Latest news with #NewZealandDefenceForce
Scoop
2 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Naval Officer Recognised For Four Decades Of Service To New Zealand
Press Release – New Zealand Defence Force Rear Admiral Gilmour said working for the NZDF was absolutely stacked with opportunities. He said said his career had been an absolute blast. As a teenager, Jim Gilmour left school and joined the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) thinking he'd only be there a few months. Forty years later and now retired, he has been appointed an Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the King's Birthday Honours – for his contribution to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) after a storied career as a helicopter pilot, ship commander and finally as the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand. He has led the NZDF response to a range of disasters around the country and Pacific, and major multinational naval task forces further afield. 'I'm honoured and grateful to be recognised. But my thinking is most of it should be attributed to the support of my family through nearly 40 years of service, but also the men and women, in uniform and civilians, I've worked alongside,' he said. Rear Admiral (Rtd) Gilmour joined the RNZN in 1985 as a communications rating and was soon commissioned from the ranks. He trained to be a helicopter pilot. He flew fixed wing aircraft such as the CT/4 Airtrainer and the Strikemaster jet before moving on to helicopters such as the Bell 47, Iroquois, Wasp, Squirrel, Bell 206 and F- and G- model Seasprites. His flying took a back seat in 2004 as his senior career took off. In 2009, as Commanding Officer of HMNZS Canterbury, Rear Admiral Gilmour was in charge of New Zealand's response to a deadly tsunami that devastated Samoa. In 2011 Canterbury was again to the fore in response to the Christchurch earthquake under his command. Rear Admiral Gilmour became the first New Zealander to command Combined Task Forces (CTF) 151 and 176 – leading the international counter piracy mission CTF 151 in the Indian Ocean in 2011 and CTF 176 in the Rim of the Pacific exercise in 2016, which is the world's largest international maritime combined training event. He led the 2016 maritime response to the relief efforts in Kaikōura after the earthquake meant relief was only possible by sea. In 2018, Rear Admiral Gilmour was appointed as Commander Joint Forces New Zealand and was its longest-serving commander with nearly six years in the position. During that time, New Zealand faced events such as the Christchurch mosque shooting, the Whakaari/White Island eruption, the fall of Afghanistan the war in Ukraine and Cyclone Gabrielle. Meanwhile, Joint Forces missions continued in the Middle East, Korea, Europe, Japan, Israel and the Sinai Peninsula, South Sudan and in the Pacific. Rear Admiral Gilmour was born and grew up in Devonport. He attended Takapuna Grammar and also Marlborough Boys' High School. His motivation to join the Navy was more practical than anything else. 'I joined to get free transport back to Devonport from Blenheim. I thought that I would probably last a couple of months so it wasn't obvious that I was there for a ride home. 'And I left 39 years and 10 months later.' Rear Admiral Gilmour said working for the NZDF was 'absolutely stacked' with opportunities. 'I wouldn't have imagined driving a ship let alone commanding one, or frankly riding in a helicopter let alone being a pilot. It's an awesome opportunity to advance yourself through a career.' Rear Admiral Gilmour said his career had been 'an absolute blast'. 'There have been challenges but overall it's been a real adventure. There's adventure around every corner.'
RNZ News
27-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Samoan villagers still fearful of contaminated fish near Manawanui wreck
The HMNZS Manawanui ran aground on a reef off the Samoan island of Upolu on 5 October last year, before catching fire and sinking, however all 75 passengers and crew were rescued. Photo: New Zealand Defence Force People living close to where the Manawanui sank in Samoa are still concerned about fish being poisoned from pollutants, despite the country's Marine Pollution Advisory Committee deeming it safe to collect seafood. Fagailesau Afaaso Junior Saleupu, who lives in Tafitoala village which right next to where the Manawanui sank, said people are still scared to eat fish collected close to the wreck. "In my village where the Manawanui is grounding, people hardly go for fishing at the moment, the reason why, because they are really suspicious of getting any fish poison," he said. The Manawanui ran aground on the reef off the south coast of Upolu in early October 2024 before catching fire and sinking. The New Zealand Navy has removed diesel, oil and other pollutants from the ship. Samoa's government has also removed a 20-kilometre squared precautionary zone on 12 February which advised against fishing in the area. Samoa's Marine Pollution Advisory Committee (MPAC) chairman Fui Tupai Mau Simanu said that it was removed following tests by the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa, which confirmed it was fine to fish in the area. Fui said an impact assessment had also been carried out by MPAC, while another ongoing independent assessment is happening now which is expected to be completed at the end of June. "The two reports will be the foundation of the decision making moving forward." He also said MPAC runs routine monthly tests as part of the monitoring programme. However, Fagailesau said people are still worried and there's not the same number of fish as there was before. "There are some other sea animals that we always use to make food and sell, until now we never see that again." Fagailesau said the community is still waiting to hear from the Samoan government on financial compensation. "From the time that the Manawanui grounding, for our village there's beach fales, all the guests cancel." Fui said that people who lost income due to the Manawanui sinking would have an opportunity to apply for financial compensation. "Discussions of compensation are going on at the moment. A separate committee has been appointed by Government to handle this," he said. There's still a 2km prohibitive area around the Manawanui . Fui said the government is having a community engagement on 10 June.
