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Afghanistan: Wading Patrolling
#2 4 0
Mission into the the
success flood zone seas
OCT|21
Wahine Toa
leaves with lifetime
of memories
Contents
04 08 News Regulars
Wading into Afghanistan: 22 03
the flood zone Mission success One mission working First Word
with police
21
24 #FacesofyourForce
Pronounced safety focus
26
for pilots
Our Heritage
30 29
Defending Intelligence
Notices
31 34
AFIC News
Photo of the month
32
Thanks to deployed
personnel
06 12
Patrolling the seas Southbound OUR MISSION Published by
for summer The RNZAF will provide New Zealand Defence Public Affairs
HQ NZ Defence Force
with relevant, responsive and effective
Air Power to meet its security interests. Wellington, New Zealand
OUR VISION Editor
14
Rebecca Quilliam
An agile and adaptive Air Force with Email: airforcenews@nzdf.mil.nz
the versatility essential for NZDF
operations. Design and Layout
Maintenance from Defence Public Affairs
Afghanistan to COVER:
Dale Kutia
Printed by
Bluestar
Antarctica Private Bag 39996, Wellington
PHOTOGRAPHER:
CPL Naomi James
Distribution
Email: airforcenews@nzdf.mil.nz
16 Editorial contributions and ideas
are welcomed. They can be emailed
directly to the Editor and do not need
to be forwarded through normal
Wahine toa leaves command chains.
with lifetime of Contributions need to include
memories • writer’s name, rank and unit
• photos provided separate from the
text – at least 300dpi.
Air Force News will hold the copyright
20
for submitted articles or photographs
it publishes. Articles and photographs
published in Air Force News cannot
be published elsewhere without
permission.
Scenes from Korea
ISSN 1175–2337
NZAirForce
NZDefenceForce
2 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240
FIRST WORD |
First
Word
W “Woodbourne’s outputs
e should all be familiar with the
well-known whakataukī: He aha
te mea nui o te ao, he tangata are focussed on
he tangata he tangata – What is the
most important thing in the world, it is
honing and developing
the people, the people, the people. As an the raw talent of our
Air Force it is our people that provide us
with the cognitive edge that enable us to people throughout
deliver military air operations. their careers,
Reflecting on the taiaha analogy in an
earlier Air Force News by the previous
providing them with
Base Commander, Bases Whenuapai the skills, when they
and Ohakea, the upoko and arero,
represent the head and tongue of the post to Whenuapai
taiaha, delivering the operational effect.
They are supported by the tinana or
and Ohakea, to
body of the taiaha, represented by Base support the platforms
Woodbourne, providing the people
needed to enable military air operations.
that deliver military
Key to ensuring that as an organisation air operations.”
we have a workforce that is trained and
B BASE COMMANDER BASE WOODBOURNE
Y WING COMMANDER PAUL DRYSDALE
qualified to enable the delivery of air
operations, is Base Woodbourne. It is the I also understand the trade-offs that are
Air Force’s Ukaipo (place of nurturing), necessary to deliver operational outputs,
and a military air base charged with while at the same time ensuring that we
delivering training and education to our continue to invest in the development of
people, throughout their RNZAF careers, the skills of our people.
while also delivering an operational
To ensure that we are investing in the
effect through our operations personnel
next generation of people that will work
supporting air operations from the
either for you or with you, we need to
base, or the wider teams supporting our
ensure that our attention is equally
strategic partners.
focused on the platforms that we
With any system the quality of its output operate, while equipping our people with
is highly dependent on the quality of the cognitive skills and training to enable
people or processes that are responsible them to support the platforms.
for delivering that output.
So the next time you are asked to
Having spent the last two years complete an RNZAF 400 for one
as director of Directorate Career of your people applying for a role in
Management (Air Force) and prior to Woodbourne, have a think about the
that as a Branch Head at Headquarters role that Base Woodbourne plays in
Joint Forces New Zealand, I have a good developing the next generation of people
appreciation of the pressures being to enable you, the wider RNZAF, to
faced by the organisation. deliver the operational effect.
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 3
| O P E R AT I O N S
MAIN
Whenuapai Unimog driver helping
during recent flooding in West Auckland
Wading into
the flood zone
B ED ITO R
Y R E B ECCA Q U I LLIAM
During the height of
U
pwards of 150 millimetres of rain Unimog-qualified driver and Security
soaked Kumeū over 24 hours Forces specialist Leading Aircraftman
the country’s latest in what was the town’s second (LAC) Brent Setter said when they were
wettest day on record. Homes and called in to help, the team prepared the
Alert Level 4 lockdown, businesses suffered major damage in the vehicle with spare blankets and food.
Kumeū and Piha in West subsequent flooding. “We got to the fire station and were
Auckland suffered In response to the crisis, Base Auckland
personnel were asked to assist the
briefed of the situation and essentially we
were needed to transfer people from their
devastating flooding and local civil defence emergency response. flooded homes to the welfare centre.”
They worked on the ground with other
staff at Base Auckland agencies, including the New Zealand
By this stage the flood waters had
reached about a metre and a half deep,
didn’t hesitate to help Police and members of the community, he said.
transporting families and their pets to
them out. a welfare centre and searching flooded
homes to ensure residents were safe.
4 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240
O P E R AT I O N S |
“We relocated two households, one was Some of the members of the public were The Alert Level 4 status meant extra
an older lady and then a mother with putting posts up on their community complications for the evacuations,
two children. I was happy to help and get social media pages to let people know CPL Hensley said.
amongst people who were having a hard they were there, he said. “We were wearing masks. A lot of the
time with the flooding.” “Our first load we moved about public were trying to adhere to that as
The team also transported generators 12 people and two dogs. The other well. We were also sanitising frequently.
that people in the community had load we drove an elderly couple with The rules were something that everyone
donated to help keep power on in other their dog to the centre. automatically followed.”
households, LAC Setter said. “I've never seen flooding like that Officials had announced safety in the
Aviation fuel specialist Corporal (CPL) before. It was good to be able to help floods overrode some of the Level 4 rules.
