New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

26 April 2006

Defence Force Service Chief’s Change of Command Parade:
Friday 28 April at Trentham Military CAMP

There will be a significant change to the New Zealand Defence Force’s Executive Leadership Team on Monday 1 May when Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae takes up his appointment as the Chief of Defence Force. Other newly promoted and appointed senior staff will also assume their posts on 1 May.

The current Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson will promote Major General Mateparae to his new rank of Lieutenant General at a Change of Command parade in Trentham Military Camp on Friday 28 April.

The parade, which will comprise of a 30 person tri-service armed guard as well as three 30 person single service guards, will begin at 3.30pm and conclude at 4.30pm.

Air Marshal Ferguson will be presented with the New Zealand General Service Medal (Afghanistan) from the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark.

Her Excellency Dame Sylvia Cartwright, Governor-General of New Zealand; Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Australia’s Chief of Defence Force; and New Zealand Defence Force Service Chiefs will attend the parade. Members of Parliament, Senior Executives from Government Departments, retired senior officers, international Defence Attaches and senior New Zealand Defence Force staff will also attend. Attendance is by invitation only.

Major General Mateparae will receive a formal farewell from the New Zealand Army at a ceremony to be held at the Waiouru based Army Marae on the morning of 28 April. Air Vice Marshal John Hamilton will receive his formal farewell from the Royal New Zealand Air Force in Ohakea on the morning of 28 April. Both officers will then travel to Trentham for the afternoon’s Change of Command parade.

ENDS

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