour Government of New Zealand|third Labour government]] on [[December 31]], [[1972]]. Since that date, all service in the New Zealand Armed Forces has been voluntary. Conscripts were never sent to battle zones in this period, although many opted to continue their military careers and fight in Malaysia, Vietnam and other theatres of conflict.<ref name=Subritzky/> ==Malaysia 1949-1966== {{main|Military history of New Zealand in Malaysia}} ===Malayan Emergency 1949-1964=== <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:NZSAS_parachute_training_-_Malaya.jpg|200px|thumb|right|[[New Zealand Special Air Service]] troopers training for service in Malaya.]] --> The [[Malayan Emergency]] was declared by the British government on [[June 18]] [[1948]] after guerillas of the [[Malayan Races Liberation Army]], the militant arm of the [[Malayan Communist Party]] killed three British rubber planters. Initially New Zealand made a small contribution of planes, officers and frigates. New Zealand became more directly involved in the Emergency from 1955, following its decision to contribute forces to the British Commonwealth [[Far East Strategic Reserve]], the primary role of which was to deter communist aggression in [[South-East Asia]], and to provide a capacity for the immediate implementation of defence plans in the event that deterrence failed. As a secondary role, the forces committed to the Reserve were permitted to take part in actions against the guerrillas. The [[Special Air Service of New Zealand|Special Air Service]] (SAS) and the RNZAF were deployed, with the RNZAF carrying out its first operational strike mission since the Second World War and its first with [[jet aircraft]]. In 1958 the [[Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment|New Zealand Regiment]] replaced the SAS. By the time the 2nd Battalion of the New Zealand Regiment arrived in late 1959, to replace the 1st Battalion, most of the Communist guerrillas had retreated across the border into southern [[Thailand]] and the Malayan government saw the security situation to be stable enough to declare the Emergency over on [[31 July]] 1960. New Zealand soldiers would be periodically deployed to Border Security Area as part of counter-insurgency measures over the next four years. About 1300 New Zealanders served in the Emergency, of whom only 15 died. Only three men were killed as a result of enemy action. ===Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation 1963-66=== {{further|[[Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation]]}} As a part of its withdrawal from its Southeast Asian colonies, the United Kingdom moved to combine its colonies on Borneo, Sarawak and British North Borneo, with those on peninsular Malaya, to form the Federation of Malaysia. This move was opposed by the government of Indonesia. The [[Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation]] began on [[January 20]] [[1963]] when [[Indonesia]]n Foreign Minister Subandrio announced that Indonesia would pursue a policy of ''Konfrontasi'' (Confrontation) with the [[Malaysia]]. From late 1963 the British requested New Zealand military aid in the area. The [[Second National Government of New Zealand|second National government]] initially refused, not wishing to be involved in a war with Indonesia. However when Indonesian paratroopers landed in [[Johore]] in September 1964, the New Zealand Infantry Regiment was one of the only Commonwealth units in the region and with the New Zealand government's permission hunted down the infiltrators. The following month, 52 soldiers landed in [[Pontian]] on the Johore-Malacca border and were also captured by New Zealand soldiers. A change in New Zealand policy came as Sukarno increased the flow of Indonesian insurgents into Borneo and British military resources were stretched to almost breaking point. The New Zealand government could no longer deny the genuine appeals for assistance and the first New Zealand deployment was made to fight the insurgency - a Special Air Service detachment and the 1st Battalion of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, along with several Navy ships. New Zealand forces were involved in some fighting, but in late 1965 General [[Suharto]] came to power in Indonesia, following a [[coup d'état]]. Due to this domestic conflict, Indonesian interest in pursuing the war with Malaysia declined, and the conflict officially ended in May 1966. ==Korean War 1950-1953== <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Kiwi_hill,_Korean_War.jpg|200px|thumb|"Kiwi Hill", the headquarters