Jake Hensley, also a qualified Unimog out – it was my first time on that type
driver, said he and his team parked the of mission.”
vehicle at the end of streets and went The flooding hit two weeks into the
door to door to see if anyone needed country-wide lockdown, due to the
assistance to be evacuated from their community spread of Covid-19.
homes to the welfare centre.
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 5
| O P E R AT I O N S
Patrolling the seas
Flight Lieutenant Nina White is in a unique position being the only Air Force
officer deployed on Operation Tiki, in support of the Royal New Zealand Navy-led
Combined Task Force 150 in the Middle East. As the legal officer she was actively
involved in recent drug busts in the Indian Ocean during which narcotics with a
combined local wholesale value of over US$7 million were seized.
T
he first seizure during the NZ Due to her role, FLTLT White could be The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)
Command of Combined Task called in day or night to provide legal is a multinational maritime partnership,
Force (CTF) 150 occurred on 20 advice to the team. which exists to uphold the International
September. It was conducted by French Rules-Based Order by countering
She has also gained professionally from
Marine Nationale frigate FS Languedoc, illicit non-state actors on the high seas
her time in Bahrain.
operating in support of CTF 150. The and promoting security, stability, and
boarding resulted in the seizure of more “It has been incredible to be exposed prosperity across approximately 3.2
than 1,600kg of illegal drugs during a not just to an operational environment, million square miles of international
maritime counter-narcotics operation. but also a naval one. An understanding waters, which encompass some of the
of dhows and normal vessel behaviour is world’s most important shipping lanes.
While operating off the coast of Oman,
crucial to my legal advice, so I have really
FS Languedoc intercepted the vessel CTF 150 conducts Maritime Security
valued the opportunity to apply maritime
suspected of smuggling, under the Operations outside the Arabian Gulf
law alongside operators who are able to
direction of CTF 150. The ship’s boarding to ensure that legitimate commercial
answer my questions!”
team conducted detailed searches, shipping can transit across the region,
identifying and seizing more than 1,525kg CTF 150 is one of three task forces free from non-state threats. Its mission
of hash and 166kg of methamphetamine operated by Combined Maritime Forces is to disrupt criminal and terrorist
with a combined wholesale value of over (CMF). Captain (CAPT) Brendon Clark organisations through interdiction
US$5.2 million (NZ$7.4m). of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) operations by coordinating ships and
took command of CTF 150 in July this aircraft in the Arabian Sea, Red Sea,
Within a week Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT)
year from the Royal Canadian Navy. Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden. These
White was again involved in supporting a
CAPT Clark leads a diverse team smugglers carry narcotics, weapons
second operation, once more conducted
which, alongside FLTLT White, includes or even charcoal which may be used
by FS Languedoc, resulting in a
personnel from the RNZN, United States to fund terrorism or breach United
staggering 3,662kg of hash being seized.
Coast Guard, Royal Australian Navy and Nations sanctions.
The seizures make a substantial impact the Republic of Singapore Navy.
on drug trafficking in the region, denying
CTF 150 is comprised of four nations and
terrorist groups this income source.
five services, CAPT Clark said.
As the legal officer on the CTF 150
“One of our main strengths is diversity of
staff, FLTLT White has a significant
thought and as a consequence the ability
responsibility while interdiction operations
to consider a number of perspectives
are being conducted. During the
and approaches to decision making.
interdictions she monitors the reports
As an Air Force officer, FLTLT White
coming from the boarding team and
adds real and tangible value with the
advises the Commander of CTF 150 on
perspectives and advice that she RIGHT
the legal thresholds that have to be met.
provides command and the team.” Flight Lieutenant Nina White
6 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240
O P E R AT I O N S | AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 7
| O P E R AT I O N S 8 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240
O P E R AT I O N S |
Afghanistan:
Mission Success
B SQ UA D RO N LE A D ER
Y MATT R I E PE R
When the Prime The mission objective was clear, but
how to execute it, not so. What was
A bare bones pre-deployment training
was completed by Tuesday afternoon
Minister announced to also apparent was that time was of the and come midday Wednesday, bags
essence given the pace and nature of packed with whatever they could
the public on Monday, the events unfolding in Kabul. scrounge together, the advance party
August 16 that an ‘NZDF Normal planning and preparation
were on the road to the United Arab
Emirates (UAE).
C-130 and personnel activities such as those used for
previous Middle East operations Loaded to the gunnels, the C-130
will be deployed for would simply take too long, therefore completed the three-day transit, flying
command had to balance the time via Adelaide, Perth, Cocos Island,
at least a month to needed to ensure the force was Diego Garcia into Al Minhad Air Base
help with evacuation adequately equipped and prepared UAE. By Saturday the contingent of
with the time left to deploy and conduct about 70 personnel and one C-130
efforts’ in Afghanistan, the Non-combatant Evacuation would complete the first phase of the
the Defence Force Operation (NEO). The final date for
evacuations was just two weeks
operation: deploy to AMAB with all
personnel and assets in place.
immediately scrambled away. Asked when the C-130 could Advance party personnel, who had
depart, No. 40 Squadron answered
all resources necessary ‘Wednesday!’ giving everyone less than
already arrived via civilian aircraft,
began forward deploying via coalition
to mobilise the force as 48 hours to mount up. airlift and establishing a node in Hamid
rapidly as possible. With all hands on deck, tasks and
duties separated naturally along
Karzai International Airport later that
evening. The 19-strong team consisting
base departments. Headquarters of Special Operations Forces, Female
Joint Forces New Zealand developed Engagement Team and the Deployable
the force structure and directives, base Joint Inter-Agency Task Force
flight safety and directorate of operating (DJIATF), immediately commenced
air worthiness risk management plan, the development of the identification,
while No. 40 Squadron stood up general recovery and extraction process
mission planning. for evacuees which was a critical
component of this NEO.
The activities were happening
concurrently while the deploying
personnel churned through getting their
work and homelife squared away.
