Although New Zealand has had a military presence in South East Asia for most of the post WWII period, it was not until the disestablishment of the ANZUK Force in 1974,[3] comprising Australian, New Zealand and United Kingdom military personnel, that New Zealand established a self-supporting national presence in the region.
Formally established on 30 January 1974, NZFORSEA was under the direct command of Ministry of Defence in New Zealand. Although NZFORSEA was based in Singapore, its normal area of operation, the territories of Malaysia and Singapore, was identical with its predecessor, the ANZUK Force.
Administrative arrangements and function
The ANZUK Force operated under the 1971 Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) between Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia.[4] This arrangement provided the framework for NZ FORSEA whose primary role was defined to be:
Promote stability in the area.
Enhance New Zealand's political and diplomatic influence in the region.
Assist the development of the Armed Forces of countries in the area.
Implement the Mutual Assistance Programme, where the force provided assistance and conducted exercises with armed forces of countries in the area, particularly those of Singapore and Malaysia.
With the Headquarters sited at the Stores Basin area adjacent to the current Sembawang Naval Basin, This was the last major foreign military presence based in Singapore. Total military strength at the time stood at 850 with some 700 dependants. NZFORSEA took over many of British married quarters, recreational and welfare facilities at Nee Soon, Sembawang and Woodlands.
Units of the NZFORSEA
NZFORSEA was required to provide its own logistical support as well as a number of services to United Kingdom and Australian forces and comprised the following units during it existence:
NZ Force Headquarters
HQ NZFORSEA was a Tri-service Headquarters unit, commanded by a Brigadier equivalent and provided a headquarters with a nucleus of staff officers and support staff, including[5]
Personnel Branch
Operations Branch
Finance Branch (Finance Advisor and the Civilian Establishment and Pay Office (CEPO))
Support Branch
Education Section,
Photographic Section,
Communications Centre,
Pass Issue Office.
NZ Installation Auxiliary Police Unit[6] The Installations Auxiliary Police Force (IAPF) was a small police force, staffed by Singaporeans but commanded by an NZ officer to provide security to the whole area.
Legal Services Office.
ANZMIS
Australian New Zealand Military Intelligence Staff
Royal New Zealand Navy
Although no Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) vessels were permanently based at Singapore, there were frequent deployments of RNZN vessels and a good number of individual RNZN personnel were posted to all of the NZFORSEA units
NZ Transport Squadron was responsible for providing Movements, Catering and Transport support the NZFORSEA units. Originally created as E Platoon 10 Transport Coy, Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps(RNZASC) in April 1974 at Dieppe Barracks. In October 1974 it was unofficially renamed 18(NZ) Transport Company, RNZASC and relocated to the Naval Base. In May 1979 it was renamed NZ Transport Squadron Royal New Zealand Corps of Transport (RNZCT)[9]
Formed on 1 September 1975, NZ Work Services Unit (NZWSU) primary responsibility was the maintenance and repair of all NZFORSEA buildings and real estate.[11]
NZ Force Hospital
Located at the former Royal Navy Medical Centre Woodlands, the NZ Force hospital provided medical care for NZ servicemen, NZ Civilian staff, dependants and members of visiting forces.
NZ Dental Unit
Formed on 1 May 1974, the NZ Dental Unit provided Dental Services to NZ servicemen, NZ Civilian staff, dependants and members of visiting forces.
NZ MP Unit
A Tri-Service platoon sized unit, The NZ MP unit provided policing support to NZFORSEA.
NZ Workshops
A Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RNZEME) unit, NZ Workshop[12] was established at Kangaw Barracks on 1 October 1974 when the ANZUK Workshop was split into the 28 UK Bde Spt Workshop and NZ workshop NZFORSEA. Progressively moving into the former Royal Navy (MT) Workshop at the Naval Base as Royal Navy withdrew. As much as possible the NZ Workshop provided services on par with a New Zealand RNZEME Workshop, including;
In December 1977 41 Squadron returned to New Zealand and disbanded during December 1977.[15] Following the disbandment of the unit, its Iroquois aircraft remained in Singapore as Support Unit Singapore.
Support Unit Singapore/141 Flight RNZAF
Support Unit Singapore,[16] which was renamed No. 141 Flight RNZAF in 1985 to recognise its 41 Squadron origins. This flight was disbanded in 1989, ending the permanent presence of RNZAF units in South East Asia.[17]}
Education
To support the Force and dependants NZFORSEA maintained a number of educational facilities:
NZ Force Library
The NZ force Library consisted of two libraries:
Dieppe Barracks, which served 1 RNZIR and 141 Flight
Sembawang Library, which was both a school and community Library
NZ Force Playgroup
NZ Force Playgroup was run by mothers and catered for children 0–3 years
NZ Force Preschool
NZ Force Playgroup for children 3–5 years
NZ Force School
The NZ Force School traced its roots back to the 1960s when 1 RNZIR was based in Terendak Camp in Malaysia. Up to 1974 schooling for NZ dependants was provided in combined Australian/United Kingdom and New Zealand Schools at Woodlands, Changi, Tengah and Sembawang. In 1976 the school came under New Zealand Department of Education regulations. By 1981 all the schools were centralised at Sembawang. Schooling was provided for New Zealand dependants, from infant classes to Form 7 (year 13).[18]
Welfare and Recreation
NZFORSEA provided soldiers and dependants many welfare and recreational activities, including:
NZ Force Triathlon Team
NZ Force Tennis club
NZ Force Squash Club
Tigers Rugby club
NZ Force Soccer club
NZ Force Runners club
NZ Force Taekwondo
Kiwi Woman's Bowling League
Neptune Swimming club
NZ Force Theatre club
NZ Force Scouts and Guides
Dress Distinctions
NZ Army personnel posted to NZFORSEA wore the following dress distinctions:
NZ Flash – NZ Flash was affixed to each shoulder epaulette.
NZ epaulette flash
Kiwis – NZ Army posted to NZFORSEA wore a Kiwi patch on each shoulder, except for 1 RNZIR personnel who only wore the Kiwi patch on the right shoulder.