of the 16th Field Regiment.]] --> {{main|New Zealand in the Korean War}} New Zealand contributed six frigates, several smaller craft and a 1044 strong volunteer force (known as KAYFORCE) to the [[Korean War]]. The ships were under the command of a British flag officer and formed part of the [[US Navy]] screening force during the [[Battle of Inchon]], performing shore raids and inland bombardment. New Zealand troops remained in Korea in significant numbers for four years after the 1953 [[Korean War#Stalemate (July 1951 - July 1953)|armistice]], the last New Zealand soldiers leaving in 1957, and a single liaison officer remained until 1971. A total of 3,794 New Zealand soldiers served in KAYFORCE and 1300 in the [[Royal New Zealand Navy|Navy]] deployment. 33 were killed in action, 79 wounded and 1 soldier was taken prisoner. That prisoner was held in North Korea for eighteen months and repatriated after the armistices. A New Zealander flying with the [[Royal Air Force]] was also captured when he was shot down near [[P'yongyang]], and was repatriated at around the same time. One RNZN sailor was killed during the conflict. ==Peacekeeping and observation== The New Zealand military has been involved in a number of peacekeeping and observation missions. These have included military observation in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] from 1992 to 2004, humanitarian action in [[Somalia]] from 1992 to 1994, military observation in [[Haiti]] from 1994 to 1995, and military liaison in [[Kosovo]] from 1999 to the present. Operations in which a significant number of New Zealanders participated include: ===Kashmir 1952-76=== {{further|[[Sino-Indian War]], [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] and the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]}} In 1952, three New Zealand officers were seconded as military observers for the United Nations Military Observer Group in the [[Kashmir]], to supervise a ceasefire between [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]. Many New Zealand officers, including Territorial Force officers, saw service with the force until 1976.<ref name=Subritzky/> ===Rhodesia: Operation Agila 1979-80=== [[Image:AP Lima 1st ZIPRA Bn sm.jpg|right|thumb|1st ZIPRA Battalion on parade.]] {{main|Operation Midford}} In 1979, New Zealand contributed a force of seventy-five officers and men to the Commonwealth Monitoring Force which was established to oversee the implementation of the agreement which had ended the [[Rhodesian War]]. Troops supervised the concentration of the [[guerrilla]] forces into sixteen Assembly Places during the period in which the [[cease fire]] was implemented and national elections held. Following the election the Commonwealth Monitoring Force began withdrawing from the newly independent and renamed [[Zimbabwe]] on [[March 2]], [[1980]] with the final members of the force leaving on [[March 16]]. ===Multi-National Force and Observers 1982-current=== [[Image:MFO Logo.jpg|140px|thumb|left|MFO logo]] On [[ANZAC Day]] [[1982]], a small group of twenty six New Zealand soldiers arrived in the [[Sinai]] as New Zealand's commitment to the [[Multinational Force and Observers]] (MFO). This was to be the beginning of an ongoing commitment of [[New Zealand]] [[Peacekeepers]] to the Sinai region. The task of the MFO was initially to supervise the withdrawal of [[Israeli]] military units from [[Egypt]]ian territory. A rotary wing of the [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] also served until 1986. New Zealand increased its commitment to this Mission, which is now tri-service in nature, with a group of about two [[platoons]] of specialist servicemen and women serving a six month [[Tour of Duty]] with the MFO. ===East Timor/Timor Leste 1999-2003, 2006=== {{further|[[History of East Timor#Towards independence]]}} <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Wn04009730.