LEFT
Evacuees from Afghanistan in a C-130 Hercules
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 9
| O P E R AT I O N S
LEFT
Evacuees leaving Afghanistan
MIDDLE
C-130 Hercules' pilots flying into Afghanistan
BOTTOM RIGHT
Evacuees boarding a C-130 Hercules
Sunday, August 22 was utilised to With most operations the Defence Force But without the luxury of time and detail,
conduct final mission preparation for endeavours to build a team of people it was inevitable that not all conclusions
aircraft and crew. The aircraft required with a range of experiences. It was could be reached prior to departure nor
the remainder of the armour fitted, quickly identified that for that operation, did command want the decision-making
flares and cargo compartment rigging put simply, you could not go unless you process to unnecessarily restrict the
to conduct NEO operations in a hot and had gone before. operation when in theatre.
high medium air threat environment. This allowed significant efficiencies in Therefore the approach was to work
The crew consisted of seven aircrew, everything from pre-deployment training, under a commander on the ground who
two maintainers, four security forces, integration with coalition partners and coordinated the entire mission – the
two medical, four air load team and a more importantly the ability to draw Commander DJIATF – and afford the
Defence Public Affairs photographer. on past experience to foresee and Operational Commanders as much
At 8am on Monday, August 23, the C-130 overcome the challenges that normally freedom and authority as possible to
departed for the first of three missions try to derail operations in this part of the make the best decisions on the day.
evacuating New Zealand citizens, world. Experience is also an easy way
passport and visa holders from Kabul, for command to mitigate risk, especially
seven days after the Prime Minister's unidentified risk. “With most operations
announcement. Defence Force command has the the Defence Force
The operation was a success in simple luxury of an intimate understanding of
terms as the Defence Force had very its personnel and they respected their endeavours to build a
quickly deployed a force and evacuated
370 people from Afghanistan. But the
previous experience fully across all
trades of the contingent. Issues were
team of people with a
process and lack of formal process in identified using the guts of previous range of experiences.
getting there can be equally celebrated
given the outcome. So how and
operational planning, prioritised and
decided upon at the appropriate level It was quickly
why was this a success without any without frills or formality. Fast flat identified that for that
formal ‘worthiness’ board, PowerPoint communications were essential and trust
or briefing given the operational in their people imperative. operation, put simply,
environment and risk?
you could not go
Experience, perspective and trust.
unless you had gone
before."
10 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240O P E R AT I O N S |
Operation Kokako:
a calculated risk
B A I R CO M M O D O R E
Y SHAU N SEXTON
The rapid deployment of our fixed
wing transport force on Operation
Kokako, a non-combatant
evacuation operation (NEO) from
Afghanistan, demonstrated a
single-minded commitment and
mission focus.
The team involved, particularly from Base Auckland, took
sensible risk-based decisions about what was important
(or not) to ensure that a battle-worthy detachment
deployed on a complex multinational mission within days
of being tasked. In doing so, they played a substantial
role ensuring national objectives were met – among other
things it saved lives.
What can we learn from this success? Squadron Leader
Matt Rieper highlights experience, perspective and
trust. To these salient points I will add air-minded clarity
of purpose.
Our purpose is to produce and deliver airpower effects
in times of conflict and uncertainty. The airmen who
prepared for and deployed on Operation Kokako clearly
understood this purpose; they resolved the challenges to
execution pragmatically, managed the risks and delivered.
I will postulate that if a risk-averse approach had existed
where other factors were allowed to prevail over mission,
we may have been less successful. Put another way,
these men and women demonstrated an air warfighting
ethos – specifically, as masters of their trade they
adapted to work within a rapidly evolving operational
environment shoulder-to-shoulder with other members of
the NZDF and our international partners to serve, rather
than to merely perform a job.
Well done, thank you for your service.
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 11| O P E R AT I O N S
Southbound
for summer
Flights by a C-130
T
he flights have taken more than 150 With a suitable weather window in place,
passengers and nearly 11,000kg of the Hercules landed at Phoenix Airfield
Hercules and a Boeing cargo to the frozen continent. at 4.07pm, and spent a short time on the
ice before heading back to Christchurch.
757 have flown the first The C-130 Hercules was due to fly out
on September 20, but the aircraft turned Sarah Williamson, Antarctica
cohort of Scott Base staff back after four and a half hours due to New Zealand Chief Executive says these
out of Christchurch to poor weather in Antarctica. That’s fondly
referred to as a ‘boomerang’ amongst
staff members are essential to running
Scott Base safely and the organisation
Antarctica – marking the Antarcticans. has gone to great lengths to ensure they
arrive in Antarctica Covid-19 free.
start of New Zealand’s Inclement Antarctic weather kept the
plane on the tarmac until the morning of “Adding a two-week isolation period
2021/22 summer September 24, when the Hercules took and multiple Covid-19 tests to Antarctic
season. off at 9am on its way to McMurdo Sound
from Harewood Terminal in Christchurch.
pre-deployment is a big commitment for
our people heading south this year, but
we want to ensure we’ve done everything
we can to keep Antarctica Covid-19 free.
12 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240O P E R AT I O N S |
LEFT
Scott Base staff leaving for Antarctica on a
C-130 Hercules
MIDDLE
A Boeing 757 at Antarctica
BOTTOM RIGHT
A C-130 Hercules leaving Harewood
terminal for Antarctica
BY T H E N U M B E R S :
C -1 3 0 H E R C U L E S
42
passengers
7,348 kg
cargo
BO EI N G 757
114
passengers
3,480 kg
cargo
“We are excited to be sending our base
maintenance staff south, and to see the
return of our team members that have
been in Antarctica all winter,” she says.
Once at Scott Base, there is a carefully
planned system every time a new cohort
arrives. This means masks and physical
distancing are the new norm on base.
The summer Scott Base staff will work
in Antarctica for the next five months,
while twelve staff will stay on throughout
winter until October 2022.
Due to Covid-19, fewer people will
travel south this season compared
with ‘normal’ years. Researchers
begin to arrive next month, allowing
New Zealand’s world-leading climate
change science to continue on the ice.
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 13| ASSETS
Maintenance from
Afghanistan to Antarctica
In the space of a month
W
hile both are desert areas, At the other end of the temperature
each region has opposite spectrum in Antarctica, maintainers wear
the same No. 40 environmental conditions multiple layers of clothing, he said.
that the aircraft responds to differently,
Squadron C-130 Squadron Leader (SQNLDR) Michael
“You look like the Michelin man.
