Happy Birthday to the New Zealand Army!

Today is Army Day! We want to wish the New Zealand Army a happy 179th birthday and to say thank you for your service to all past and present soldiers.

On March 25, 1845, the Militia Act passed into law creating the ‘New Zealand Military Forces’ and in 1860 the first volunteer force was created, with a permanent regular force established in 1962. The title of ‘New Zealand Army’ was formally adopted in the 1950s.

In 1994, 30 years ago this year, the NZ Army transformed itself into Ngāti Tūmatauenga (Tribe of the God of War), an iwi (tribe) created by, with, and for the state, granted iwidom by the then Māori Queen, along with the blessings of the iwi surrounding Waiouru and Sir Charles Bennett, DSO, the last Commanding Officer of 28 Māori Battalion. All who attest into the NZ Army, regardless of their ethnicity, become part of Ngāti Tūmatauenga, creating a sense of pride and belonging for all serving men and women beyond their shared experiences and dedication to service.  

The NZ Army is considered a world-class, combat-ready land force and has been involved in several international conflicts, including the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II, the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, Indonesia–Malaysia Confrontation, the Vietnam War, and more recently in peace-keeping operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Personnel have been deployed in various roles across the world including Egypt, the Middle East, South Sudan, South Korea, and Antarctica.

The NZ Army culture is based on the values of Tū Kaha (courage), Tū Tika (commitment), Tū Tira (comradeship) and Tū Maia (integrity). It embraces diversity, shared experience, and strives to be a force for all New Zealanders, embraced in Te Ao Māori. Here at the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa, we are proud to tell the stories of the New Zealand Army and to hold the taonga from its long and battle-worn history. So, to all past and present soldiers of the NZ Army, thank you for your service.