The Defence Act 1990 is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand which establishes the

New Zealand Defence Force The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF; , "Line of Defence of New Zealand") is the three-branched military of New Zealand. The NZDF is responsible for the protection of the national security of New Zealand and its realm, promoting its interests, ...

(NZDF) and defines the respective roles of, and relationships between, the

minister of defence A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divid ...

, the chief of defence force and the secretary of defence.

Background

Under previous legislation, the three services—

New Zealand Army The New Zealand Army (, ) is the principal Army, land warfare force of New Zealand, a component of the New Zealand Defence Force alongside the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Formed in 1845, as the New Zealand Mil ...

Royal New Zealand Navy The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN; ) is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. The fleet currently consists of eight ships. The Navy had its origins in the Naval Defence Act 1913, and the subsequent acquisition of the cruiser , whi ...

and

Royal New Zealand Air Force The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF; ) is the aerial warfare, aerial military service, service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed initially in 1923 as a branch of the New Zealand Army, being known as the New Zealand Perm ...

—were part of the

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

. Post-1990, the Ministry of Defence is a separate policy-making body under a secretary of defence; the chief of defence force and secretary of defence (head of the ministry) have both separate and shared responsibilities.

Provisions

Part 1: Constitution of armed forces

The Act constitutes the armed forces "in the name and on behalf of the Sovereign" and grants the

governor-general Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

the power of the raise armed forces. The governor-general is, under the Letters Patent 1983, commander-in-chief of New Zealand. The Defence Act greatly restricts the powers of the commander-in-chief, unlike the

US president The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed For ...

as commander-in-chief for example. The Act then states that the

: "...shall have the power of control of the New Zealand Defence Force, which shall be exercised through the Chief of Defence Force."

Part 2: The New Zealand Defence Force

The Act defines the different services of New Zealand Defence Forces: *

And various reserve and territorial services.

Part 3: Secretary of defence, chief of Defence Force, and chiefs of service

The Act defines the secretary of defence as the chief executive of the

, the chief of Defence Force as "principal military adviser to the Minister and other Ministers" and the other chiefs of the services of the defence force.

Background

Provisions

Part 1: Constitution of armed forces

Part 2: The New Zealand Defence Force

Part 3: Secretary of defence, chief of Defence Force, and chiefs of service

Part 4: Terms and conditions of service

References

Sources