Latest news with #NZArmy
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
NZDF combat-ready soldiers deployed to South Korea to work with local and US army
A NZ Army platoon has flown from Christchurch to the Republic of Korea for training and activities with Korea and United States forces. Photo: Supplied / NZDF For the first time, a New Zealand Army infantry platoon will be deployed to South Korea to work with local and United States Army forces. The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said 35 combat-ready soldiers will work with units from the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and US Army. They'll undertake training and activities at the world-class Korea Combat Training Centre, the first NZ Army organisation to do so. Land Component Commander Brigadier Jason Dyhrberg said over the next 90 days, they will undertake a range of infantry training activities with their South Korean and US counterparts. "After three months, our troops will be more familiar with their counterparts' techniques and tactics and be better able to readily integrate into a coalition warfighting environment," Dyhrberg said. "At the conclusion of their time on the Korean Peninsula, they will have been tested across a range of challenging scenarios and activities and be deemed combat ready under both the South Korean and US systems. "We know the NZ Army produces world-class soldiers and officers. This deployment presents another great opportunity to showcase our people, to learn new skills and to develop greater levels of combat readiness alongside key international partners. I have no doubt that they will do us proud." The NZDF has a long-standing commitment to supporting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and has been deploying personnel to the United Nations Command (UNC) and its Military Armistice Commission since 1998. The New Zealand Defence Attaché to Korea, Colonel Rob Loftus, said the aim of the deployment was to foster cooperation and understanding between the three forces at the platoon level. "This will provide our soldiers with a fantastic training opportunity to exercise with our military partners on the peninsula. They'll build relationships while putting themselves to the test. "The platoon will also participate in several cultural and commemorative activities celebrating the 75th year anniversary of the United Nations Command, and Korean War battle anniversaries." UNC Deputy Commander Canadian Army Lieutenant General Derek Macaulay said that as the UNC celebrated its 75th anniversary, it was honoured to welcome the NZ Army infantry unit. "The platoon's presence here reflects New Zealand's steadfast commitment to UNC and to the enduring peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. For over seven decades New Zealand has stood firm in support of the shared values we defend together.'' New Zealand contributed both naval and ground forces in support of UNC during the Korean War in the early 1950s, where more than 6000 New Zealanders served. The platoon will remain on the Korean Peninsula until the end of October. Further joint training and mission rehearsal activities are being planned for 2026.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
NZDF combat-ready soliders deployed to South Korea to work with local and US army
A NZ Army platoon has flown from Christchurch to the Republic of Korea for training and activities with Korea and United States forces. Photo: Supplied / NZDF For the first time, a New Zealand Army infantry platoon will be deployed to South Korea to work with local and United States Army forces. The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said 35 combat-ready soldiers will work with units from the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and US Army. They'll undertake training and activities at the world-class Korea Combat Training Centre, the first NZ Army organisation to do so. Land Component Commander Brigadier Jason Dyhrberg said over the next 90 days, they will undertake a range of infantry training activities with their South Korean and US counterparts. "After three months, our troops will be more familiar with their counterparts' techniques and tactics and be better able to readily integrate into a coalition warfighting environment," Dyhrberg said. "At the conclusion of their time on the Korean Peninsula, they will have been tested across a range of challenging scenarios and activities and be deemed combat ready under both the South Korean and US systems. "We know the NZ Army produces world-class soldiers and officers. This deployment presents another great opportunity to showcase our people, to learn new skills and to develop greater levels of combat readiness alongside key international partners. I have no doubt that they will do us proud." The NZDF has a long-standing commitment to supporting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and has been deploying personnel to the United Nations Command (UNC) and its Military Armistice Commission since 1998. The New Zealand Defence Attaché to Korea, Colonel Rob Loftus, said the aim of the deployment was to foster cooperation and understanding between the three forces at the platoon level. "This will provide our soldiers with a fantastic training opportunity to exercise with our military partners on the peninsula. They'll build relationships while putting themselves to the test. "The platoon will also participate in several cultural and commemorative activities celebrating the 75th year anniversary of the United Nations Command, and Korean War battle anniversaries." UNC Deputy Commander Canadian Army Lieutenant General Derek Macaulay said that as the UNC celebrated its 75th anniversary, it was honoured to welcome the NZ Army infantry unit. "The platoon's presence here reflects New Zealand's steadfast commitment to UNC and to the enduring peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. For over seven decades New Zealand has stood firm in support of the shared values we defend together.'' New Zealand contributed both naval and ground forces in support of UNC during the Korean War in the early 1950s, where more than 6000 New Zealanders served. The platoon will remain on the Korean Peninsula until the end of October. Further joint training and mission rehearsal activities are being planned for 2026.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
NZ Army Combat-Ready Infantry Platoon Deploys To The Republic Of Korea
