Line of Defence - Spring 2020

Page 16

DEFENCE

At speed and scale: NZDF steps up to support the COVID-19 response Where security, wellbeing and logistic stresses change, writes Defence Minister Hon Ron Mark, the NZDF continues to maintain its unique capability to provide appropriate support at speed and on a large scale.

Hon Ron Mark is Minister of Defence. He served as mayor of Carterton from 2010 to 2014, and previously served as an officer in the New Zealand Army and in the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces.

Over the past seven months the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has been providing support to New Zealand’s COVID-19 response through Operation PROTECT. During this period NZDF’s assistance to other government agencies has been varied; they’ve provided advice and assistance with Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) supply chain planning, completed P-3K2 aerial surveillance flights of recreational craft for New Zealand Police, manned check points, and our HMNZS Canterbury retrieved Department of Conservation staff from Raoul Island. Defence Estate in Whangaparaoa has been utilised as a quarantine site, and our Defence Technology Agency scientists have sat on working groups with our security partners to further our understanding of COVID-19 and share scientific developments.

All this while maintaining additional personnel at a heightened state of readiness. As I’ve continued to state throughout my term as Minister of Defence, it is the highly skilled women and men of our Defence Force that are our greatest asset. The discipline, rigour and operational expertise the NZDF provides has clearly been needed and they have proved their effectiveness. I have been highly supportive of the military’s strong role as part of the COVID-19 response, as have many of my colleagues. Last month, the Coalition Government announced a significant increase in the number of NZDF personnel supporting the COVID-19 response. In total, there are now approximately 1,260 personnel supporting tasks as part of this operation.

Image courtesy New Zealand Defence Force

16

Line of Defence


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Articles inside

Update from the Defence Employer Support Council

2min
page 21

Book Review: Crossing the Lines

2min
page 46

Bioterrorism as a National Security Threat: A suggested model

6min
pages 44-45

Massey University publishes latest National Security Journal

2min
page 42

Does an increasingly powerful China present a dilemma for New Zealand?

5min
pages 40-41

From Oslo to Wellington: A role in keeping the great power peace

9min
pages 36-39

Pre-departure border controls may minimise post-arrival COVID risk

5min
pages 34-35

New NZTE support for industry

4min
pages 32-33

COVID-19, Sovereign capability and a trans-Tasman single market

5min
pages 30-31

New Zealand’s future maritime helicopter options

9min
pages 26-29

COVID-19 response and National’s continued commitment to NZDF

4min
pages 24-25

COVID-19, closed borders and local support for projects

2min
page 23

Beca selected to support Southern Ocean Patrol Vessel Project

2min
page 22

SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian: The Next Generation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft

5min
pages 18-20

At speed and scale: NZDF steps up to support the COVID-19 response

3min
pages 16-17

What is the New ZealandInformation Domain?

5min
pages 14-15

Rohde & Schwarz to outfitCape class patrol boats with naval communications

2min
page 13

How COVID-19 is accelerating digital change for defence organisations

8min
pages 10-12

NZDF capability needs matched by vast Rheinmetall product range

5min
pages 6-8

Editor's Note - Spring 2020

1min
pages 1, 4
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