Waiouru Army Camp
Encyclopedia
The Waiouru Army Camp is a base of the New Zealand Army
in the central North Island near Waiouru
.
Waiouru is often referred to by soldiers as the home of the army as it houses the army marae
and is the base where all New Zealand Army soldiers complete their initial basic training called All Arms Recruit Course (AARC). The Marae (which is located inside the camp housing area) is also the home of Ngati Tumatauenga, literally translated this means 'the people of the God of War' and is the tribe that all NZ Army personnel are inducted into on joining.
Artillery
men were the first soldiers to use Waiouru. In 1937 Waiouru farmhand Cedric Arthur wrote:
The rumour was correct. A month after war
was declared in 1939, most of the leasehold Waiouru run was taken back by the Crown.
While this was still going on, hundreds of soldiers camped under canvas in the snow and completed extensive field training.
By Christmas 1940, there were 230 buildings erected, served by 20 km of streets, and 8 km each of water mains, power lines and sewers.
By mid-1941, seven regimental camps housed 7000 soldiers. There was a bakery, a hospital, two movie theatres and 5 "Institutes," each with a concert hall, library, writing room and tearooms. But there were no bars: the boys had to go to Taihape to get a beer.
In August 1941, it was decided to establish an Armoured Fighting Vehicle School and also a Command and Staff School at Waiouru. (Croon 1941)
By the end of the war, £1.2 million (NZ$2.4 million) had been spent on developing the camp, and 340 km² had been acquired for training. (Brief 1987).
The Army Schools at Trentham were to be transferred to Waiouru; Compulsory Military Training was about to commence; and with defence responsibilities shifting to South-East Asia, the Army needed forests for jungle warfare training.
All these pressures eventually resulted in another 250 km² of land to the north and east being acquired. And in 1955, the 1st NZSAS Squadron started jungle training in some of this newly acquired land, in Paradise Valley. (Brief 1987)
was carried out at Waiouru from 1950 to 1958, and balloted national service from 1962 to 1972.
In 1978, the Army Museum New Zealand opened at Waiouru, and in 1985 the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand.
These were Waiouru's busiest years. There were 100 recreational clubs active in the 1970s and 80s, with 300 members in the Ski Club alone. Waiouru had a population of 6000 people, including 600 children.
. By 1990 Waiouru’s permanent population had fallen to about 3000. However several hundred additional service personnel were in Waiouru on courses at any given time. In 1991 nearly three thousand soldiers were trained in Waiouru on 275 courses. (Newspaper 1991)
With the reorganisation of armoured force personnel in 2005, and their departure from ATG, Waiouru’s population dropped to about 2000. But with its central location, and 600 km² of varied landforms, it was still a much-used training area. The 1400 beds in the barracks were frequently full, with others using the satellite camps or sleeping in the field.
Waiouru continues to be the base for TAD (The Army Depot) and is the integral training base for the New Zealand Army. Most of the service people posted to Waiouru today are there to support training courses such as the All Arms Recruit Course (basic training.)
stated (in the Army News 13 April 2004) that Waiouru was a strong factor in defining the Army, and the majority of courses, especially the more challenging ones, are run there. The camp also houses the School of Military Intelligence and Security
for the New Zealand Intelligence Corps
.
signed between the Ministry of Defence (New Zealand)
and the Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
since 1985, the vast live-firing range of the camp had been used by the Singapore Army
for the test firing of their 155 mm howitzer guns — such as the FH-88
, FH-2000
, SLWH Pegasus
and the SSPH Primus
. On several occasions, Waiouru army camp also played host to the visiting Singapore Army's artillery battalion during bi-lateral military training exercises.
in the barrel of a FH-2000
gun howitzer during a live firing exercise
conducted by the 23rd Battalion, Singapore Artillery of Singapore Army
at the artillery range of Waiouru Army Camp. This resulted in the fatality
of two full-time national servicemen
of the battalion, Third Sergeant
Ronnie Tan Han Chong and Lance Corporal
Low Yin Tit. In addition, 12 other servicemen were injured in the incident, including a Staff Sergeant
from New Zealand Army
, who was part of a group of New Zealand Defence Force
liaison officer/observer to the visiting SAF battalion.
The explosion was caused by a defective fuze. When all the other 155mm fuzes were X-rayed, 1 in every 80 were found to be defective. All fuzes are now X-rayed before use. And the SAF no longer obtains fuzes from Island Ordnance Systems, USA, or from its sub-contractor, Xian Dong Fang Machinery Factory, China.
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
in the central North Island near Waiouru
Waiouru
Waiouru is a small town in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is on the North Island Volcanic Plateau, 25 kilometres south-east of Mount Ruapehu, and in the Ruapehu District....
.
Waiouru is often referred to by soldiers as the home of the army as it houses the army marae
Marae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
and is the base where all New Zealand Army soldiers complete their initial basic training called All Arms Recruit Course (AARC). The Marae (which is located inside the camp housing area) is also the home of Ngati Tumatauenga, literally translated this means 'the people of the God of War' and is the tribe that all NZ Army personnel are inducted into on joining.
