New Zealand's Peacekeepers

In 1976 New Zealand withdrew from UNMOGIP for reasons of economy. In addition to UNMOGIP the New Zealand Army has contributed, since 1954, officers to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) established in 1948. UNTSO was established to supervise the four armistice agreements between Israel and its neighbours: Egypt, Jordan, Syria and the Lebanon. Its task has been to report on compliance (and lack of compliance) with the armistice agreements of 1949 and later the cease-fire arrangements after the Suez War in 1956, the Six-Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973. UNTSO personnel are based at six main locations: East Jerusalem (HQ), Nahariya (Northern Israel), Tiberius (NE Israel), Damascus, Cairo and Gaza.

One New Zealand officer was detached from UNTSO in 1956 to serve with the United Nations Emergency Force I (UNEFI). The UNEFI was established to secure and supervise the withdrawal of British, French and Israeli forces after their attack on Egypt in 1956; thereafter it served as a buffer between Egypt and Israel along the armistice line, at the Gaza Strip and at Sharm-el-Sheikh. It operated successfully until May 1967 when it was required to withdraw by Egypt -in whose territory it was located - immediately prior to the outbreak of hostilities between Egypt and Israel (the 'Six Day War).

In 1958 another New Zealand officer was detached from UNTSO to serve with the United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL). Lebanon was gripped by civil strife in mid1958, and as part of efforts to resolve the situation UNOGIL was established to ensure that arms and personnel were not being illegally infiltrated into the country.

A further two New Zealand officers were detached from UNTSO from 1960-61 to serve with the United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC). The ONUC was initially established to ensure that Belgian forces were withdrawn following the granting of independence to the Congo (Zaire) in June 1960, to assist the new government in maintaining law and order and to provide technical assistance. It was also given the tasks of preventing the recurrence of civil war and of removing mercenaries and all other foreign military personnel not under UN command. Following the attempted secession by Katanga province in 1961, ONUC was given the further task of maintaining Zaire's territorial integrity.

Two years after ONUC, New Zealand had one officer detached from UNTSO to serve with the United Nations Yemen Observation Mission (UNYOM). UNYOM was established under the auspices of UNTSO to observe the implementation of the disengagement agreement between Saudi Arabia and the then United Arab Republic, (Egypt), who had become embroiled in Yemen's civil war. The United Nations mission was withdrawn at the request of these two countries, having largely failed to achieve its objectives due to the intractability of the conflict and inadequate resources.

In 1973 the United Nations Emergency Force II (UNEF II) was established to supervise the cease-fire and redeployment of forces in the Sinai following the Egypt-Israel armistice in 1973. It also manned and controlled buffer zones set up under agreements in 1974 and 1975. When initially deployed, UNEF II had posted to its strength, New Zealand military observers detached from UNTSO.

A year after UNEF II was deployed, New Zealand Military observers we're attached to the United Nations Disengagement Force (UNDOF) from UNTSO. UNDOF was created in June 1974 to supervise the separation of Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights region of Syria.

Four years after UNDOF New Zealand officers serving with UNTSO were posted to serve with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Following Israel's invasion of the Lebanon, UNIFIL was established in March 1978 to monitor Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, to restore peace and security and to assist in establishing political authority in the territory. Given the internal divisions in Lebanon as well as outside involvement, UNIFIL has made little progress with these objectives. It could do nothing to prevent a further invasion of Lebanon by Israel in June 1982 but has remained in existence following Israeli withdrawal.

With the cessation of hostilities between Iran and Iraq in 1988 the United Nations Iran Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIMOG) was formed. UNIMOG was established to observe the cease-fire line between Iran and Iraq and to monitor all troop withdrawals. Operating on both sides of the border it has dual headquarters in Teheran and Baghdad. New Zealand Army officers were posted to UNIMOG in August 1989.

A year later the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) was established to supervise the withdrawal of South African forces from Namibia and to assist in Namibia's transition to independence, including supervision of elections.

A 14 man New Zealand Army engineer team and a 32 strong contingent of New Zealand police served with UNTAG.

