The senior headquarters at the camp has seen many changes. Previously Headquarters 3 Task Force, 3 Task Force Region, HQ Ready Reaction Force, and 3 Land Force Group have been based here. Most recently 3 Land Force Group was disbanded in 2011, and Headquarters Deployable Joint Task Force Headquarters - Land (DJTFHQ-L) was formed.
Demographics
Burnham Camp is described by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area, and covers 1.49 km2 (0.58 sq mi).[2] It had an estimated population of 1,360 as of June 2024,[3] with a population density of 913 people per km2.
Burnham Camp had a population of 1,146 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 57 people (5.2%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 60 people (−5.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 249 households, comprising 750 males and 393 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.91 males per female. The median age was 24.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 201 people (17.5%) aged under 15 years, 681 (59.4%) aged 15 to 29, 255 (22.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 6 (0.5%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 75.7% European/Pākehā, 25.7% Māori, 9.9% Pasifika, 4.7% Asian, and 7.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 11.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 65.4% had no religion, 23.6% were Christian, 1.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim and 3.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 120 (12.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 48 (5.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $47,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 102 people (10.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 750 (79.4%) people were employed full-time, 81 (8.6%) were part-time, and 21 (2.2%) were unemployed.[4]
3rd Combat Service Support Battalion (Burnham Military Camp)
3rd Transport Company
3rd Catering & Supply Company
3rd Workshop Company
Joint Support Group
Deployable Health Organisation
Southern Health Support Squadron
Logistics Support Squadron
Force Health Organisation
Defence Health Centre
Burnham Gymnasium
New Zealand Defence College
Defence Health School (NZ)
Defence Learning Centre
Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command
Army Adventure Training Centre
3 Regional Training wing
Lockheed Martin New Zealand
Lockheed Martin New Zealand provides logistics services for the NZDF including Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul, Managed Fleet Utilisation and warehousing.
Medical training for the entire NZDF is conducted in Burnham at the New Zealand Defence Force Health School and all medics enlisted in the Army, Navy or Air Force are sent here for training. Practical training and clinical placements are completed throughout the two and a half year program. Medics are then posted to their respective camps or bases.
The barracks in Burnham Camp are named after a miscellany of battles, campaigns, locations and overseas barracks in which New Zealand troops have been stationed.
Faenza Barracks are named after the Italian city of Faenza which New Zealand Division liberated over the period of 14–20 December 1944, during operations to break the German Gothic Line.
Gallipoli Barracks
Gallipoli Barracks are named after the New Zealand's Army's first major campaign of the First World War.
Quinn's Post Barracks are named after one of the strongholds on the ANZAC line during the Gallipoli campaign.
Sangro Barracks
Sangro Barracks are named after the 27/28 November 1943 crossing of the Sangro Rver which was a harsh introduction to the Italian Campaign for the 2nd New Zealand Division.
Sari Bair Barracks
Sari Bair Barracks are named after a tangled mass of hills and watercourses inland from ANZAC Cove and Suvla Bay.
Suvla Barracks
Suvla Barracks are named after the bay which lies at the north-western end of ANZAC Cove on the Gallipoli peninsula and was essentially the left flank of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
Taiping Barracks
Taiping Barracks are named after the town in Malaysia that in the late 1950s two New Zealand Battalions were garrisoned in during the Malayan emergency.
Terendak Barracks
Terendak Barracks are named after the purpose built brigade camp in Malaysia that was occupied by the New Zealand Army form 1960 to 1969
Tui Barracks were named after the New Zealand Women's War Service Auxiliary. Raised by Lady Freyberg to support New Zealand troops in Egypt, the ladies of the Women's War Service Auxiliary were unofficially called the Tuis.
Education
Burnham School is a full primary school catering for years 1 to 8.[5] It had a roll of 168 as of November 2024.[6] The school appears to have been operating in 1891.[7]
Burnham Industrial School was a reform school set up in the mid 19th century.[8][9] The school was still operating in 1909.[10]
Latter, Edward (1992). Marching Onward: A History of 2nd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, 1845-1992. Christchurch: The Battalion. ISBN9780473015671.
McFarlane, Donald (2008). Short Back and Sides: A History of Burnham Camp 1923-73. Christchurch: Caxton Press. ISBN9780473137618.
