Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Army Tests Itself to Ensure Readiness

Army Tests Itself to Ensure Readiness


With all guns blazing the New Zealand Army has embarked on one of its biggest exercises of the year at Waiouru Military Camp.

Exercise Alam Halfa involves artillery, gunnery and engineers plus combat support units to train jointly with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, to synchronise effort and resources and show agility and adaptability for future combat environments.

While the New Zealand Defence Force has withdrawn from its major commitments in Afghanistan and Timor Leste it must still maintain a well trained, agile and capable Defence Force.

Ex Alam Halfa 2014 is an essential part of the ongoing and sustained training programme. The exercise will test personnel under a variety of conditions to replicate conflict scenarios.

The exercise scenario involves the troops aiming to restore peace between two fictitious nations Bekara and Alpiria, following on from previous exercises such as Southern Katipo in the South Island last year.

Exercise Alam Halfa takes place each year with involvement from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and a small group of US Army and US Marines. This year several smaller exercises are being incorporated for efficiency and for individual units to ensure specific training elements are completed.

As well as training at Waiouru troops are also deployed around the Bay of Plenty and - later on - will deploy to Hawkes Bay where the training scenarios will mean they will be more visible to the general public when they conduct street patrols.

Exercise Alam Halfa will conclude at the end of May.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.