Trying to do any task that requires hand
Hercules, NZ7005, has Bunting said. skills is that much more complicated.
travelled to the searing “In the hot, dusty environment you’re
worried about the avionics systems,
In both cases you’re trying to limit the
exposure of the maintainers to that
heat of the Middle East you’re worried where the dust is getting environment, so that makes it a significant
in respect of engines and propellers in challenge, on the people themselves, not
collecting evacuees from particular. The heat and the dust cause just the aircraft.”
Afghanistan, across to a unique set of challenges, which is at Maintainer Sergeant (SGT) Dayne Van
the opposite end of the spectrum to
the frigid temperatures Antarctica, with its cold.”
Stee said they endeavour to get as much
ready on the aircraft before going to
of Antarctica for the start The job has a “massive impact” on the countries with extreme temperatures.
maintainers, SQNLDR Bunting said.
of its summer season. “In the Middle East the sand and dust just
“Obviously we’re super concerned about gets in everything, so we have to do extra
heat stroke and out there we have no real inspections and cleaning,” he said.
shelter working in the desert. Frequently “The heat is also a challenge. Obviously
the thermometer is well above 40°C. everything is made of metal so when
They are massive challenges and are we’re trying to work on it in the middle of
complicated by Covid where we have to the day things get hot to touch where it
wear masks and gloves. Maintaining an gets to the point where it hurts you.”
aircraft in 45°C heat is a real challenge.”
Dehydration was also a factor and the
team avoided working in the heat of the
day if they could.
14 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240ASSETS |
“For the few times we did have to work
in the middle of the day in the heat, we
All the work was done on the flight line,
which in the heat of the day could get up
“One thing both
needed to really be aware of the heat, to 47°C, he said. environments have in
because it’s easy to get caught up in
the work and then realise you’ve been
“A couple of times we had to pull some common is if something
of the maintainers away from the job and
out there for two hours without a bottle into air conditioned rooms and let them major does break, it's
of water. So we had to make sure there
was still one person who was less task-
cool down. And then quality control to
ensure that what is done is done properly
worse-case scenario to
focussed and more keeping an eye on
water levels and making sure we were
and within publications.” try to get more people
taking breaks and getting in the shade,” Going to Antarctica the safety and parts to those
precautions are similar to the Middle
SGT Van Stee said.
East, F/S Mead said. locations.”
At the other end of the mercury in
Antarctica, the cold affects rubber “The guys are out in the cold doing a – Sergeant Dayne Van Stee
seals on the aircraft, causing them to refuel or doing work and just monitoring
shrink, resulting in leaks of fuel and them and bringing them into the warmth if
hydraulic liquids. they start to slow down and get cold.
“So before we go we check and top up all “The aircraft isn’t on the ground for
the fluids to ensure we have the best start. very long anymore. The Hercs used to
overnight, but since Covid, that’s been
“For maintainers on the ice, the gloves stopped, so they are there and back in
that we wear take a lot of dexterity out a day. They are only on the ground for a
of our hands, so if we are trying to do maximum of three hours while they refuel
maintenance that is fiddly work, it’s quite and load.”
hard with big padded gloves on,” he said.
Maintenance coordinator Flight Sergeant LEFT
NZ7005 in Antarctica
(F/S) Brad Mead said a major part of his
job was to monitor the team’s fatigue, RIGHT
“especially in the hot environment”. NZ7005 at the airport in Bahrain
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 15| ACHIEVEMENT 16 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240
ACHIEVEMENT |
Wahine toa leaves with
lifetime of memories
B ED ITO R
Y R E B ECCA Q U I LLIAM
When Warrant Officer Dale Kutia joined the Air Force women
were segregated from men, hardly any trades were open to
them and their male colleagues were paid more. She wasn’t
even allowed to ride a bike.
A “When I got on the train
fter nearly 50 years, Warrant “We weren’t allowed to handle weapons,
Officer (W/O) Kutia is the so there was no rifle drill or ground
longest serving woman in the defence exercise, which is now a in Hamilton I cried.
Air Force and is leaving after witnessing
momentous changes in the service.
three-day exercise where you patrol and
guard areas.
I wanted to go, but
Until 1977 enlisted females joined the “Instead we had a picnic at West Melton. I was also realising
Women’s Royal New Zealand Air Force
and were only given a three-year contract
We were bed-checked every night, the
duty Non-Commissioned Officer would
this was a big change
rather than the eight to 12 year contract come around with a torch to make sure for me. But I was
offered to men. Jobs were limited to
clerical trades, such as shorthand typists
we were in bed at 9pm.”
determined. There
The recruits learned about the military,
and data processors and were paid at
its history and drill. They spent the time was something in me
only 80% of the rate men received for
doing the same job.
making bed packs and having blankets
thrown on the floor if beds weren’t made
that said, ‘No, you’ve
Unlike men, women were required to properly. They polished brass window been wanting this for
be single on enlistment and if women
married or became pregnant they
latches and hat badges and spit polished
their shoes.
so long, you stick it
were discharged.
“When I joined we were given stockings out, you’re not going
It wasn’t until 1977 that WRNZAF was
integrated into the RNZAF as part of
– I wasn’t given a suspender belt to hold
them up and there was no such thing as
to give up’.”
a broad policy shift by the military and panty hose. Our physical training shorts “I got five days jankers (extra duties)
only then were women entitled to equal were these white rompers – awful to wear where I had to do two hours’ work at
pay, however, roles were still limited, with that used to ride up when we moved - and night after the parade. I remember
women not allowed to be aircrew. a white blouse and white Bata Bullets.” cleaning the showers with my toothbrush
Joining the Air Force was all that a young It was Louise “Johnny” Naera, who was and polishing the floors. By the time my
Dale Canty ever dreamed of doing with the first Māori to ever be commissioned, five days was up I was pretty good with a
her life, and attempted to enlist when she who fought for the airwomen to be able toothbrush and polisher.”
was just 14-years-old. The recruiters told to wear black shorts, W/O Kutia said. A big shock for the new airwoman was
her to come back in when she was 17. not being allowed to ride a bike because
Following the recruit training, the young
Boys were allowed to enlist when they wearing a skirt meant it was unladylike.
graduate began her Clerk General Duties
were 15 as airman cadets.
course at Wigram, where they were “I’d ridden a bike to school for four years
In 1972, the 17-year-old gave it another finally allowed to mix with the males and and I joined the Air Force and wasn’t
shot and arrived as the only applicant at socialise with them after hours at the allowed to ride a bike. I was working in
the Tauranga RSA, where she passed her YMCA and Airmen’s Club. the Registry and picked up signals each
entry tests. day from the Communications Centre
One notable evening W/O Kutia arrived
Eight other young women joined W/O Kutia back at her barracks five minutes late and and I couldn’t be bothered walking down
on the six-week recruiting course, which was charged. so I found a bike and sneaked behind the
looked a lot different to the men’s course. admin unit and biked across.