A New Zealand Army infantry platoon of 35 soldiers has deployed to the Republic of Korea to undertake training and activities with Korean and United States forces. The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has a long-standing commitment to supporting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and has been deploying personnel to the United Nations Command (UNC) and its Military Armistice Commission since 1998. Now, for the first time, the NZDF is deploying a combat-ready infantry platoon to work with units from the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and US Army. A second deployment is planned for next year. The platoon will be the first NZ Army organisation to train at the world-class Korea Combat Training Centre, providing the Kiwi soldiers with another unique aspect to their deployment. Over the next 90 days, they will undertake a range of infantry training activities with their South Korean and US counterparts. Land Component Commander Brigadier Jason Dyhrberg said the soldiers would develop new skills while honing others. This was a great opportunity to gain valuable experience alongside Republic of Korea and US personnel and have access to world class-combat training facilities, he said, 'After three months, our troops will be more familiar with their counterparts' techniques and tactics and be better able to readily integrate into a coalition warfighting environment,' Brigadier Dyhrberg said. 'At the conclusion of their time on the Korean Peninsula, they will have been tested across a range of challenging scenarios and activities and be deemed combat ready under both the South Korean and US systems. 'We know the NZ Army produces world-class soldiers and officers. This deployment presents another great opportunity to showcase our people, to learn new skills and to develop greater levels of combat readiness alongside key international partners. I have no doubt that they will do us proud.' The New Zealand Defence Attaché to Korea, Colonel Rob Loftus, said the aim of the deployment was to foster cooperation and understanding between the three forces at the platoon level. 'This will provide our soldiers with a fantastic training opportunity to exercise with our military partners on the peninsula. They'll build relationships while putting themselves to the test. 'The platoon will also participate in several cultural and commemorative activities celebrating the 75th year anniversary of the United Nations Command, and Korean War battle anniversaries.' UNC Deputy Commander Canadian Army Lieutenant General Derek Macaulay said that as the UNC celebrated its 75th anniversary, it was honoured to welcome the NZ Army infantry unit. 'The platoon's presence here reflects New Zealand's steadfast commitment to UNC and to the enduring peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. For over seven decades New Zealand has stood firm in support of the shared values we defend together.'' The latest deployment builds on the legacy started when New Zealand contributed both naval and ground forces in support of UNC during the Korean War in the early 1950s. More than 6000 New Zealanders served. The platoon will remain on the Korean Peninsula until the end of October. Further joint training and mission rehearsal activities are being planned for 2026.
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- RNZ News
Military panel drops two charges against soldier accused of filming during sex without consent
Corporal Manu Smith. Photo: Pool / Stuff / Kai Schwoerer Two of the charges against a soldier accused of taking sexual videos without consent have been dropped. Corporal Manu Smith was facing a Court Martial on three counts of making intimate visual recordings under the Armed Forces Discipline Act. In a Court Martial, a military panel make a decision on the accused's guilt or innocence. On Tuesday morning, Justice Tom Gilbert, who was presiding over the court, advised the military panel that he had granted the defence's request to drop two of the charges. The judge said the two charges were dismissed for legal reasons, because in light of the evidence, he ruled that a properly directed panel could not reasonably convict on those charges. That afternoon, the accused Corporal Manu Smith gave evidence for the defence. Defence lawyer Timothy Leighton asked Corporal Smith why he had taken out his phone and started recording during sex with the complainant, and if the woman had known he was filming. Corporal Smith said he saw it as a way of expressing their intimacy and that she had seen that he was filming on his phone, and did nothing to indicate she wanted him to stop filming. He said the pair's relationship had been sexual from the start, and they both shared intimate sexual images with each other. Corporal Smith said the pair had talked about boundaries. "Yes, I expected the same respect from her that she did with me, in terms of sharing content with a third party or anybody outside. "...It was a circle of trust, it should have been. I don't want images of me shared with her girlfriends, nor would she want me to share intimate images of her." He said the pair had discussed filming sexual encounters, while discussing their sexual likes and dislikes, and he believed she was open to it. Corporal Smith said he believed he did have consent to record the sexual encounter which is the subject of the complaint, and he said if she had asked him to stop he would have. The prosecution's captain John Whitcombe asked Corporal Smith about the nature of his relationship with the complainant and whether she had reason to assume it was a exclusive relationship. Corporal Smith said the nature of their relationship was not discussed, but he saw it as non-exclusive and he believed she did too. Captain John Whitcombe challenged Corporal Smith's assertion that the woman had consented to the sex being filmed, asking if there was ever an express discussion about him filming on the day in question. Corporal Smith said they had talked about it in a light-hearted jovial way. "There was no black and white, no written agreement," he told the court. The defence and prosecution will give their closing addresses on Tuesday afternoon. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
09-06-2025
- RNZ News
Soldier charged with filming women during sex treated accusations as a joke, court martial told
Corporal Manu Smith during the hearing. Photo: Pool / Stuff / Kai Schwoerer A soldier accused of filming women during sex without their permission laughed about the accusations when confronted about them, a court martial has heard. Corporal Manu Smith is facing three counts of making intimate visual recordings. He has pleaded not guilty. A hearing at the Burnham Military Camp began this morning and is expected to take three days. Smith has been accused of making the recordings of two civilian women, without their knowledge or consent. He has contended he thought he had permission. Prosecutor Flight Lieutenant Hannah O'Byrne told the court both women would say Smith recorded them without asking, and then sent the recordings via Snapchat. Smith treated it as a joke when confronted about the recordings, O'Byrne said. One woman complained she asked him if he had shared the images with others, which he also laughed off, O'Byrne said. One of the women - who had name suppression - gave evidence this morning via audio-visual link. Smith's lawyer Matthew Hague asked her about a chat group involving the woman and others who had dated Smith. The woman joined the group after she and the solider had broken up. She agreed the group's members did not like Smith. Hague asked if it was true the group discussed ways to cause trouble for Smith. The woman accepted the group had discussed it and she raised the sexual images as a way to get Smith in trouble. She wanted him to hurt as much as he had hurt her over the course of their relationship, she said. The woman consented to having sex with Smith, but not to him filming it, she said. Under questioning by Hague, she accepted she had worked with others in chat group on her complaint about Smith. But she said that was only because she was not very good with words. She denied making up the claims and said she thought if there were multiple complaints they were more likely to be believed. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
