Good morning Richard

 

Your request below has been received and a decision on your request will
be provided as soon as possible and no later than 7 May 2026.

 

Responses to requests for information that are considered to be in the
wider public interest will be published on the New Zealand Defence Force
website ([1]www.nzdf.mil.nz).

 

Regards

 

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

[2]www.nzdf.mil.nz

 

 

 

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Good morning,

 

Please find attached the response to your request.

 

Regards,

 

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

[1]www.nzdf.mil.nz

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: Richard Matthews
[mailto:[FOI #34426 email]]

Sent: Wednesday, 8 April 2026 3:53 p.m.

To: Ministerial Services <[NZDF request email]>

Subject: Official Information request - Commendation following Waiouru
Vehicle Recovery Incident

 

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Dear New Zealand Defence Force,

 

Regarding the proactively released Court of Inquiry (CoI) into 'THE BASIC
MOBILITY COURSE 2022- WAIOURU VEHICLE RECOVERY INCIDENT'.

Link:
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/assets/Uploads/D...

 

Point 5 of the Comments by Assembling Authorities states "I acknowledge
that the soldiers on the ground at the time of the incident acted with
precision and haste, with the Court recommending they be commended for
their actions.

SOCNZ will therefore take this statement into consideration relating to
the individuals involved.".

 

Did SOCNZ investigate providing a 'commendation' to these soldiers?

What 'commendation', if any, has been provided to the soldiers involved in
this incident?

Please provide communication (such as emails) regarding the decision to
either provide or withold a 'commendation' to these soldiers.

If no consideration (by any party) has been given to providing a
'commendation', please state this.

 

Yours faithfully,

Richard Matthews

 

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