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 17| ACHIEVEMENT
LEFT
Dale Kutia relaxing on her lifestyle
block in Waipukurau
“Over the years we
started to have a
voice. There’s still
work to be done. If I
look at the leadership
opportunities for
females, I still feel it’s a
male-dominated area.”
“In 1977, while posted to No. 1 Squadron “So I chose to go on leave without pay In October 1997, W/O Kutia was the first
I requested permission to ride a bike and and followed my husband,” she said. Air Force personnel to be chosen to
I remember having to sign the letter ‘your deploy to the Sinai in Egypt as an S1. The
After two and a half years the pair
obedient servant’.” posting had always previously gone to
returned to Woodbourne and W/O Kutia
Army personnel.
Her first posting was to Whenuapai returned to work.
and it was here she became involved “It was a great posting, it opened the
For the rest of her career, when W/O
in a range of sports, including softball, door to more Air Force to be posted over.
Kutia wasn’t deployed overseas, she took
basketball, squash, harriers, and netball. There were only two women and we
postings in Wigram, Wellington, Auckland
The sport gave her and her teammates travelled to the historical archaeological
and Ohakea.
opportunities to play in tournaments city of Petra in Jordan, Cairo and Tel
around the country. She has also run 23 She excelled at her trade and in Aviv. It was probably one of the best
marathons here and on courses around streamlining processes and managing deployments I’ve had because of the
the world. an administration section that was not opportunities to travel.”
achieving and through her leadership and
It was in those first years W/O Kutia met In 2008, W/O Kutia was chosen for a
management skills turned the unit into an
her future husband Richard at the Junior year-long deployment to Timor-Leste,
efficient and effective unit.
Ranks Club, and they were married in 1979. where she was an advisor to the Timor-
She was also heavily involved in recruiting, Leste Army.
In 1983 the couple were chosen to be on and off for about 12 years, shaping
the first married couple to be posted “I didn’t particularly want to go. Because
the face of the Air Force, while serving
together to Singapore. However, in a blow I was an advisor for the Army, I didn’t
at Wellington, Palmerston North and
to W/O Kutia, the posting for her was have to be armed, which I was pleased
Auckland Regional Recruiting Offices.
pulled because of the financial advantage about because I would have needed rifle
they would both receive instead of just “Over all the years recruiting there are training to bring me up to speed.”
one spouse. some people that I will never forget.
For the first three months she had to
Like the kid who biked all the way from
She was given the option of either learn Tetum, a mixture of the Portuguese,
Whanganui to take the recruiting test.
remaining in New Zealand and wait Indonesian and Timor languages.
It’s amazing how you don’t forget them.
for the next posting, which could have It makes me feel old because some of “For the first month I had sores all over
been another two years, or go on leave these people I recruited are now me because we were living in primitive
without pay. Warrant Officers.” conditions and we didn‘t have good
meals. Everything was fatty and there
were no vegetables, only fried noodles.
18 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240ACHIEVEMENT |
LEFT
Dale Kutia on her Waipukurau property
BELOW
Dale Kutia on deployment in East Timor where
she took on a programme for local children
So we all got pretty sick. But I enjoyed In the later part of W/O Kutia’s career This saw a dramatic increase in the
learning the language, it was very she took on major projects that retention rate for women. Today women
much like Māori – all the vowels had impacted the entire Defence Force. She enjoy equality and freedom of choice
the same sound.” set about getting rid of paper payslips, which W/O Kutia and her predecessors
which would arrived weeks after pay could only have dreamed of, she said.
She also decided to run a play group for
day and generally ended up in bins by
local children on Sundays. “I would walk into a crew room and
creating a computer version.
there’d be pictures of females from
“I would tie a rope to the bumper of the
She was also part of the SAP Playboy centrefolds around the room.
Toyota truck that I had and turn the
Administration Process Specialist
skipping rope for hours teaching these “When I joined there weren’t a lot of
team that was involved in designing
kids to skip. Then I raised some money trades open to females. When women
a new personal and pay system. She
and went to Darwin and got them hula could be pilots, aircraft technicians and
was awarded the Defence Meritorious
hoops and volley balls and soccer balls. avionics technicians, it was great to see
Service Medal for her role in the
them coming through in a predominantly
“I also bought some balloons and blew Validation of Data prior to rollout. Later
male environment and see them succeed
one up and gave it to a little boy and he she was instrumental in rolling out the
just as well as the men.”
hung onto it so hard because it was the Performance and Development Report.
first thing he’d ever owned. To see their
Relaxing in her Waipukurau home, W/O
joy was rewarding.”
Kutia says looking back on her career it
In her role as adviser, W/O Kutia taught doesn’t feel like 48 years has passed.
the Timorese vital administration skills
The decision in 1977 to integrate the
like creating a filing system, computer
WRNZAF with the RNZAF was hugely
databases and how to implement a
significant as it offered the women so
recruiting drive.
many more opportunities, she said.
“It was good to be able to impart my
The biggest change over the years was
knowledge and skills as an administration
the way sexual discrimination was treated,
clerk to teach them just some of the
she said. The introduction of equal
basics to make them a cohesive unit.”
employment and anti-harassment policies
In 2009 the Admin Trade was identified barriers preventing women
disestablished and W/O Kutia remustered from succeeding in the workplace and
as a General Service Assistant. Shutting formulating appropriate strategies.
down the trade resulted in a “huge loss of
knowledge”, she said.
