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The New Zealand army’s unique culture has been influenced
and formed by vast array of influences which are
complementary in nature. These involve the British soldier’s
martial characteristics and traditions and that of the brave
Maori warrior.
All these coupled with New Zealand’s history,
heritage, experience of war, and the general characteristics
of society make up the character of the New Zealand Army.
The culture of New Zealand helps form and fuel espirit de
corps. This gives New Zealand a sense of belonging as New
Zealanders and more so as New Zealand soldiers. This spirit
also dictates their doctrinal operations approach. |
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The “Tribe of the God of Way” (the New Zealand Army) or
Ngati Tumatauenga in Maori recognizes that the Army is a
family of people gathered together by the ideal of service
to the country, the military profession, to common values,
to mutual respect, to mutual trust, and to brotherhood. As
one nation they are a tribe.
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Unity and oneness are reflected in Ngati Tumatauenga. This is
key to the development of the New Zealand military
ceremonies and cultural practices as guided by Tikanga Maori
and that of British and European customs.
Even tough the New Zealand Army is just 150 years old, its
history is rich and unique. From a small, ill-equipped,
badly organized, army of untrained men whose concerns were
mainly to protect small and isolated hamlets, the New
Zealand Army has evolved into a professional, integrated
force of Regular and Territorial units strengthening the
stability and safety of the South Pacific.
Aside from its task as operational support
deployments overseas, the New Zealand Army has many
other functions within the homeland.
They are also
tasked to provide the country with the disposal of
bombs expertise. |
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Current
technology has made it possible to use robotic equipment
that can perform the task of disposals. In most cases, even
extricate people from a possibly dangerous area. The NZDF
(New Zealand Defence Force) bomb disposal experts are taken
from the Air Force, Army, and Navy. They are grouped into
teams that are on call 24 hours each day, 7 days each week
and are trained to response promptly to emergencies.
Assistance may also be requested by the police to cover
certain responsibilities normally associated with local law
enforcement such as crime scene investigation and search and
rescue operation. But assistance can also be rendered by the
police to the army such as aiding in certain training
exercises, such as Army vehicle checkpoint drills, to lend
more realism to the exercise and maybe even give some advice
on proper procedures.
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Civil emergency assistance is what the New Zealand Army is
well known for. The Army supports or aids civil authorities
in matters of security, transport, search and rescue, and
providing basic supplies and shelter.
The New Zealand Army also assists in local community events
and development by helping build bush tracks or provide
cooks at major hui.
This sort of assistance is normally
provided on a basis of “labor only” since all costs of
material are shouldered by the group asking for help.
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