Defence

US commander says Iranian drone carrier ship 'on fire'

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said US forces had to date sunk more than 30 of Iran’s ships, including "an Iranian drone carrier ship roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier".

8 mins ago

Professor and chair of coastal science with Waikato University Chris Battershill says paint on vessel hull may have traces of toxic material.

'Unprecedented' for naval officers charged in Manawanui sinking

The charges include negligently causing a ship to be lost, which is punishable by up to two years in prison.

Tue, Mar 3

Naval officers face charges over sinking of HMNZS Manawanui

The vessel sank off the coast of Samoa in October 2024.

Mon, Mar 2

The former executive director of Human Rights Watch spoke to Q+A's Jack Tame.

NZ must build coalitions to defend human rights: visiting expert

Kenneth Roth is the former executive director of Human Rights Watch and spent decades investigating and exposing human rights violations.

Sun, Feb 22

The crew of the Mysterious Wonder wave as the P-3 Orion.

Air Force and Navy rescue men on small boat 200km from Tonga

The crew of the small wooden boat had been drifting in the Pacific Ocean for more than a week.

Thu, Feb 19

US commander says Iranian drone carrier ship 'on fire'

8 mins ago

'Unprecedented' for naval officers charged in Manawanui sinking

The charges include negligently causing a ship to be lost, which is punishable by up to two years in prison.

Tue, Mar 3

Naval officers face charges over sinking of HMNZS Manawanui

The vessel sank off the coast of Samoa in October 2024.

Mon, Mar 2

NZ must build coalitions to defend human rights: visiting expert

Kenneth Roth is the former executive director of Human Rights Watch and spent decades investigating and exposing human rights violations.

Sun, Feb 22

Air Force and Navy rescue men on small boat 200km from Tonga

The crew of the small wooden boat had been drifting in the Pacific Ocean for more than a week.

Thu, Feb 19

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025,

US military blasts an alleged drug boat in Caribbean, killing 3

Friday’s attack raises the death toll from the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats to 133 people in at least 38 attacks carried out since early September.

Sat, Feb 14

Lance Corporal Nicholas Kahotea, of the 1st NZSAS Regiment

SAS rules 'tightened' since death of soldier who fell from helicopter

Lance Corporal Nicholas Kahotea fell to his death in May of 2019 while training to dismount from a Blackhawk helicopter onto the edge of a building.

Thu, Feb 12

Navy commander not guilty in court martial over alleged kiss

Commander Bronwyn Heslop maintained her innocence throughout the trial over an alleged incident that occurred in 2023.

Wed, Feb 11

Navy personnel were socialising off duty at a civilian bar during an overseas deployment in 2023.

Court martial panel considers verdict after hearing conflicting accounts

A senior navy officer is on trial after a junior officer alleged they were encouraged to kiss the accused on the cheek in a social setting.

Tue, Feb 10

Ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy moored at their home port, Devonport Naval Dockyard.

Senior navy officer allegedly sought kiss from junior

The officer pleaded not guilty to one charge of doing an act likely to prejudice service discipline, under the Armed Forces Discipline Act.

Mon, Feb 9

HMNZS Canterbury to stop in Tokelau to mark centenary

Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and her husband would make the journey on the Canterbury to the atolls of Atafu, Nukunono and Fakaofo next week.

Sat, Feb 7

Russian RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers roll on Red Square during the Victory Day military parade

What US-Russia weapons treaty ending means for nuclear risk

Could a new arms race between Washington and Moscow soon accelerate, asks Tilman Ruff.

Wed, Feb 4

December 2025

The fisherman was found drifting in the Pacific Ocean off Tokelau.

NZDF helps rescue overdue fisherman drifting in Pacific

The New Zealand Defence Force P-8A Poseidon was on patrol when it responded to the emergency.

December 19, 2025

'Job done': Rousing welcome as HMNZS Aotearoa is home for Christmas

The ship spent 307 days away from New Zealand and sailed more than 31,000 nautical miles during a "busy operational year" for the Navy.

December 12, 2025

How Kiwi soldiers are helping train Ukraine forces

The Defence Force said it has been working with partners to deliver core soldiering skills in the UK and is also offering specialist skills training throughout Europe.

December 2, 2025

November 2025