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Defence Act 1990

The New Zealand Defence Force

11: Constitution of Defence Force

You could also call this:

"What makes up the New Zealand Defence Force?"

Illustration for Defence Act 1990

The New Zealand Defence Force is made up of the Armed Forces and the Civil Staff. You can find out more about the Armed Forces in section 5. The Civil Staff are people appointed under section 61A. The Armed Forces include the New Zealand Naval Forces, the New Zealand Army, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The New Zealand Naval Forces has different parts like the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve. The New Zealand Army and the Royal New Zealand Air Force also have different parts. The New Zealand Naval Forces, the New Zealand Army, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force can be divided into smaller groups. The Chief of Defence Force decides how these groups are organised. You can learn more about the Defence Force and its different parts by reading the Defence Act 1990.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM205891.

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Part 2The New Zealand Defence Force

11Constitution of Defence Force

  1. There is hereby constituted the New Zealand Defence Force, which shall comprise—

  2. the Armed Forces of New Zealand, being the armed forces raised and maintained under section 5; and
    1. the Civil Staff, being the persons appointed under section 61A.

      1. The armed forces raised and maintained under section 5 shall continue to comprise—

      2. the New Zealand Naval Forces; and
        1. the New Zealand Army; and
          1. the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

            1. The New Zealand Naval Forces shall consist of the following:

            2. the Royal New Zealand Navy:
              1. the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve:
                1. the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve:
                  1. the Naval Reserves:
                    1. such additional naval forces as may be raised by the Governor-General in time of war or other like emergency.

                      1. The New Zealand Army shall consist of the following:

                      2. the Regular Force of the New Zealand Army:
                        1. the Territorial Force of the New Zealand Army:
                          1. the Army Reserve:
                            1. such additional army forces as may be raised by the Governor-General in time of war or other like emergency.

                              1. The Royal New Zealand Air Force shall consist of the following:

                              2. the Regular Air Force:
                                1. the Territorial Air Force:
                                  1. the Air Force Reserve:
                                    1. such additional air forces as may be raised by the Governor-General in time of war or other like emergency.

                                      1. The New Zealand Naval Forces, the New Zealand Army, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force may each be divided into such branches or corps, formations, commands, units, and other parts as the Chief of Defence Force determines from time to time.

                                      Notes
                                      • Section 11(1)(b): amended, on , by section 3(2)(b) of the Defence Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 41).