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A Royal New Zealand Air Force medic assisting an East Timorese civilian.]] --> Following [[East Timor]]'s vote for independence in 1999, the [[United Nations]] [[INTERFET]] (International Force for East Timor) was dispatched into the area. INTERFET was composed of contributions from 17 nations, about 9,900 in total. At its peak, the New Zealand Defence Force had 1,100 personnel in East Timor - New Zealand's largest overseas military deployment since the Korean War. Overall New Zealand's contribution saw just short of 4,000 New Zealanders serve in East Timor. In addition to their operations against militia, the New Zealand troops were also involved in construction of roads and schools, water supplies and other infrastructural assistance. English lessons and medical aid were also provided. New Zealand Defence Force personnel were completely withdrawn by November 2002, but in May 2006 widespread fighting broke out in the Timorese capital of [[Dili]]. A contingent of 120 troops were dispatched and were responsible for providing security in the Dili alongside soldiers and police from Australia, Malaysia and [[Portugal]]. Four New Zealand peacekeepers have been killed on operations in [[East Timor]]. ===Solomon Islands (2000 to date)=== [[Image:070416-N-4790M-023-h.jpg|thumb|right|150px|New Zealand forces board [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] [[SH-60 Seahawk|SH 60F Sea Hawk]] helicopter during relif effort in the Solomon Islands, [[April 16]], [[2007]].]] {{further|[[History of the Solomon Islands#Civil war]], [[Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands]], [[2007 Solomon Islands earthquake]]}} New Zealand participated in the [[Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands]] (RAMSI), which aimed to restore peace following the Solomon Islands civil war. RAMSI acted as an interim police force and has been successful in improving the country's overall security conditions, including brokering the surrender of a notorious warlord, [[Harold Keke]]. New Zealand contributed four helicopters and about 230 personnel consisting of infantry, engineers, medical and support staff. RAMSI was scaled down in July, 2004, as stability had gradually been restored to the country. It is now primarily a police force. In 2007, New Zealand forces provided support relief in the aftermath of the [[April 2]], [[2007]] Solomon Islands earthquake.. ===Iraq (2003 to date)=== [[Image:New Zealand soldiers in Iraq, March, 2004.jpg|left|thumb|New Zealand Army engineering at work during the [[Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–2006|Post Invasion Iraq]] phase.]] {{further|[[Iraq War]], [[Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–2006|Post Invasion Iraq]], [[Reconstruction of Iraq]]}} The New Zealand government opposed and [[Opposition to the 2003 Iraq War#Official condemnation|officially condemned]] the [[2003 Invasion of Iraq]] by the [[Multinational force in Iraq|United States-led "Coalition of the Willing"]] and did not contribute any combat forces. However in accordance with [[United Nations Security Council]] [[Resolution 1483]] New Zealand contributed a small engineering and support force to assist in [[Reconstruction of Iraq|post-war reconstruction]] and provision of humanitarian aid. The engineers returned home in October, 2004 and New Zealand is still represented in Iraq by liaison and staff officers working with coalition forces. ===Tonga (2006 to date)=== On [[November 18]], [[2006]], a contingent of seventy-two New Zealand Defence Force personnel and additional [[New Zealand Police]] officers was deployed to [[Tonga]] in an effort to restore calm after the escalation in violence. They were joined by Australian soldiers and [[Australian Federal Police]] officers. Their main objective is to protect and patrol Tonga's international airport in [[Nukuʻalofa|Nuku{{Okina}}alofa]]. ==Antarctica== New Zealand's armed forces have been involved in [[Antarctic]] research and exploration since the 1950s. The Air Force operated two [[Auster AOP.6|Auster T7]] and a [[de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver|Beaver]] in Antarctica in the late 1950s, the Austers somewhat unsuccessfully. The navy has escorted supply ships and conducted its own supply missions, provided weather monitoring and support for U.S. activities in the 'frozen continent', conducted scientific research, and helped build [[Scott Base]]. In 1964, [[No. 40 Squadron RNZAF|40 Squadron]], [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]], was re-equipped with the C-130H Hercules and, the following year, commenced regular flights to and from the Antarctic. The army, and later the other two services, have provided cargo handlers. [[No. 5 Squadron RNZAF|No. 5 Squadron]] has operated in the airspace over and near Scott Base to provide search and rescue standby and to drop mail and medical supplies to the people wintering over. ==Vietnam War 1964-75== {{main|New Zealand in the Vietnam War}} The [[Vietnam War]] would prove to be a highly controversial conflict for New Zealand, sparking wide-spread protest at home from anti-Vietnam War movements modelled on their American counterparts. This conflict was also the first in which New Zealand did not fight alongside the United Kingdom, instead following the loyalties of the [[ANZUS Pact]]. New Zealand's contribution was minimal, despite American pressure to supply more troops. ==The Middle East (1982-present)== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:RNZAF Hercules over base, Afghanistan.