Address to Auckland and Northland Battalion Group Delta Company HQ opening ceremony

Good morning Dame Catherine Tizard, your Worship the Mayor, Brigadier David McGregor, and other honoured guests and members of the New Zealand Army and Reserve.

It's a great pleasure to be here today for the official opening ceremony of the Auckland and Northland Battalion Delta Company's Company Headquarters. 

Today marks the return of Delta Company to South Auckland after a period based in Central Auckland. 

As the Member of Parliament for Papakura, I'd like to welcome Delta Company home. 

I'm sure your return will prove to be a great chance for the people of South Auckland to extend our contact and involvement with the New Zealand Army Reserve. 

The Territorial Force of the New Zealand's Army is made up of volunteers from all walks of life who take time away from their civilian lives for at least 20 days a year to serve their country.

It's a great example of the ethos of service and sacrifice which characterises the New Zealand Defence Force and the great ANZAC tradition. 

The Territorial Force has been an integral part of the New Zealand Armed Forces for over 100 years.

The Territorials were the backbone of New Zealand's First World War effort, providing the various Battalions for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at a time when the country had no Regular full-time Battalions. 

And again during World War II, Territorial Force officers formed the backbone of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force leadership. 

In my capacity as Minister of Veterans' Affairs, I have had the opportunity to see how the Army Reserve's role has adapted to the modern age.

The Territorial Force now fulfils a new and vital role of providing trained volunteers for overseas missions. 

Over the six rotations of New Zealand personnel in East Timor, some 600 Territorial Force soldiers filled various positions within the Regular Force units, making up shortfalls in personnel and providing specialist capabilities such as Civil and Military Affairs.

Subsequently, Territorial Force soldiers have volunteered for other overseas missions, taking time off from their normal civilian employment to serve as part of New Zealand's commitment to regional stability and international peace.

Individuals and small groups of Territorials have served alongside their Regular Force counterparts in Bougainville, Bosnia, the Sinai, Lebanon and Afghanistan, while successive units made up primarily of Territorials took over responsibility for New Zealand's commitment to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands. 

Over 300 Army Reserve Soldiers have deployed overseas in the last two years and Army Reserve soldiers are currently active in Afghanistan, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, the Sinai, Lebanon and Korea. 

The often complex overseas environments in which New Zealand's soldiers find themselves require a wide range of skills.

I believe that one of the great strengths of the Army Reserve is that these soldiers come from such disparate professional and personal backgrounds.

This means the Army Reserve has a correspondingly wide pool of soldiers' experience to draw on, all of which contribute something additional to the mission. 

So as we celebrate the opening of the Auckland and Northland Battalion Delta Company's new headquarters, let us take the time to thank the Army Reserve soldiers here today for their dedication to duty and the sacrifice of time, and sometimes safety, that they have made on behalf of all New Zealanders. 

It's been my privilege to be here today to welcome you back to Papakura. 

I'm sure this will prove to be a great new home for the company through the years to come.

Thank you.