On 4 April 1996 the New Zealand Army Chief of the General Staff Major General Piers Reid signed a directive to initiate the establishment of a fully integrated logistic function in the New Zealand Army, with the intention of improving logistic support in both operational and non-operational environments. The integrated logistic organisation would combine the three separate Corps into a single Regiment. The new regiment, known as the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (RNZALR), was formed on 9 December 1996.[2][3]
On 9 December 1996, members of the RNZCT, RNZAOC and RNZEME marched onto parade grounds on each camp and base, the Flags of the individual Corps were lowered, headdress was replaced with and members of the RNZALR marched off.
Both battalions are part of the New Zealand 1st Brigade.
Given the nature of NZ Army Units, RNZALR personnel are also embedded in most other units of the NZ Army providing 1st line logistic support to those units.
Trades
The RNZALR includes eleven trades providing various support functions within the NZ Army and across the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).
Combat Driver operate transport from light to heavy vehicles carrying stores or troops.[5]
Hospitality
The hospitality trades ensure that the forces are sustained with a balanced diet in garrison and field environments. the Hospitality trade consists of two trades;.[6][7]
These trades are responsible for the repair and general maintenance of all the Army's equipment. This includes vehicles, radios, night vision devices, general engineering, electrical components and weapons.[8][9][10][11][12]
Movement Operators
Movement Operators work across all the three services facilitating the movement and support of troops and equipment. The Movement Operator trade consists of three specialties:
Movement control - the planning and executing of the movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment by road, sea or air.
Terminal Operations - the management of the loading, unloading and transit of forces by road, sea and air. Terminal Operations include stevedoring and port operations.
Aerial Delivery - the Air Dispatch and Movement control of troops and equipment by aircraft including the rigging of stores for delivery by parachute or as under slung loads underneath helicopters.[13]
The senior trade within the RNZALR, Logistic Specialists, are responsible for delivering Supply & Quartermaster support. This support encompasses the provision, accounting, and management of ammunition, fuel, rations, weapons, general stores, spare parts, vehicles, and any other mission-critical equipment needed by the NZDF, whether in New Zealand or overseas.[14]
Traditions
The Duke of York's Own
On 22 June 1999, the Regimental Colonel of the RNZALR, Lt Col D.H Watmuff received notification that the Queen had approved the appellation "The Duke of York's Own" to the RNZALR. The title reflected the role of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who served as the Colonel-in-Chief from 1996 until January 2022.[15][16] With Prince Andrew's military affiliations removed by the Queen in January 2022, the use of the appellation "The Duke of York's Own" was ceased by the RNZALR.[17]
Regiment Banner
The Prince Andrew Banner is an outward sign of the Regiment’s heritage, an acknowledgement of the important role it performs today, and the role its predecessors performed with courage and resilience in the past. The Banner represents the focal point for the traditions, loyalty and spirit of the RNZALR. Presentation of the Prince Andrew Banner by the Colonel in Chief, Royal New Zealand Logistic Regiment, His Royal Highness Prince Andrew on 16 Nov 1998 in Palmerston North.[18][19]
The RNZALR Badge
The RNZALR was to amalgamate not only the RNZCT, RNZAOC and RNZEME Corps but also All Arms Storeman trade personnel from across all Corps and Regiments of the New Zealand Army. To break down the resistance to the new Regiment and extinguish the perceived traits of tribalism that existed among the corps and trades about to be amalgamated, a neutral badge was to be adopted. Following a design competition encompassing 110 designs, a design with no connection to the forming Corps and that was acceptable to the Herald of Arms was selected and approved on 21 October 1996.[20]
The RNZALR badge consists of the following elements;
A set of green ferns unique to New Zealand providing the main body,
Crossed Swords representing the Army supporting an oval shield.
The oval shield has a blue background displaying the stars of the Southern Cross. The Southern Cross is an identifier long associated with New Zealand Army logistics in that it was used as an identifier by;
^McKie, Robert (2018-09-10). "New Zealand Logistic Regiment Badges". To the Warrior his Arms: The History of the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps and its Predecessors. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
Sources
Bolton, J. S., A history of The Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (Trentham: The Corps, 1992) (FR)
Cooke, P. Warrior Craftsmen: Royal New Zealand Electrical & Mechanical Engineers 1942-1996 (Defence of New Zealand Study Group, 2016)
Cape, P., Craftsmen in uniform: the Corps of Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers: an account (Wellington: Corps of Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, c 1976) (FR)
Millen Julia, Salute To Service: A History of the Royal New Zealand Corps of Transport 1860–1996
