Royal New Zealand Chaplains Department (RNZChD) Corps Fund - Deed of Gift Chapel Prints
Rev. Hamish Kirk made this Official Information request to New Zealand Defence Force
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From: Rev. Hamish Kirk
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
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Defence Force
Good morning,
Your request below has been received a decision on your request will be
provided as soon as possible and no later than 28 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
-----Original Message-----
From: Rev. Hamish Kirk
[mailto:[FOI #34571 email]]
Sent: Thursday, 30 April 2026 8:27 p.m.
To: Ministerial Services <[NZDF request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Royal New Zealand Chaplains
Department (RNZChD) Corps Fund - Deed of Gift Chapel Prints
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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distribute this message or the information in it. If you have received
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References
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1. http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/
2. http://www.nzdf.mil.nz
http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/
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From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Defence Force
Good afternoon,
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
-----Original Message-----
From: Rev. Hamish Kirk
[mailto:[FOI #34571 email]]
Sent: Thursday, 30 April 2026 8:27 p.m.
To: Ministerial Services <[NZDF request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Royal New Zealand Chaplains
Department (RNZChD) Corps Fund - Deed of Gift Chapel Prints
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization.
Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe. If in any doubt, please
forward the email to [email address] and then delete the email from your
Inbox. Thank you
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34571 email]
Is [NZDF request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to New Zealand Defence Force? If so, please contact
us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The information contained in this Internet Email message is intended for
the addressee only and may contain privileged information, but not
necessarily the official views or opinions of the New Zealand Defence
Force. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose,
copy or
distribute this message or the information in it. If you have received
this message in error, please Email or telephone the sender immediately.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.nzdf.mil.nz
http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/
hide quoted sections
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