In addition to the formal United Nations Forces the New Zealand Army has had five engineers attached to the United Nations Afghanistan Co-ordination Office in Pakistan. This detachment teaches mine awareness and mine clearing techniques to Afghan refugees. The United Nations de-mining programme is not, strictly speaking, a peacekeeping operation, but is notable for its use of military personnel in a humanitarian role. The 5th N.Z. Mine Clearance Training team left on February 24,1991.

Casualties:

Two New Zealand officers have been wounded while serving with the United Nations Forces. 

Commonwealth Cease-Fire Monitoring Force (CMF) 1979-80

The CMF was established by the Commonwealth following the Lancaster House Agreement whereby Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965 was brought to an end and the independent state of Zimbabwe created. The CMF was responsibl6 for monitoring the implementation of the cease-fire agreement between the Rhodesian regime's forces and the guerrillas of the Patriotic Front, during the period leading up to independence. It had a strength of 1,397 mainly from the United Kingdom, but including smaller contingents from three other Commonwealth countries. The New Zealand Army contributed 74 officers and men to this force.

Multinational Force and Observers (MFO)

The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) was created in April 1982 on the initiative of the United States and opposed by the Soviet Union, the MFO was designed to supervise Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai following the Camp David Accords of September 1978 and the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty of March 1979. The MFO numbered approximately 2,600 of whom about half were American. Since 1986 the New Zealand Army has contributed to the MFO every six months two engineers, eight drivers a 12 man New Zealand Army training and advisory team. In 1989 a New Zealand officer, Lieutenant General D. S. McIver took command of the MFO.

The New Zealand Army: A worldwide contribution.

The New Zealand Army under the auspices of such organisations such as the Mutual Aid Programme, the United Nations, and the Ministry of External Relations and Trade/ Government direction, regularly sends soldiers on operations, exercises, projects or courses to: Antarctica (New Zealand Support Unit/New Zealand Army Cargo Detachment), England, Norway, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Pakistan, Syria, Israel, Egypt, USA, Tonga, Belize, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Germany, Brunei, Vanuatu, Australia, Solomons, Kermedec Islands, and the Tokelaus.

Apart from this the New Zealand Army regularly aids the Civilian community with Civil Defence, (flood damage, earthquake damage, disasters, etc), the New Zealand Police (search and rescue, missing people, bomb disposal) as well as aiding community groups such as the Scouts. A significant level of support was provided by the Army to the 1990 Celebrations, the Royal Visit, the Commonwealth Games and the Waitangi Day celebrations.

New Zealand Contribution to the Multinational Forces in the Gulf

In 1990, the New Zealand Government made the decision to commit a contingent of Army medical personnel to the Gulf theatre.

On 16 January, 32 personnel forming the 1st New Zealand Army Medical Team left for the Gulf. The team, a group of highly skilled professionals consisting of surgeons, theatre nurses, and medical assistants, left with the support and best wishes of the Government and the vast majority of New Zealanders, to work with a 500 bed deployable United States fleet hospital in Manaha, Bahrain.

The New Zealand Defence Force Medical Team, this time consisting of five Army personnel in a tri-service contingent of 20, left on the 27th January, 1991 to be attached to a British fixed base hospital in Muharraq, Bahrain. The Army team included a medical officer, an environmental health officer, a medical clerk, a dental officer and a dental assistant.

Queen Elizabeth II, Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru

On October 15,1978, the Queen Elizabeth 11 Army Memorial Museum was formally opened by Sir Keith Holyoake. The museum serves as a memorial to all those who have served in the New Zealand Army in peace and war. Location: Adjacent to State Highway One at the Southern entrance to Waiouru and is open between 9am-4.30pm everyday except Christmas. Phone 0658-56-234.

The Army Career

A peacetime Army requires highly trained personnel in most skills and vocations to enable mobilisation during times of need to occur smoothly, with the ability to train and support large numbers of personnel in short periods of time.

• Personnel may enter as either: 
  • Regular Force adults, 
  • Regular Force Cadets 
  • Regular Force Officers, 
  • Territorial Force Officers or soldiers.

For further information on these categories please contact your nearest recruiter under Armed Forces Recruiting in the phone book or Free Phone 0800 732-666.

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NZ Army: A short history of the New Zealand Army, 1840 to 1990s