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 19| O P E R AT I O N S
Scenes from
Korea
B FLI G HT LI EU TEN A NT
Y E M I LY HALL
I am currently deployed
M
y role is to monitor all A highlight of my job has been taking
passengers and freight orientations of the Joint Security
on Operation Monitor as transiting between North Area and Observation Post Dora for
and South Korea along the Transport distinguished visitors, teaching both
the Assistant Corridor Corridor, which runs across the DMZ military and civilian high-ranking groups
Control Officer for (Demilitarised Zone), on the West Coast about the Armistice Agreement and the
of the Korean Peninsula. history of the Joint Security Area.
the United Nations The importance of this role is working I have also worked duty shifts sitting
Command Military as part of a coalition to support the as the most forward person to the
upholding of the Armistice Agreement border between North and South
Armistice Commission and cessation of hostilities on the Korean Korea. This includes sending messages
(UNCMAC) in the Peninsula. I work with people from a and conducting a twice daily phone
wide range of military backgrounds and check with the Korean People’s Army,
Republic of Korea. countries including the US, Denmark, maintaining one of the only operational
Switzerland, Sweden, Australia and the communication lines between North and
Republic of Korea. South Korea for the UNC Commander.
Currently, due to Covid-19, the Transport I was recently involved in the bi-annual
Corridor has been closed and so there Combined Command Post Training at
are currently no border crossings. Camp Humphreys. My role included
Although we still monitor the access of working in the UNC Operations Centre
people in and out of the corridor, the providing advice on the Armistice
closure has meant I have the opportunity Agreement and working at the UNCMAC
to work with other areas of UNCMAC. headquarters to assist with Special
investigations and Armistice Agreement
I have had the opportunity to carry out
violations.
inspections at frontline infantry divisions,
ensuring Korean Army units, situated on I feel very lucky to be experiencing a new
the DMZ, are following the rules outlined country and culture, particularly during
in the Armistice Agreement. a pandemic. I have met many incredible
people and have experienced generous
hospitality which I will never forget.
20 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240# FAC E S O FO U R FO R C E |
Bonded to heritage
In recognition of Tuvalu Language Week, we
would like to introduce you to Corporal Nini
Nanjan. Of Indian and Tuvaluan descent,
Corporal Nanjan was raised in Fiji and has
served in the Air Force since 2008. She tells
us how her heritage has shaped who she is.
T
ālofa, I am Corporal Nini Nanjan. When they arrived on Kioa Island it was The women still weave mats and baskets
You could say that I followed in nearly night fall and the island was dead and the men still fish and farm and live
my father’s footsteps. He served silent and dark. The people felt afraid off the land.
in the Fijian Army and has now joined and missed home. They had brought with Our people are grateful for the tough
the Air Force. I’m Logistics by trade and them only their culture, traditions and journey those 37 brave men and women
I’m currently working as a Supply Chain lifestyle which till this day is practiced. made in 1947. We now have access to
Repair Manager for Propulsion. My What an amazing journey that would better education, water and supplies,
average day is spent monitoring repairs have been to witness. our children have better opportunities
for engines across all fleet. to find jobs easily and progress in the
Here’s more insight to the people I come
There are many reasons to be proud of from: In the 1980s the people of Kioa world. My ancestors were one of the 37
my culture and language. For me, it is were recognised and accepted by the early settlers of Kioa. My mother is the
mainly the values and traditions that have Tui Cakau, the sovereign high chief of first descendant from her family to settle
been passed down from our ancestors, Cakaudrove, Ratu Tuikilakila Golea, who in New Zealand and my children are the
with faith, family and unity still at the core made us part of his own clan. first generation of New Zealand born
of my, and our identity. Tuvaluans from our bloodline.
As you approach Kioa you will see
I like the Tuvaluan proverb ‘Ko tau malosi a white sandy beach with a deep The people of Tuvalu although scattered
ko tau maumea’ which translates in anchorage up to the shore and a fringe all over the world have never forgotten
English to ‘your strength is your wealth’. of coconut trees along a horseshoe their beginnings. The culture and
bay. The island itself is covered in thick traditions are still celebrated and the
In 1947 the first immigrant from Tuvalu
green trees untouched and fertile soils. stories of our forefathers live on. As I
settled on an island called Kioa. Lying
The village is nestled along the foot of journey through my life, my story is being
majestically at the entrance of Buca
a hill just by the beach and you can see added to that of my people.
(pronounce as BU THE) bay in northern
houses snuggled in amongst trees with This is an incredible story that I am proud
Fiji, you could mistake Kioa for part of
raised wooden or bamboo floors. to be part of. My roots play a significant
the main land.
The people of Kioa earn money by selling part in my identity and therefore I am
Thirty-seven Tuvaluans set sail on an
copra which is dried coconut flesh that is forever bonded to my roots.
incredible journey from Tuvalu to Kioa
used to make oil. Within a year the island
in search of greener pastures. They
produces over 12 tonnes of copra. The
travelled over 10,000km and had
people survived and thrived with only
with them only enough provisions to
their skills of farming and fishing and the
last the journey.
strength of community.
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 21| COVID –19
One mission,
working
with police
B ED ITO R
Y R E B ECCA Q U I LLIAM
When the country’s
I
n order to get police staff to the “The flight picked up police staff from
southern border to support their the Southern, Canterbury, Tasman,
Covid settings shifted colleagues at checkpoints the Wellington Districts and our training
Air Force was happy to supply a C-130 service centre,” Assistant Commissioner
to a mix of Alert Level 3 Hercules to help them out. Chambers said.
and 4 recently, police New Zealand Police Assistant “Defence played a significant part in us
from around Aotearoa Commissioner Richard Chambers said
the Covid experience for everyone had
being able to get staff to the checkpoints
seamlessly. It took the pressure off
were required to patrol been challenging and, for police staff, it logistics for our first contingent.”
was different to the traditional policing
borders north and south experience on the front line.
