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Our structure

The New Zealand Army is comprised of the Land Component Command, the Special Operations Component Command and Army General Staff. We also have a number of personnel in Defence Logisitics Command (Land) who provide logistics support for our Army. The Regular Force make up the majority of our numbers and the Army Reserves provide support to the Regular Force and contribute to the wider community in times of need.

Our civilian staff support the New Zealand Army at all levels, often bringing specialist expertise and performing a wide range of functions to enhance overall defence capabilities.

Land Component Command

The purpose of the Land Component is to generate and provide individuals and force elements which are professional, combat-focused and capable of conducting land-based operations in support of New Zealand's interests. The Land Component Command is comprised of 1st (NZ) Brigade, Training and Doctrine Command (NZ), Joint Support Group and Regional Support (Army). These organisations command and manage the operational and training units of the New Zealand Army. Army training includes both training as teams, known as collective training, and training of individuals on structured formal courses, which is known as individual training.

1st (NZ) Brigade

The mission of 1st (NZ) Brigade is to provide combat ready land forces to successfully deliver against contingencies to secure and defend New Zealand's interests. 1st (NZ) Brigade and its units manage and undertake the majority of the New Zealand Army's collective training. 1st (NZ) Brigade is comprised of the following operational units:

  • 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
  • 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
  • 2/4 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
  • 3/6 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
  • 5/7 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
  • Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles
  • 16th Field Regiment
  • 2nd Engineer Regiment
  • 1st Command Support Regiment
  • 2nd Combat Service Support Battalion
  • 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion
Training and Doctrine Command (NZ)

The Training and Doctrine Command's vision is 'training tomorrow's soldiers and commanders, today.' The Training and Doctrine Command and its units manage the delivery of the majority of the New Zealand Army's individual training. The Training and Doctrine Command is comprised of the following organisations:

  • Army Command School
  • Mission Command Training Centre
  • Land Operations Training Centre
  • The Army Depot
  • New Zealand Collective Training Centre
  • Adaptive Warfighting Centre
  • New Zealand Army National Marae - Rongomaraeroa o ngā hau e whā
Joint Support Group

The Joint Support Group is comprised of two New Zealand Defence Force medical units - the Force Health Organisation and the Deployable Health Organisation - as well as the Defence Force's military police - the Joint Military Police Unit. The Force Health Organisation consists of health services that support daily camp and base operations, including medical and dental services, physical fitness (gymnasiums) and rehabilitation services. The Deployable Health Organisation provides health support services for both training and operations. The Joint Military Police Unit provides law enforcement, crime prevention, investigation of serious and criminal incidents and custodial support to the NZDF, both in New Zealand and overseas.

Special Operations Component Command

The Special Operations Component Command manages New Zealand's Special Operations Forces (NZSOF). NZSOF respond to high priority opportunities or threats, not requiring numerical strength, for which either task or the environment precludes the use of conventional forces. They are highly capable, enabled by the wider Defence Force, to respond to threats to New Zealand and its interests and provide military special operations support to domestic, regional and global security situations.

• 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment (1 NZSAS Regt) - 1 NZSAS Regt conducts strategic and tactical intelligence gathering, limited offensive operations, recovery operations, and counter-terrorist operations beyond the range or capability of conventional Army units.

Army General Staff

Army General Staff is our Army's headquarters. It provides support to the Chief of Army to raise, train and sustain the New Zealand Army. The Army General Staff purpose is to:

  • command, lead and manage Army personnel;
  • develop, implement and monitor Army strategy;
  • manage the effort required from NZDF organisations including Human Resources, Capability Branch, Logistics Command, and other shared and contracted services to deliver against Army's strategy;
  • manage the resources allocated to Army effectively and efficiently; and
  • foster culture based on Army's ethos and values.

Army Reserves

New Zealand Army personnel are posted throughout the Army. There are three reserve battalions:

  • 2/4 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment - based in the South Island of New Zealand
  • 3/6 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment - based in the north of the North Island of New Zealand
  • 5/7 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment - based in the south of the North Island of New Zealand

Reservists are also posted to integrated Regular Force and Reserve Force units in 1st (NZ) Brigade, and to other Army units.

Defence Logistics Command (Land)

Defence Logistics Command (Land) provides a range of services to support land forces and joint operations. Defence Logistics Command (Land) is organised into the following areas:

  • Directorate of Land Engineering
  • Logistics Delivery Group
  • Operations and Systems
  • Business Support Unit

New Zealand Army Band

The New Zealand Army Band has garnered a reputation as an innovative, agile and high adaptive musical ensemble and earned international recognition as one of the finest marching bands in the world.

Formed in 1964 as a traditional brass band to perform at state and ceremonial occasions the New Zealand Army Band has evolved into one of the world's most diverse entertainment organisations, performing in a wide variety of genres and settings. The incorporation of a rhythm section and vocalists in the 1970's enabled the band to broaden its repertoire to include swing, jazz, pop and rock, and evolve a series of smaller ensembles providing specific musical support to a wide variety of activities, events and audiences.

When not touring, the band is based at Burnham Military Camp in the South Island, maintaining their international reputation with a rigorous regime of music and drill rehearsal.