Latest news with #NZDF
Techday NZ
2 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Sysdoc wins two awards for supporting NZ Defence Force change
Sysdoc has been recognised for its work supporting transformation within the New Zealand Defence Force by receiving two awards at the 2024 Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence to Industry. The consultancy received the Sub-contractor/SME of the Year for Service honour, as well as the Kotahitanga (Unity) Award, the latter presented to team member Annette Smith. Sysdoc has contributed to NZDF's ongoing transformation through efforts focused on simplifying workflows for Defence personnel, modernising learning materials, enhancing organisational capability, and improving workforce engagement. The awards distinguish the consultancy's involvement in helping Defence staff operate effectively in complex, high-trust environments. Desiree Botica, Chief Executive Officer of Sysdoc, commented on the significance of the recognition, stating, "This recognition reflects the strength of our partnership with NZDF and the dedication of our people to delivering meaningful, people-focused change. As a New Zealand business, we're proud to support the Defence Force and other organisations across Aotearoa in building capability, resilience, and innovation." The Kotahitanga Award, presented to Annette Smith, acknowledges her contributions towards promoting collaboration and unity among teams throughout transformational projects. Sysdoc emphasised that these values are central to its working methodology, prioritising partnership and inclusion. The award was presented in the presence of representatives from the Royal New Zealand Navy. Sysdoc also credited Business Development Manager Leila Massey for her leadership in building robust relationships with the Defence sector. Massey's work involved delivering practical, budget-conscious solutions and supporting project sponsors in executing their vision in partnership with the Sysdoc team. The consultancy maintains teams based in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Australia. This footprint allows Sysdoc to bring an international perspective to Defence-related projects, providing solutions designed for high-trust and mission-critical environments. According to the consultancy, its New Zealand heritage informs its approach, anchoring its work in local values and responsive client engagement. Sysdoc's work with the NZDF has placed particular emphasis on embedding artificial intelligence and automation into operational procedures, designing scalable learning and change programmes, and supporting digital transformation with a focus on people. The organisation stated that it aims to develop tailored solutions by understanding the specific context, culture, and challenges faced by its clients. Sysdoc reported that it has nearly four decades of experience as a consultancy, combining sector expertise with AI technology to support organisational efficiency and cost effectiveness. Its services cover both public and private sector partners, delivering business transformation, learning programmes, and change management across multiple regions.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
New Zealand-led taskforce seizes $1b worth of drugs in Arabian sea
Photo: Kipion A New Zealand-led naval task force has made its highest value drug bust of the year, seizing $1 billion worth of drugs in the Middle East. Among the seized drugs were one tonne of heroin, 660 kilograms of hashish and 6kg of amphetamine. British Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster last week identified a suspicious sailing ship in the North Arabian Sea as part of its operations in the Combined Maritime Task Force 150 (CTF 150). The New Zealand Defence Force said Royal Marines boarded the dhow while a Wildcat helicopter with a Royal Marine sniper team covered them. Once the six crew were secured, the marines found 50 packages containing 1000 kilograms of heroin, 55 packages containing 660 kilograms of hashish and 6 kilograms of amphetamine tablets. The drugs were taken back to the ship for testing and disposal. Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster, part of New Zealand-led CTF 150, has seized NZ$1 billion worth of illegal drugs in the Arabian Sea. Photo: NZDF Lancaster Commanding Officer, Commander Chris Chew, praised his crew's motivation, commitment and dedication. "This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets," he said. CTF 150's commander, Royal New Zealand Navy Commodore Rodger Ward said it was the highest value narcotics interception made since New Zealand took command of CTF 150 this year. "Conducting maritime interdictions requires a team effort from the men and women here in the headquarters in Bahrain reaching through to those out on the oceans disrupting drug smuggling operations at the coal face," he said. "I'd like to acknowledge the 210-strong ship's company from Lancaster for continuing to get amongst it day-after-day. "Everyone in the team can be proud of their efforts to disrupt the criminal and terrorist organisations that continue to use illicit narcotics to fund their activities and this is a significant blow to their revenue stream." Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster, part of New Zealand-led CTF 150, has seized NZ$1 billion worth of illegal drugs in the Arabian Sea. Photo: NZDF CTF 150 was one of five operational task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain and focussed on maritime security in the Middle East, particularly disrupting drug smuggling. Collectively CTF 150 and its partners had now seized narcotics worth $1.8 billion, Ward said. "Furthermore, we estimate that our presence and the intelligence collected from our operations has resulted in the disruption of nearly three times that amount," he said. Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha was also deployed to CTF 150 over the past two months, conducting similar operations as Lancaster . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Drone funding in Budget does not include 'priority' maritime models
