Dear New Zealand Defence Force,

I would like to request information about whether the New Zealand Defence Force has considered updating its badges, rank insignia, or other emblems to reflect the Tudor Crown and the royal cypher “C III R” for King Charles III.

Specifically:

1. Has the NZDF (or any of its branches, regiments, corps, etc) discussed or made any plans to update insignia, badges, or designs in connection with the new reign?
2. If so, could you please outline what stage that process is at, and whether there is an expected timeline for introducing any new designs?

For context, similar updates have already been made across other Commonwealth militaries including the UK, Canada (albeit with the new Canadian Royal Crown) and most recently in August, Australia updated their badges, rank insignia, etc. Historically, New Zealand has also made similar updates following Queen Elizabeth II’s accession, when the Tudor Crown (used under George VI) was replaced with the St Edward’s Crown on New Zealand military insignia. At present I have noted that these updates have only sporadically and inconsistently appeared on some military insignia such as

• The new colours of 2/1 RNZIR (https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/new...)
• The RNZN officer’s sword – although oddly with both the Tudor crown on the kings cypher and the St Edward’s crown on the Navy badge (https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/new...)
• I also noted that the Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers Facebook page has raised the topic of updates to its badges some time ago (https://www.facebook.com/CorpsOfRoyalNew...)

If any review or planning work has begun within the NZDF for a more consistent and force wide update, I’d be interested in understanding the general approach and state of this process.

Yours faithfully,

Stanley Bannerman