The military camp
When the Government needed a training area in the North Island for its Territorial Forces in the 1930s, the Waiouru sheep station was ideal, with vast areas of cheap open land, and with ready road and rail access to all the North Island coastline.Artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
men were the first soldiers to use Waiouru. In 1937 Waiouru farmhand Cedric Arthur wrote:
- The Military (artillery) Camp is here again for its annual big shoot, so Waiouru is exceedingly busy with huge lorries, tractors, guns and horses, not to mention soldiers galore.... It has been rumoured around here that the Minister of Defence has bought 15 miles of Waiouru to make a permanent Camp here. (Arthur 1984)
The rumour was correct. A month after war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was declared in 1939, most of the leasehold Waiouru run was taken back by the Crown.
Wartime camp
At the beginning of the winter of 1940, 800 construction workers from the Ministry of Works laboured 20 hours a day building a camp for training 7000 Territorials at a time. Within six weeks 25,000 tons of building materials arrived at Waiouru Railway Station. 450,000 tonnes of earth was shifted to make a flat area for the camp.While this was still going on, hundreds of soldiers camped under canvas in the snow and completed extensive field training.
By Christmas 1940, there were 230 buildings erected, served by 20 km of streets, and 8 km each of water mains, power lines and sewers.
By mid-1941, seven regimental camps housed 7000 soldiers. There was a bakery, a hospital, two movie theatres and 5 "Institutes," each with a concert hall, library, writing room and tearooms. But there were no bars: the boys had to go to Taihape to get a beer.
In August 1941, it was decided to establish an Armoured Fighting Vehicle School and also a Command and Staff School at Waiouru. (Croon 1941)
By the end of the war, £1.2 million (NZ$2.4 million) had been spent on developing the camp, and 340 km² had been acquired for training. (Brief 1987).
Postwar
By 1949 an urgent need arose for much more land. The track across the desert through the middle of the artillery range was going to be upgraded into a major State Highway, and a line of high-voltage power pylons was planned for up the Moawhango valley.The Army Schools at Trentham were to be transferred to Waiouru; Compulsory Military Training was about to commence; and with defence responsibilities shifting to South-East Asia, the Army needed forests for jungle warfare training.
All these pressures eventually resulted in another 250 km² of land to the north and east being acquired. And in 1955, the 1st NZSAS Squadron started jungle training in some of this newly acquired land, in Paradise Valley. (Brief 1987)
Waiouru's busiest years
Compulsory military trainingCompulsory Military Training in New Zealand
Compulsory military training , a form of conscription, has been used in New Zealand during a number of historical periods.-Origins and world wars:CMT was first introduced in New Zealand with the Defence Act of 1909...
was carried out at Waiouru from 1950 to 1958, and balloted national service from 1962 to 1972.
In 1978, the Army Museum New Zealand opened at Waiouru, and in 1985 the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand.
These were Waiouru's busiest years. There were 100 recreational clubs active in the 1970s and 80s, with 300 members in the Ski Club alone. Waiouru had a population of 6000 people, including 600 children.
Declining use
In the 1980s some training was discontinued, and some army units began to be transferred to LintonLinton Army Camp
Linton Army Camp is the largest New Zealand Army base and is home to the 2nd Land Force Group. It is located just south of Palmerston North.Units based at Linton:* HQ 2 Land Force Group* 16 Field Regiment...
. By 1990 Waiouru’s permanent population had fallen to about 3000. However several hundred additional service personnel were in Waiouru on courses at any given time. In 1991 nearly three thousand soldiers were trained in Waiouru on 275 courses. (Newspaper 1991)
With the reorganisation of armoured force personnel in 2005, and their departure from ATG, Waiouru’s population dropped to about 2000. But with its central location, and 600 km² of varied landforms, it was still a much-used training area. The 1400 beds in the barracks were frequently full, with others using the satellite camps or sleeping in the field.
Waiouru continues to be the base for TAD (The Army Depot) and is the integral training base for the New Zealand Army. Most of the service people posted to Waiouru today are there to support training courses such as the All Arms Recruit Course (basic training.)
Future
As for the Army’s future at Waiouru, Maj Gen Jerry MateparaeJerry Mateparae
Lieutenant General Sir Jeremiah "Jerry" Mateparae, GNZM, QSO is New Zealand's 20th Governor-General. He was Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force between 2006 and 2011, the first Māori person to hold the office, and the Director of the New Zealand Government Communications Security Bureau from 7...
stated (in the Army News 13 April 2004) that Waiouru was a strong factor in defining the Army, and the majority of courses, especially the more challenging ones, are run there. The camp also houses the School of Military Intelligence and Security
School of Military Intelligence and Security
The School of Military Intelligence and Security is the New Zealand Intelligence Corps school. It is presently located at the Waiouru Army Camp. It is responsible for training NZIC personnel and other members of the New Zealand Defence Force in aspects of intelligence and security....
for the New Zealand Intelligence Corps
New Zealand Intelligence Corps
The New Zealand Intelligence Corps analyses information from a variety of sources and provides commanders with intelligence on such things as enemy locations, capabilities and intentions. The NZIC is one of the smallest corps in the New Zealand Army. It was formed in 1942, apparently disbanded in...
