New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release
25 March 2009

Send An Anzac Message To Kiwi Forces

Click for big version
NZDF and Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel on patrol together in Timor-Leste. (photo courtesy ADF)

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is encouraging the public to send a message to Kiwi defence personnel who will be overseas on Anzac Day (25 April).

The facility on the NZDF’s website allows people to send either a general or individual message to military personnel deployed overseas. The messages will be sent to each overseas mission on 24 April, the day before Anzac Day.

“The ANZAC spirit forged during WWI continues today with our defence personnel serving alongside their Australian counterparts in countries such as Afghanistan, Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands,” said Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major General Rhys Jones.

“We hope that New Zealanders show their support for our military personnel serving around the world on Anzac Day. Our personnel spend long periods of time away from their families and friends and while not putting their lives in the same danger as our service people in past conflicts they do work in dangerous environments on a daily basis,” he said.

On Anzac Day the NZDF will have over 400 personnel deployed on 14 peacekeeping operations, United Nations missions and defence exercises around the world.

To post a message visit www.nzdf.mil.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media