RNZ News
24-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Sunken Manawanui listed as $77m write-off in Budget
The HMNZS Manawanui ran aground on a reef off the Samoan island of Upolu on 5 October last year, before catching fire and sinking, however all 75 passengers and crew were rescued. Photo: New Zealand Defence Force A $77 million write-off of the Navy ship Manawanui, which sunk off Samoa last October , is contained in the Budget papers on defence. These also show $32m in costs booked in for 2024-25, for the clean-up, salvage, and "other remedial activities" at the shipwreck. The dive-and-seafloor-survey ship, which the navy had had for five years, was insured for salvaging operations but not replacement. It is not being replaced, and the Budget noted that its loss would reduce "warfare support" by the NZDF in coastal zones. The decrease in the expected level of "readiness" for this type of support, which is set by the government, consequently has dropped from 98 percent to 85 percent: "The decrease ... is a result of the loss of the HMNZS Manawanui," said the defence vote. Before it sank, the ship had cleared unexploded bombs in Tuvalu and surveyed for them in Fiji, Niue and Vanuatu, as well as giving humanitarian support during the tropical cyclone season. That aid gap now might have to be plugged by the ship Canterbury , defence papers said. Budget 2025, under the sub-head "significant trends", also stated the sinking featured as the reason for an increase in output expenses in 2024-25. A military-led inquiry in April found a dozen weaknesses aboard and onshore contributed to the sinking, including around training, leadership and preparation, and that the ship was not up to the task. Over 60 people were on the ground in Samoa within days to clean up, with another 30 in reserve, in October 2024. Salvors took off fuel, though 600,000 litres went unaccounted for - with some of that burned off in a fire after it hit the reef. They then removed other debris, finishing up in early May. An independent report about the wreck by pollution experts has been underway, and Samoan authorities have also got testing done since October. RNZ in March requested the release of environmental test reports, but the NZDF said in May: "Unfortunately your request of 21 March 2025 was missed", and it would now consider it Previously, the Manawanui was held up by defence as a lesson of what to do. It had "demonstrated that the delivery of defence capabilities can be undertaken in a fiscally responsible manner, while also enhancing those capabilities to better meet the demands of the future", the 2019 Defence Capability Plan (DCP) said. The 2025 DCP forecast that the "future fleet" would need dive and survey support, but that this would be by using "other platforms" and would have to wait as the immediate focus was on sea drones. However, Budget 2025 does not list sea drones among the 15 DCP projects it would fund. All up, the Budget puts $2.7 billion of capital and $563m operating funding for these 15 "priority" projects; the amounts were mostly blanked out for "commercial" reasons (Defence now must negotiate to actually acquire the various systems, in an international arms market where demand is spiralling as many countries increase military spending). While sea drones are missing in Budget 2025, aerial drones feature, along with communications and anti-tank missile upgrades, plus the pre-announced largest capital outlay of $2 billion-plus to replace naval helicopters. A relatively tiny $30m is going on small-scale projects, including to do with space. Fleet replacement would have to wait till the next phase, the DCP said in April. "This will allow for the adoption of new and emerging technology to achieve transformational change for the Navy, including across training, trades, and infrastructure." Budget 2025 also set aside large sums for more naval and other operations, plus training - $150m a year - and to maintain the three services' capabilities: $39m for the navy, $50m for the army and $60m for the air force. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
45 years of resolute dedication
A dyslexic Timaru Catholic school boy with just two School Certificate subjects to his name has received one of the highest accolades from Hato Hone St John. Major Brendan Wood, deputy chancellor of the order in New Zealand, was promoted to Knight of Grace at an investiture ceremony in Christchurch earlier this month, acknowledging 45 years' service to the organisation across a diverse range of portfolios regionally, nationally and internationally. He now serves as deputy chancellor and deputy chair of the board of Hato Hone St John New Zealand and chairs the clinical governance committee. His involvement with the organisation began as a school boy in Timaru. A St John Cadet from the age of 11, he also volunteered with the organisation while he was at high school. After a stint working at his father's Stafford St jewellers, he gained his first qualification in 1984 and began his career with Hato Hone St John as a first aid instructor — first in the organisation's Latter St headquarters, and then to the new premises in Bank St. Moving over to the ambulance service, Mr Wood moved up the ranks and gained more qualifications as the years went by. Then the Timaru lad with just one university entrance and two school certificate subjects to his name, became Timaru's team leader, and then district operations manager. He left Timaru in 2005 to join the New Zealand Defence Force, based at Burnham, serving nine years before taking up a new role in 2014 as senior lecturer with Auckland University of Technology's department of medicine, teaching programmes at Burnham Military Camp that allowed defence force members to obtain civilian qualifications. While moving away from operational St John roles, Maj Wood's involvement with the organisation continued in governance roles. He is in his second term as deputy chancellor, and is deputy chairman of the board and on the priory of New Zealand for the Order of St John. The organisation described him as a strong and visible advocate for organisational diversity and inclusion, ensuring commitments to essential partnerships are met so St John can be of service across the country. "Major Wood displays remarkable leadership and commitment through his priory roles and is also a registered paramedic." Now based in Christchurch, Maj Wood works at Burnham and commutes to Auckland when required for his university and St John responsibilities. He still occasionally gets back to Timaru, and has been a bit chuffed to hear some practices still described as "the Brendan Wood method", and to see the town's new purpose-built facility in operation. He said he had enjoyed the challenge of his roles with St John, and said the organisation provided opportunities for everyone. "St John offers people from of all parts of the New Zealand community the opportunity to participate in community activities at varying levels. "It's a real reflection of New Zealand society." The investiture ceremony honoured both volunteers and paid staff for their outstanding contribution and dedication right across the organisation — including the emergency ambulance service, community health portfolios, support services, and governance.
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.'
