The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. The fleet currently consists of nine ships. The Navy had its origins in the Naval Defence Act 1913, and the subsequent acquisition of the cruiser HMS Philomel, which by 1921 had been moored in Auckland as a training ship. A slow buildup occurred during the interwar period, and then in December 1939 HMS Achilles fought alongside two other Royal Navy cruisers at the Battle of the River Plate against the German ship, Graf Spee.
Murray Stuart McCully is a former New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2017.
Margaret Elizabeth Austin is a former New Zealand politician. She was an MP from 1984 to 1996, representing first the Labour Party and then briefly United New Zealand.
Operation Astute was an Australian-led military deployment to East Timor to quell unrest and return stability in the 2006 East Timor crisis. It was headed by Brigadier Bill Sowry, and commenced on 25 May 2006 under the command of Brigadier Michael Slater. The operation was established at the request of East Timor's government, and continued under an understanding reached between Australia, East Timor, and the United Nations, with the United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor supporting and helping to develop East Timor's police force. Other countries deploying soldiers to East Timor include Malaysia, New Zealand and East Timor's former colonial power Portugal, operating under independent command.
John Walter McKinnon is a New Zealand diplomat and public servant.
Maurice John Belgrave was a senior public servant and Chief Ombudsman of New Zealand.
Robert Ian Fyfe is a New Zealand businessman and a former chief executive officer (CEO) of New Zealand national airline Air New Zealand.
Peter Kerry Clark is New Zealand lawn bowls player and administrator.
Lieutenant General Richard Rhys Jones is a retired senior New Zealand Army officer, who was the Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force from 2011 to 2014. He was succeeded by Lieutenant General Tim Keating.
Air Marshal Kevin Ronald Short, is a retired Royal New Zealand Air Force officer. He served as Chief of Defence Force from 1 July 2018 to 6 June 2024.
Dianne Christine McCarthy is a New Zealand scientist and professional director, who was the chief executive of the Royal Society of New Zealand between 2007 and 2014. She lives in Blenheim.
The Commander Joint Forces New Zealand (COMJFNZ) is a senior appointment in the New Zealand Defence Force, responsible for the command of Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand. The COMJFNZ is, in effect, the operational commander of all joint operations and exercises within the New Zealand Defence Force, and reports direct to the Chief of Defence Force. Assisting the COMJFNZ are three service component commanders—the Maritime Component Commander, the Land Component Commander, and the Air Component Commander—who are jointly responsible to the COMJFNZ and their respective service chiefs for the capability, training and operations of personnel and units from their respective services.
The 1958 New Year Honours in New Zealand were appointments by Elizabeth II on the advice of the New Zealand government to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. The awards celebrated the passing of 1957 and the beginning of 1958, and were announced on 1 January 1958.
Michael Dennis Bush is a retired New Zealand police officer. He served as the New Zealand Commissioner of Police from April 2014 until April 2020.
The 2019 New Year Honours in New Zealand were appointments by Elizabeth II in her right as Queen of New Zealand, on the advice of the New Zealand government, to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders, and to celebrate the passing of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. They were announced on 31 December 2018.
The 1953 Coronation Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the coronation of Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, were appointments made by the Queen on the advice of the New Zealand government to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. Also included were a number of special awards to New Zealand military personnel for operational service in Korea. The honours were announced on 1 June 1953.
John Stewart Ombler is a New Zealand public servant. He served as deputy State Services Commissioner from 2008 until 2014, and briefly in 2019, and as the controller of the all-of-government response during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, were appointments made by the Queen in her right as Queen of New Zealand, on the advice of the New Zealand government, to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. They also incorporated gallantry awards, and a special honours list recognising military operational and other service in East Timor. They were announced on 5 June 2000.
Myrlene Dawn Jones is a New Zealand netball umpire who spent 15 years as New Zealand's top-ranked umpire and officiated at four netball world championships. She was also a netball administrator, a school principal and a justice of the peace.
Ruth Elizabeth Harley is a New Zealand theatre, film and television executive.