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules flying over the New Zealand base in the Bamian Province of Afghanistan.]] --> New Zealand has assisted the [[United States]] and [[UK|Britain]] in many of their miltitary activities in the Middle East. However New Zealand forces have fought only in [[Afghanistan]]; in other countries New Zealand support has been in the form of support and engineering. During the [[Iran-Iraq War]] two New Zealand frigates joined the [[Royal Navy]] in monitoring merchant shipping in the [[Persian Gulf]]. and in 1991, New Zealand contributed three transport aircraft and a medical team to assist [[Gulf War#Coalition involvement|coalition forces]] in the [[Gulf War]]. New Zealand's heaviest military involvement in the Middle East in recent decades has been in [[Afghanistan]] following the United States-led invasion of that country after the [[September 11 attacks]]. Fifty [[New Zealand SAS|SAS]] units were dispatched, and in March 2002 they took part in [[Operation Anaconda]] against about 500 to 1000 [[al-Qaeda]] and [[Taliban]] forces in the [[Shahi-Kot Valley]] and [[Arma Mountains]] southeast of [[Zorma]], [[Afghanistan]]. New Zealand has also supplied two transport aircraft and a 122-strong tri-service Provincial Reconstruction Team, which has been located in [[Bamyan]] Province since 2003. ==See also== * [[Military history of New Zealand during World War II]] * [[Military of New Zealand]] * [[Participants in World War II]] * [[List of New Zealander Victoria Cross recipients]] * [[List of New Zealand divisions in World War II]] * [[Military history of Oceania]] ==Footnotes== {{Citations missing|date=September 2007}} {{reflist}} ==References== <div class="references-small"> *{{cite web | title=War and Society | work=New Zealand's history online| url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war-and-society | accessdate=}} *{{cite web | title=A History of the New Zealand Army, 1840 to 1990s | work= A History of the New Zealand Army, 1840 to 1990s| url=http://www.militarybadges.info/nz-army/ | accessdate=}} *{{cite web | title=Australian & New Zealand Military History from 1788 | work=Australian & New Zealand Military History from 1788 | url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/00-conflicts-cat-index.htm | accessdate=}} *{{cite journal | author=John Crawford | authorlink=John Crawford | title=New Zealand and the Boer War | journal=New Zealand Defence Quarterly | year=1999 | volume= | pages= | url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/other/nz-boer-war.htm }} *{{cite book | first=Matthew| last=Wright | coauthors= | title=Western Front : the New Zealand Division in the First World War 1916-18 | publisher=Reed | location=Auckland | year=2005 | editor= | id=ISBN 0-7900-0990-0}} *{{cite web | title=WARS – FIRST WORLD WAR, 1914–18| work=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock | url=http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/1966/W/WarsFirstWorldWar191418/en | accessdate=}} *{{cite web | title=New Zealand in the First World War | work=New Zealand and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission | url=http://www.mch.govt.nz/heritage/nzww1.html | accessdate=}} *{{cite web | title=NZ Forces | work=The AIF & NZEF in the Great War| url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-nz/0-cat-index-nz_forces.htm | accessdate=}} *{{cite web | title=ROYAL NEW ZEALAND FORCES | work=The Korean War| url= http://www.korean-war.com/newzealand.html | accessdate=}} *{{note|Holyoakequote}}{{cite book | first=Lieutenant General Stanley Robert | last=Larsen | coauthors= Brigadier General James Lawton Collins, Jr. | title= Allied Participation in Vietnam | publisher=Department of the Army | location= Washington D.C. | year=1985 | editor= | id={{LCC|74-28217}}}} *{{cite book | first=Michael | last=Subritzky | coauthors= | title=The Vietnam Scrapbook The Second ANZAC Adventure | publisher=Three Feathers | location= Blenheim | year=1995 | editor= | id=ISBN 0-9583484-0-5}} *{{note|AgentOrangeSettlement}}{{cite news | title=Korea orders Agent Orange payments | date=[[January 26]] [[2006]] | publisher=Mercury News | url=http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/13714640.htm}} *{{note|GovtApology}}{{cite