Photo: 123RF Counter-drone systems received funding in this year's Budget, but this did not include maritime drones which the government's $12 billion defence capability plan says are crucial for transforming the Navy. The defence capability plan (DCP) called the maritime drones "a priority in the first four years". Militaries worldwide are rushing to buy or build both defence and attack drones, after they became crucial in Russia's war on Ukraine. There has even been talk of NATO building a "drone wall" from Norway to Poland. The NZ government's Budget - released last week - funds counter-drone systems as one of 15 "priority" projects, but not maritime or other drones. But the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) had rejected any suggestion of a delay. "It is incorrect and misleading to imply anything is 'behind' relating to the 2025 Defence Capability Plan," the NZDF said. It would use existing drones - as well as "other research" - to draw up business cases for "more significant uncrewed system procurement". The NZDF has 25 types of drones, with about 100 in total. One type is a maritime drone called Bluebottle. It has had to retire some old models, and has no attack drones. Twenty units worked with drones, it said. The capability plan said maritime drones were key to the shape the Navy's new fleet after 2030. "Development of uncrewed systems and preparation for the future fleet will be a priority in the first four years, while most maritime fleet replacement investments occur in the next phase of the DCP," it said. "This will allow for the adoption of new and emerging technology to achieve transformational change for the Navy, including across training, trades, and infrastructure." Rapid transformational technological change has shaped the war in Ukraine. "Ukrainian drone units often adapt their software daily and evolve their tactics every 1-2 weeks," said Lowy Institute defence analyst Mick Ryan. "This accelerating learning and adaptation cycle may be the most transformative development to emerge from the war," he said, while criticising the military across the Tasman for being too slow to learn from this. NATO was also slammed by a Ukrainian commander in March for not being ready for a drone war. The NZDF said last month it was learning "immediate lessons" about drones from Ukraine . One lesson might be how counter-drones are playing a key role against Russia. Also, the NZDF may not be able to afford counter systems as well as sea or attack drones in one year, or it may be waiting to see what tech the US and Australia go with so it can fit in with them. But it has given the coalition government just a single briefing about drones 18 months ago, a new OIA response to RNZ showed. This was six pages long and said little - at least in its unredacted parts - about attack drones. As for how much drone training it was doing, The NZDF was unable to provide any figures for how much drone training it was doing. This was "not centrally recorded", but coordinated at unit level, it said. Officials were unable to outline any significant dates around producing reports or strategies on drones in response to the OIA. The NZDF recently issued a new guide for the industry about future defence procurement, which listed five tech projects - but not drones. There were finds in Budget 2025 for 15 projects from the defence capability plan that it said were a "priority". The only one related to drones was an undisclosed amount for a "credible Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems protective capability that can detect, track, identify and - when necessary and legally permitted - defeat any unauthorised systems that pose a safety hazard or security threat". The NZDF said Budget 2025 made a significant investment in the plan's projects and "there will be more to come". The DCP emphasised that high-tech systems were vital to enhance "lethality" and deterrence. It envisaged $50-$100m going on drones for the sea's surface by 2029, and adding undersea ones after 2029. Among the armed force's stable of drones are several models from Chinese manufacturer DJI, which has been subject to US government review over national security concerns. The NZDF declined to comment about that. It also has a type made by AeroVironment, which supplies kamikaze drones to the US army, as well as another drone - used to disable explosives - made by Roboteam, an Israeli company that supplied the Israel Defence Forces with robots used in tunnels in Gaza in 2014. Tests have been run here on drones that "loiter" above a target, then can drop on it and explode. The Budget set aside $60m in operating spend for maintaining the defence force's information capabilities, including with international partners. Included in the new guide to 27 future likely projects is one for replacing ground terminals in New Zealand for the US-led Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) system. The system's dozen or so military communications satellites serve the Pentagon, allies and non-military partners. New Zealand has paid towards running the WGS for years. Several of the others involve potentially large IT investments, including for defence's rundown information management system . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Defence Force could get more 'killer drones' after Budget boost
Defence Minister Judith Collins. Photo: RNZ / Calvin Samuel The Budget shows the Defence Force's growing push into the drone warfare will focus first on "counter-drone" systems. This is one of about a dozen initiatives in the Budget signalled already in the Defence Capability Plan last month. All up, there is $4.2 billion in capital and operating funding for the initiatives, most of it being spent over four years, although, in many cases, just how this is divvied up is withheld due to commercial sensitivities. The government already signalled the NZDF could get more 'killer' drones, to add to its existing small stable of surveillance drones. However, the Budget documents referred instead to a counter-uncrewed aerial system that "can be set up in fixed locations and is able to disable drones". Companies in Australia have been working on these, and they have become a fixture in the Ukraine-Russia war. The projects under the Defence Capability Plan dominate the Budget: The biggest capital spend over the four years, as signalled, is to replace eight old maritime helicopters with