With the Defence Force creating
that opportunity, it reflected the
of Tāmaki Makaurau. “When we experienced this latest good relationship between the two
lockdown, there were police staff around organisations, he said.
the country who were keen to contribute
“We also appreciate the Defence
to the border effort, which was a
Force’s understanding of our operating
significant contribution of police staff
environment and how time-critical
around the clock.”
things were and how important it was
Police were needed at the boundary to get police staff from around the
separating Auckland from Waikato, so country to support our colleagues in
a C-130 crew set about picking up 32 Tāmaki Makaurau.”
officers from Otago to Manawatu to
Assistant Commissioner Chambers said
transport them to Hamilton.
the flight was “quite an experience”,
because many officers hadn’t travelled
on a C-130 before.
22 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240C OV I D –19 |
“I went up to Base Ohakea to see them
come through. As the plane arrived and
Assistant Commissioner Chambers
also had the opportunity to visit some
“We’re obviously very
taxied in, my police colleagues were checkpoints during this latest lockdown grateful for the support
taking photos and facetiming their
children to show them the aircraft
and observed Police and Defence staff
working together.
from Defence and it
they were about to travel in and talking
“I saw them engaging with members of made it a lot easier
with them about being away from home
for a while looking after checkpoints in
the public and working through some
pretty challenging issues that they
for us to make things
the north.
confronted at the border. happen fast."
“I thought that was rather poignant,
“It demonstrates the close relationship – Assistant Commissioner
because what it said to me was that,
between our organisations, but also an
working on a checkpoint is not the most Richard Chambers
appreciation of what we are trying to do
exciting thing for them to be doing in the
– keep our country and people safe. Our
police, but for the Defence Force to allow
organisations have one mission – to keep
us to travel on a Hercules, it created
people’s safety and wellbeing front of
memories for staff and their families that
mind,” he said.
was a little bit different,” he said.
“It was just so good seeing the
“And when I spoke with Defence Force
Defence Force working alongside
staff at Ohakea and those inside
NZ Police in that operational
the Hercules they were so obliging,
environment so seamlessly and for
professional and caring in terms of
that we are really grateful.”
making sure our staff travelling on the
aircraft – particularly those who hadn’t
travelled that way before knew what
to expect.”
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 23| SAFETY 24 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240
SAFETY |
Pronounced safety
focus for pilots
To mark te wiki o te reo Māori, Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa (the Royal New Zealand
Air Force) and Te Mana Rererangi Tūmatanui o Aotearoa (the Civil Aviation
Authority) have banded together to encourage all pilots to pronounce Māori place
names correctly in their radio calls to one another.
“T “If we don’t understand
here is a safety element The Civil Aviation Authority’s Vector
in making sure everyone magazine reported an anecdote where a
understands where a pilot is pilot was flying near Queenstown and at where a pilot is because
when they broadcast a position at low
level,” said Wing Commander (WGCDR)
the time was new to the area.
they use a different
“I’d done all the necessary preflight
Tim Costley, Commanding Officer of the
planning and felt like I’d anticipated and pronunciation, or a
Air Force’s Flying Training Wing, which
trains all new military aircrew.
planned for all likely scenarios. But as I
approached ZQN, I began to hear local
local abbreviation
“In New Zealand aviation we have ‘visual traffic refer to the Kaworrer River. I didn’t that most pilots won’t
reporting points’ which are prominent
geographical points or places that pilots
know the name and was worried I’d got
a bit lost.
recognise, it can lead
use to let other pilots know exactly
“I started to quickly consult my charts – to confusion in the air,
where they are when flying at low level.
This helps pilots to build a picture in their
crucially, taking me away from lookout.
It was only after someone radioed
which ultimately can
mind of other traffic so they can avoid
each other safely,” he said.
that I was ‘passing over it now’ that I jeopardise safety.”
realised the locals were referring to the
“If we don’t understand where a Kawarau River.” – Wing Commander Tim Costley
pilot is because they use a different
The magazine also spoke with students
pronunciation, or a local abbreviation
and long-time pilots who said the same
that most pilots won’t recognise, it
thing – it’s sometimes hard to know
can lead to confusion in the air, which
where an aircraft is if the pilot is using
ultimately can jeopardise safety.
their own interpretation of a te reo Māori
“This can be a problem. I remember visual reporting point.
flying around New Zealand hearing pilots
“‘Locals will argue that ‘it’s always been
report being at ‘Bob’s shed’ or ‘the green
said this way’ and, like colloquial VRPs,
barn’ and not knowing how close they
it works well for them. But the itinerant
were to me. The same issue can arise in
pilots – even those who’ve carried out
te reo Māori,” WGCDR Costley said.
the best flight planning – have no clue.
“Ultimately we just need to know the And a mystified itinerant pilot is not
position of every aircraft that could be conducive to safety,” the magazine said.
near us in the sky. Confusion could be
disastrous. Safety underpins everything
we do. Setting the same high standards
in the use of te reo Māori as we do in
other flight safety procedures is another
step in meeting that responsibility.”
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 25| O U R H E R I TA G E
Meeting the
challenge of
Covid-19
B A I R FO RC E M U S EU M O F N E W ZE A L A N D
Y M ICH E LLE SI M
While somewhat
F
lexibility, creativity and proactivity The Museum is a charitable trust,
have all been key attributes operated in partnership between the
removed from the employed by the Air Force Defence Force and RNZAF Museum
Museum team as we’ve worked to Trust Board. The Defence Force covers
front line of the NZDF’s address fluctuating visitor numbers and operational costs such as infrastructure,
Covid-19 response, a drop in crucial revenue streams since facilities, utilities, and a significant portion
Covid-19 first arrived in New Zealand. of staff salaries, while the Trust Board
our service museums When we emerged from the first
own the collection and have governance
have not been immune nationwide lockdown in May 2020, we
responsibility for the Museum.
had little idea what the immediate future They are also responsible for generating
to the impact of the would hold for the Museum. Having funds to be reinvested in the Museum’s
global pandemic. attracted over 152,000 visitors in the core outputs – in short, helping ensure
previous financial year, approximately our Air Force’s history is preserved
a third of whom were international and stories shared in the context of an
tourists, we were steeling ourselves for a accessible, world class visitor attraction.
significant decrease, accompanied by a This additional revenue funds the
corresponding drop in income. Museum’s free admission and education
programmes, as well as supporting
aircraft conservation projects and
collections care, exhibitions, and other
visitor experiences.
