18 February 2016

Media Release

Exercise Joint Waka Puts NZDF To the Test

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has launched a new exercise series aimed at enhancing its offshore deployment ability to deal with any contingencies including humanitarian crisis, natural disasters, and regional instability.

The first of the Joint Waka 16 series wraps up today after having started on Monday. It involved around 120 Navy personnel and 100 soldiers. The main training activities will be conducted in Auckland later in the year.

Key activities over the four days included a beach landing and assault training.

“This method of projecting our forces in times of crisis and emergency response is called amphibious operations and was recently tested during Exercise Southern Katipo 2015,” said Colonel (COL) Martin Dransfield, Exercise Director for Exercise Joint Waka 16.

“We already have the ability to deploy a combined force offshore and we have demonstrated that in numerous operations overseas such as our response to the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu in March 2015. What Joint Waka aims to do is tie in with our main exercise, Southern Katipo, to further enhance the NZDF’s amphibious capability.”

COL Dransfield said Joint Waka also further enhances the integration of Navy and Army personnel when they deploy on operations overseas.

“When deploying overseas, one option available to the NZDF is the deployment of land forces, including personnel, vehicles, and equipment by sea, on the sealift and amphibious support vessel HMNZS CANTERBURY. Our goal is to ensure that all these capabilities are projected offshore as a joint force.”

ENDS

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