five new ones - no new details are forthcoming on that. An upgrade of anti-armour Javelin weapons and replacing the two old 757s that are routinely experiencing embarrassing breakdowns, make the list. The Javelins would allow defence to engage tanks "at longer ranges". However, there is no mention of other new missile strike capability, though both the DCP and Defence Minister Judith Collins have repeatedly referred to getting new missiles. There is also no mention of spending on space capabilities, which the DCP had envisaged hundreds of millions going towards. Large sums are set aside with $60 million a year for maintaining the air force's capability, $50 million for the army and $39 million for the navy. Defence Minister Judith Collins said earlier a key constraint on the extra spending is having the personnel to handle that. The Budget provides $8 million for pay rises per year for civilian personnel, and $38 million a year for military allowances (these range up to about $100 a day for uniformed staff in the field or at sea). Savings include $13 million from 2024-27 on the army's new Bushmasters getting high-tech communications installed. These vehicles would likely be crucial for any peacekeeping in Ukraine. The project had been rephased, the Budget said, but it is not clear what that means. There is $16 million across four years for the project to fix many leaky and substandard homes for personnel; and $25 million to planning and design to revamp the Devonport Naval base. Unlike the UK that slashed its international aid budget to fund more defence spending, the Budget maintains the foreign aid budget at about what it was - $1 billion a year. The Budget halves the amount that had been going into a special climate aid fund, reducing it from $200 million a year to $100 million, and also expands what that money can be spent on. This fund had faced a cut-off in January. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Norsewear secures NZ Defence Force sock deal over international competitors
These machines, worth about $70,000 each, are a key reason Norsewear 's won a contract to supply socks to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). 'It's the way of the future. If you don't invest in the plant well, then you end up going backwards,' sock technician Terence Ahern said. 'To be honest, we wouldn't have kept up with demand with the Army, and that if we hadn't invested.' He's worked at Norsewear for 47 years and has been through its many ups and downs, including two receiverships. But from this month, the factory will make thousands of socks for the New Zealand Defence Force, Navy and Air Force, increasing manufacturing output by up to 10%. Ahern told RNZ that securing this deal was a real highlight, as the socks were put to the test by hundreds of soldiers. 'They've been through rigorous testing, and to win that over a few other companies is quite a feather in our cap here for Norsewear and the Norsewood village,' he said. 'We can go out and boast a bit that we achieved that.' Norsewear has been operating for over 60 years and employs about 20 locals, which means a team member from about two-thirds of local families. 'It's security for everyone here when you pick up a contract like that,' Ahern said. 'It's great work going forward and knowing the knitting machines will be running.' The factory is one of the larger employers in the rural area and has hired two more locals to keep up with the workload, which site lead Sarena Montgomery is thrilled about. 'It is a very big deal to win something like this; it just gives us the confidence that we are heading in the right direction,' she said. 'Talking to people outside the factory, there is that sense of pride that Norsewear is doing well, and it's really good for the community.' The NZDF socks had previously been supplied by the US, but by using the Lonati machines, local manufacturing expertise and high-quality New Zealand merino wool, Norsewear outperformed every other company bidding for the contract. 'We've competed with what's arguably the best US sock manufacturer in the world, for arguably the most technically demanding socks that you ever have to make, and we beat them based on performance,' Norsewear owner Tim Deane said. 'So that's been a huge confidence boost for the team and it proves you can be a world beater as a small NZ manufacturing company in the middle of regional NZ ... we can take on the world and win.' The NZDF socks cost less than those previously bought from the US and the wool they are using can be traced back to the New Zealand farm it came from. 'That means the Kiwi military gets great socks, NZDF gets more flexibility on supply, along with clarity of the whole supply chain, and we buy more wool from New Zealand farmers to fulfil the contract,' Deane said. A variety of socks are being made for the NZDF to suit different climates, but Deane said they have similar features in that they can help with temperature control, to ward off bacteria and are odour-resistant. One of Norsewear's new hires, as a result of the deal, is Jack Martin from Ormondville. 'It's good, good fun, good community. Everyone is friendly and super happy, very welcoming and a lot of fun,' he said. 'Generally, the main job I have is making sure there are no faults in the socks, as it's quite often you can have a bit of simple error in the machines.' Over 60 machines line the factory floor making socks, hats and gloves, from the latest Italian Lonatis to the lovingly-kept hat machine that's been in action at Norsewear since 1970. 'This machine will keep ticking those over for hopefully the next 50 years,' Ahern said. 'There are no electronics, completely mechanical, it's just got a motor, a couple of chains and a drum. 'It was here well and truly before I got here and was making hats, basically the same as what it's making today.' But it's the sock sector that Norsewear specialises in, churning out up to 10,000 pairs of socks every week, from bed socks to dress socks, work socks and farm socks. 'So there's variety right through the factory,' Montgomery said. 'They design the socks on programmes on the computers and bring [that] in here, download it all and set it all up. 'Every sock has different feeders that give it its shape and pattern.'