news | title=Government apology for Vietnam War veterans | date=[[December 15]] [[2004]] | publisher=New Zealand Herald | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=500855&ObjectID=9003235}} *{{note|Report}}{{cite paper | author=Health Committee | title=Inquiry into the exposure of New Zealand defence personnel to Agent Orange and other defoliant chemicals during the Vietnam War and any health effects of that exposure, and transcripts of evidence | date=2004 | url=http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/SelectCommitteeReports/i6e.pdf}} *Kaye, C.M.S. Mission Extraordinary Zimbabwe - Rhodesia, British Army Review, 1980. Lock, Peter. & Cooke Peter, Fighting Vehicles and Weapons of Rhodesia, P&P Publishing, Wellington, 1995. Lovett, John. Contact, Galaxie Press, Salisbury, 1979. Moorcroft, Paul. Contact II, Sygma Press, Johannesburg, 1981. [[Subritzky, Mike]]. Rhodesia - Operational Diary, unpublished, 1979 - 1980. Subritzky, Mike. Letters from Comrade Lt. Thomas Sabanda ZIPRA 1980. *{{cite web | title=East Timor | work=New Zealand Army Overseas | url=http://www.army.mil.nz/?CHANNEL=OPERATIONS&PAGE=East+Timor | accessdate=}} *{{cite web | title=East Timor | work=New Zealand Defence Force: Deployments | url=http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/deployments/east-timor/default.htm | accessdate=}} *{{cite web | title=East Timor | work=Riots, Rebellion, Gunboats and Peace Keepers | url=http://www.britains-smallwars.com/RRGP/EastTimor.html | accessdate=}} *{{cite web | title=Timor Leste | work=New Zealand Defence Force: Deployments | url=http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/deployments/east-timor/timore-leste-update.htm | accessdate=}} *{{cite paper | author=Controller and Auditor-General | title=New Zealand Defence Force: Deployment to East Timor | date=2001 | url=http://www.oag.govt.nz/2001/east-timor/timor.pdf}} *{{cite news | title=NZ Commitment To Timor To Become Battalion | date=[[September 30]] [[1999]] | publisher=Scoop | url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA9909/S00650.htm}} *{{cite web | title=Solomon Islands | work=New Zealand Army Overseas | url=http://www.army.mil.nz/default.asp?CHANNEL=OPERATIONS&PAGE=Solomon+Islands | accessdate=}} *{{cite web | title=Solomon Islands | work=New Zealand Police: Overseas Assistance | url=http://www.police.govt.nz/service/overseas/solomonislands.html | accessdate=}} *{{cite press release | publisher = New Zealand Defence Force | date = [[July 6]] [[2004]] | title = NZ contribution to Solomon Islands to continue | url = http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/articles/2004/07/0706.html }} *{{cite press release | publisher = New Zealand Defence Force | date = [[August 5]] [[2004]] | title = Ongoing assistance to Solomon Islands | url = http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/articles/2004/08/0805.html }} *{{cite web | title=Afghanistan | work=New Zealand Defence Force: Deployments | url=http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/deployments/afghanistan/default.htm | accessdate=}} *{{note|AfghanPRT}}{{cite press release | publisher = New Zealand Defence Force | date = [[February 1]] [[2006]] | title = Goff positive about Afghanistan contribution | url = http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/deployments/afghanistan/articles/goff-positive.htm }} *{{cite web | title= Iraq - UNMOVIC | work=New Zealand Army Overseas | url=http://www.army.mil.nz/?CHANNEL=OPERATIONS&PAGE=Iraq+%2D+UNMOVIC | accessdate=}} *{{cite news | author=RNZ | title=More troops as Dili violence escalates | date=[[May 27]] [[2006]] | publisher=Television New Zealand | url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411365/726939}}</ref> </div> ==External links== * [http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war-and-society NZhistory.net.nz - war and society] * [http://www.nzetc.org/corpora/WH2.html Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War] * [http://usswashington.com/dl_index.htm WW2 day by day] * [http://www.nzfpm.co.nz/ New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum] * [http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/7572/nzvcross.txt New Zealand Victoria Cross winners] * [http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/category/tid/216 New Zealand in the Second World War] {{Military history of New Zealand}} {{New Zealand topics}} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Military history of New Zealand| ]] <!--Other languages-->