.
The Singapore connection
As part of a Memorandum of understandingMemorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
signed between the Ministry of Defence (New Zealand)
Ministry of Defence (New Zealand)
The New Zealand Ministry of Defence is the arm of the New Zealand Government charged with providing advice on defence matters, as well as providing civilian administration and oversight over the New Zealand Defence Force....
and the Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
The Ministry of Defence is a ministry of the Government of Singapore entrusted with overseeing the national defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. It is the headquarters of the Singapore Armed Forces...
since 1985, the vast live-firing range of the camp had been used by the Singapore Army
Singapore Army
The Singapore Army is the branch of the Singapore Armed Forces responsible for land operations. It is the largest of the three armed services and heavily reliant on a conscript army, comprising the majority of Singapore's Operationally Ready National Servicemen .-Capabilities:The mission of the...
for the test firing of their 155 mm howitzer guns — such as the FH-88
FH-88
The FH-88 or Field Howitzer 88 was the first locally-designed howitzer developed for the Singapore Army. It is a 155 mm/39-calibre towed howitzer gun.-Development:...
, FH-2000
FH-2000
The FH-2000 or Field Howitzer 2000 was developed by Singapore Technologies for Singapore Army. It is a 155 mm/52-calibre towed howitzer gun. It fires projectiles to a maximum range of 42 kilometers using special extended range ammunition, that was field tested in New Zealand...
, SLWH Pegasus
SLWH Pegasus
The Singapore Light Weight Howitzer Pegasus is a helicopter-transportable, towed artillery piece. Developed jointly by the Singapore Armed Forces , Defence Science and Technology Agency and ST Kinetics, it was commissioned on 28 October 2005...
and the SSPH Primus
SSPH Primus
The Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 Primus is a self-propelled howitzer armed with a 155 mm howitzer. Developed jointly by the Singapore Armed Forces , Defence Science and Technology Agency and Singapore Technologies Kinetics , it was introduced to the Singapore Artillery in 2004...
. On several occasions, Waiouru army camp also played host to the visiting Singapore Army's artillery battalion during bi-lateral military training exercises.
Incident
On 9 March 1997, a 155mm artillery round explodedExplosion
An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperatures and the release of gases. An explosion creates a shock wave. If the shock wave is a supersonic detonation, then the source of the blast is called a "high explosive"...
in the barrel of a FH-2000
FH-2000
The FH-2000 or Field Howitzer 2000 was developed by Singapore Technologies for Singapore Army. It is a 155 mm/52-calibre towed howitzer gun. It fires projectiles to a maximum range of 42 kilometers using special extended range ammunition, that was field tested in New Zealand...
gun howitzer during a live firing exercise
Live fire exercise
A live fire exercise or LFX is any exercise in which a realistic scenario for the use of specific equipment is simulated. In the popular lexicon this is applied primarily to tests of weapons or weapon systems that are associated with the various branches of a nation's armed forces, although the...
conducted by the 23rd Battalion, Singapore Artillery of Singapore Army
Singapore Army
The Singapore Army is the branch of the Singapore Armed Forces responsible for land operations. It is the largest of the three armed services and heavily reliant on a conscript army, comprising the majority of Singapore's Operationally Ready National Servicemen .-Capabilities:The mission of the...
at the artillery range of Waiouru Army Camp. This resulted in the fatality
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
of two full-time national servicemen
National Service in Singapore
Conscription in Singapore, called National Service , requires all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who have reached the age of 18 to enrol in the military...
of the battalion, Third Sergeant
Third Sergeant
Third Sergeant is a Specialist rank in the Singapore Armed Forces. Third Sergeants are the most junior of Specialists, ranking above Corporal First Class, who, in the SAF, are not considered Specialists and do not have command authority...
Ronnie Tan Han Chong and Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
Low Yin Tit. In addition, 12 other servicemen were injured in the incident, including a Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
from New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
, who was part of a group of New Zealand Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
The New Zealand Defence Force consists of three services: the Royal New Zealand Navy; the New Zealand Army; and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Commander-in-Chief of the NZDF is His Excellency Rt. Hon...
liaison officer/observer to the visiting SAF battalion.
The explosion was caused by a defective fuze. When all the other 155mm fuzes were X-rayed, 1 in every 80 were found to be defective. All fuzes are now X-rayed before use. And the SAF no longer obtains fuzes from Island Ordnance Systems, USA, or from its sub-contractor, Xian Dong Fang Machinery Factory, China.