After the war 2 NZEF and home service units were
progressively demobilised and only a small permanent force, with an established strength of 3,747 was retained.
In 1948 the New Zealand Staff Corps, the New Zealand Permanent Staff and the New Zealand Permanent Army Service Corps were disbanded and replaced with 17 functional Corps.
Post-war troubles in Palestine and the Middle East had a profound effect on New Zealand's defence
posture as apart from the strategic importance of the Suez Canal, there was a traditional interest resulting from the commitment of New Zealand troops to the area during the two World Wars.
It was assumed at the time that the Middle East would remain as New Zealand's major area of assistance towards Commonwealth defence - an assumption that was to change in the early to mid-1950's when South East Asia became New Zealand's primary area of strategic interest.
In 1949 it was decided to raise a division for service in the Middle East, should the need arise, and
the Government promptly decided on steps to train sufficient men to fulfill this commitment.
A national referendum was held on3 August 1949 on the issue of conscription for territorial service; 553,016 votes were cast in favour of conscription, with 152,443 against.
The results were described by the Labour Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, as being indicative of the people of New Zealand to
"stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of the British Commonwealth for democratic freedom".
The Army Act 1950 superseded the Defence Act 1909 and resulted in the combination of the regular and territorial forces to form "The New Zealand Army", the first time the title had been officially used.
Compulsory Military Training
The Army now comprised an infantry division, an armoured brigade, and a medium regiment of artillery, as well as coastal and anti-aircraft artillery units and static support units. The bulk of the manning was by territorial force soldiers trained under the Compulsory Military Training (CMT) scheme for which the Government had been given a dear mandate by the 1949 referendum.
All young men, on reaching the age of 18, were required to register with the Department of Labour and Employment. Apart from those exempted for medical or compassionate reasons, all had to undergo 14 weeks' full-time training, after which they were posted to a territorial unit for three years.
In their units, territorials had to complete 20 days' training each year, including a 14-day annual camp. After three years' service, the territorial soldier was allowed to transfer to the Reserve, if he wished, for a six-year period during which he was not required to complete any further training.
The first CMT Intake marched in for training on 9 May 1950. A total of 63,033 men were trained under the CMT scheme before it was abolished by the Labour Government in early 1958, at which time territorial service became voluntary.
The Labour Government under Nash decided to concentrate defence spending on a Regular Force cadre, and a volunteer Territorial Army. A Government
Defence White Paper published in 1958, proposed a reorganisation of the army. These proposals were to be implemented on I April 1959. The Regular Force was divided into two sections. The
first was a static section responsible for training and logistics. The second segment comprised an operational Brigade Group, for overseas
commitment, which included within its structure, the battalion deployed in Malaya.
The changes implemented by Nash's cabinet lasted a little over four years. In 1960 National, under Keith Holyoake, was once more
on the treasury benches. This second National Government reintroduced compulsory military training in 1962, though this time it was called National Service. Under the provisions of the National Service Act all males were required to register on their 20th birthday with the Department of Labour. Ballots were then conducted to decide who would undertake compulsory service. Those selected were required to complete three months' initial full-time training, followed by an annual commitment of three weeks part-time training. The first National Service intake marched in for training on 10 March 1962.
While National service was filling the ranks of the Territorial Force, deeper changes were taking place in the country's defence organisation. Holyoake's Cabinet agreed in 1962 to the establishment of a new Department of Defence. This Department was to advise the Minister on policy, planning, and expenditure. The new department was formally established on 1 January 1964. On its formation, a civil servant became departmental head and adviser to the Minister.
The formation and establishment of the Defence Department was paralleled by a reorganisation of the army. This reorganisation was necessary to meet the commitment undertaken by the Government in joining the South-East Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO). National Service, which was to last until 1972, was specifically designed to
furnish additional manpower for deployment % brigade sized formation in South-East Asia, if required.
To meet the need the army was organised into a Combat Brigade and a Logistics Supply Group. The Combat Brigade Group, consisted of 3,250 Regular Force and 10,000 Territorial Force
soldiers. The Logistics Supply Group, organised to administer, train, and equip the combat field force, was a smaller formation consisting of 3,000 soldiers.
In 1972, Norman Kirk headed the newly elected third Labour Government ended
compulsory national service. The Territorials were once again to be volunteers, a change not altered when the Muldoon National Government swept back to
power in 1975.
The Nationals did, however, once again examine
the nation's defences. Another Defence Review was issued in 1978, followed in 1979 by another reorganisation of the
army. The Command structure was abolished and replaced by a Land Force and Task Force regional headquarters.
Five years later in 1983 another Defence Review was issued. Under it, a Ready Reaction Force was established, comprising of a deployable battalion group of approximately 1,200 Regular Force soldiers. The 1983 review also committed the army to maintaining the Special Air Service (SAS) squadron in a state of readiness against possible terrorist attacks.
Under the fourth Labour government the army, like the rest of society, has had to face rapid change. The old alliances have
been challenged and internal administration radically altered. In 1986 defence was re-examined by the Comer committee and in 1989 a resource management review was undertaken by Derek Quigley. In response to these reviews, the Ministry of Defence was radically altered with the Defence
Forces and the Civilian Ministry being split.
New Zealand Defence Forces are to concern themselves with operational matters while the Ministry reviews policy. Yet the primary task given to today's army is the same as it always has been. It is to preserve the security and integrity of New Zealand. To achieve this it has been directed to help promote security and stability in the South Pacific by being able to respond militarily to low level emergencies. |
