Good morning Mr Shaw

 

Your request below has been received and a decision on your request will
be provided as soon as possible and no later than 9 February 2026.

 

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wider public interest will be published on the New Zealand Defence Force
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Regards

 

Corporate and Ministerial Services
Office of the Chief of Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force | Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa

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-----Original Message-----
From: S.E. Shaw [mailto:[FYI request #33328 email]]
Sent: Friday, 19 December 2025 11:10 a.m.
To: Ministerial Services <[NZDF request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Framing of traditional Christians
as enemy in NZ Army training

 

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Dear New Zealand Defence Force,

 

We refer to the internal training documents that were used by 3RCW in
Burnham Military Camp for JNCO Courses in 2025. Specifically we refer to
the General Idea, Company OPORD and other specific OPORDs. We note the
framing of the enemy for the exercises as "Christians extremists" and
their intent to defend "traditional values". Our questions relate to this
and are as follows:

 

1. How widely is this General Idea with this enemy scenario used? i.e.
what units and courses use it?

2. When and by whom was this enemy scenario developed?

3. When and by whom was this enemy scenario approved?

4. Why does this enemy scenario differ from the DATE-P scenarios generally
used by NZ Army?

4. What other current training documents within the NZDF use an enemy
based on Christians or people with traditional values?

6. Given that fictional enemy scenarios are typically built upon actual or
likely adversaries does the NZDF assess Christians or people with
traditional values as a likely adversary?

7. What, if any, communication has occurred from senior leadership
directing alignment to Christians or people with traditional values as a
threat group?

8. What, if any, communication has been provided from government or other
government agencies on Christians or people with traditional values as a
threat group?

 

We acknowledge the effort required in getting answers to these questions
and appreciate your efforts in putting together a response.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

S.E. Shaw

 

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