26 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240O U R H E R I TA G E |
A large portion of this self-generated The job is by no means done, however,
income comes from venue hire for as our crucial income streams continue
corporate functions and events, as well to be far from certain. One way you can
as sales from the Museum Shop and help support us and the work we do
public donations; all of which have taken to preserve and share the Air Force’s
a hit from Covid-related restrictions. history is by making a purchase from our
shop, either in store or online.
In response to this, the team met the
challenge with new domestically- With Christmas fast approaching, you’ll
focussed marketing campaigns, find plenty of aviation-themed gift ideas
community initiatives, in-house from books to clothing, badges and
small venue hire operations, and shop patches, toys and more. This year our
sale strategies. team have released an exclusive, limited
edition t-shirt, designed in-house to
The effects of this proactive approach
reflect the Air Force’s current fleet, as
were evident when we ended the
a complement to the ‘AFM Collection’
2020/21 financial year having drawn O R D E R YO U R S O N L I N E !
design, which represents the historic
151,046 visitors to the Museum (just
aircraft in our collection. The Museum Shop is taking
1,600 less than our highest ever total),
and an additional 80,898 corporate pre-orders for this ‘Current Fleet’
visitors to the site. t-shirt now, for delivery before
Christmas. Show your support for
your Air Force, while also helping
your Museum! Available now at:
www.airforcemuseum.co.nz/shop.
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 27| INVICTUS
LEFT
(L–R) F/S Andrea McNabb,
MAJ Kiely Pepper, Paulette Doctor,
Robert Graham
RIGHT
(L–R) F/S Andrea McNabb,
MAJ Kiely Pepper,
Paulette Doctor
Invictus
athletes unite
against cancer
B S EN I O R CO M M U N I CATI O N S A DV I SO R
Y LUCY HAN DFOR D
The Invictus Games
W
hen Paulette “Doc” Doctor F/S McNabb, who joined the Air Force
(Navy), Major (MAJ) Kiely twenty years ago, said she was quite
may have been delayed Pepper (Army) and Robert taken aback when she heard about MAJ
“Tiny” Graham (Army), learnt that their Pepper, Tiny and Doc’s plans to shave
due to Covid-19, but Invictus team-mate Flight Sergeant (F/S) their hair off.
that hasn’t stopped four Andrea McNabb, was going to lose her
The genesis of the idea came from
hair due to the aggressive chemotherapy
Defence Force athletes treatment she is undergoing, the trio
Tiny, who has spent 27 years in uniform
and almost nine years as a civilian in
from joining forces decided to shave their heads in an act of
solidarity and support, while also raising
Operational Logistics Support. With a
history of bowel cancer in his family,
in support of a cause funds for the Missing Wingman Trust.
Tiny decided to get his head shaved
that carries personal In 2016, F/S McNabb was diagnosed with when he learnt that Andrea was about
a rare ‘one in a million’ adrenal cancer. to lose her hair.
significance for each of She underwent surgery to remove a
Tiny said that shaving his head and
them. While the athletes 10cm tumour and was given the all clear
until June 2018 when she found out that
moustache was the easy part, it was
more about the gesture and letting
come from different the cancer had returned. At the end of
“Nabbs” as he affectionately calls her,
last year, F/S McNabb was given a new
ranks and Services, prognosis: the cancer was terminal.
know she is never alone in her journey.
they have something in She is currently undergoing aggressive
“Despite her condition and ongoing
treatment, Nabbs continues to be a
common: cancer. chemotherapy treatment to prolong her
life so she can spend as much time as
beacon of strength for our whole Invictus
whānau. Internally she could be battling,
possible with her husband Rob, their six
but this seems to encourage her more to
children and their two grandsons.
make the most of all opportunities and
situations and see the best in everything,
especially her iwi whānau,” he said.
28 | AIR FORCE NEWS #240INVICTUS |
MAJ Pepper and Doc soon followed suit.
MAJ Pepper, who joined the Army in 1996
“We all need strength when we reach a
point we struggle to overcome. Having
“I didn’t expect it from
as an Education Officer, and is now a those around us to be able to show their them, or anyone to cut
Logistics Officer, says it’s possible that
Invictus Games members share a similar
support in such a visual way can be
hugely empowering for the fighter. I’m a
their hair. I appreciate
dark sense of humour when it comes to firm believer in giving when I can for the how they eased me
facing challenges and adversity. She also greater reason and if that can enable
experienced losing her hair when she just one other person to become that into the idea that I
underwent chemotherapy treatment for
breast cancer in 2015. But this time, MAJ
empowering force that is worth it on any
given day,” she said.
was going to lose my
Pepper explains, she had a choice. So far, the group has raised $1,307.50
hair and what I could
“Losing your hair can make you feel and for the Missing Wingman’s Trust. But the potentially look like.
look quite different and it’s uncomfortable story doesn’t end there, F/S McNabb’s
when people, whether you know them or longtime friend and colleague in the It really is a very
not, do a double-take when they notice
your lack of hair.
Air Force, F/S Sandi Cooper is shaving
her hair too. The money she raises on
selfless act on their
“Now, when I look in the mirror I am
her Givealittle fundraising page will go behalf which tells me
reminded of Andrea’s health. My
directly to F/S McNabb so she can spend
time in Rarotonga with her family. To find
I must mean something
appearance has also sparked discussion,
and that’s good, it means we’re raising
out more, search for: “McNabb’s Memory to them.”
Making Mission” on the Givealittle website.
awareness about the mental and physical
health of people who are fighting cancer,”
– Flight Sergeant McNabb
she said.
Able Communications Warfare Specialist,
Doc, who has served in the Navy for over
22 years, had her own fight with cancer in
2008 and 2013. She said the decision to
stand in solidarity with F/S McNabb was
easy to make.
AIR FORCE NEWS #240 | 29You can also read
