Dear New Zealand Defence Force,

Background

1. In November 2013, a Deed of Gift was entered into between a retired RNZChD chaplain and the RNZChD. Serial one of the Deed of Gift reads: "This Deed describes the gifting, us of, control and disposal of Six Paintings and digital images presented to the Royal New Zealand Chaplains Department (RNZChD) by Lt Col M. S (donator)"

2. The parties agreed in the Deed of Gift that a chapel print will be presented to RNZChD Chaplains on their release from service. Serial three of the Deed of Gift reads; "The digital images of these painting are to be used for the production of prints to be presented to RNZChD Chaplains on their release from service and the number of images used to create the individual prints will be determined by the RNZChD Regimental Colonel."

3. The parties agreed in the Deed of Gift that a chapel print will be presented as a gift to RNZChD chaplains upon release who are CHAP3 or higher. Serial four of the Deed of Gift reads; "The presentation of prints as a gift will be to RNZChD Chaplains who make the level of Chaplain Class 3 or higher. In recognition of their length of service and that they are now Senior Chaplains within RNZChD Corp."

4. The parties agreed in the Deed of Gift to formal roles for (PC (A))- Regimental Colonel and the RNZChD Corps Fund Secretary. Serial five of the Deed of Gift reads; "Prints are to be sequentially numbered and the RNZChD Corp Fund Secretary is to keep a record of the print numbers and who they are presented to."

5. My understanding is that there is a small number of released RNZChD chaplains who have attained the rank of CHAP3 but have not been presented or even offered the donators generous gift of a Chapel print.

6. As a past member of both the RNZChD and RNZChD Corps Fund, I am very aware that, for ex financial members of the RNZChD Corps Fund, the donators gift is presented at no cost to the released chaplain. The fund pays for appropriate printing and framing. This was often referred to as being a benefit of being a member of the fund.

Information sought.
1. In the period of November 2013 to April 2026, how many RNZChD chaplains have been released from service who have attained the rank of CHAP3 or higher?

2. As agreed in seral five of the Deed of Gift, how many prints have been presented to released RNZChD chaplains according to the RNZChD Corps Fund Secretary’s records?

3. Is there any information that you can provide that explains the current praxis of not every released RNZChD chaplain being offered the donators gift of a Chapel print?

4. Is there any official information that you can provide that would demonstrate that PCA-Regimental Colonel or the RNZChD Corps Fund Secretary have any discretion as to which CHAP3 RNZChD Chaplains, upon release, are presented with the donators gift- or not?

5. Is there any official information that you can provide that would demonstrate that the donator has been informed and consented to a variance of the presentation criteria as agreed to between him and the RNZChD in the Deed of Gift?

6. There have been reports in recent years critical of NZDF Chaplaincy leadership’s praxis of deciding to not follow the rules of the NZDF. Considering this, external to the RNZChD, where is the appropriate place in the NZDF for affected released RNZChD chaplains or the donator to raise further concerns?

Yours faithfully,

Rev. Hamish Kirk