First Maori chosen to head defence forces

Major-General Jerry Mateparae

The soldier who led New Zealand forces in East Timor is the new head of the country's defence forces.

Major-General Jerry Mateparae, 51, takes over command of 13,000 military and non-military staff across the three services and joint headquarters.

He is the first Maori to head the New Zealand Defence Force.

Major-General Mateparae came in for public attention when he commanded the peace monitoring group in Bougainville in 1998 and was the joint commander of the New Zealand forces in East Timor from 1999 to 2001.

He said it was a huge honour to lead the defence forces and a role he began to aspire to only four years ago.

"I think I bring the quality of consistency, carrying through on commitments made, the values that we hold dear in the Army and the defence force generally, in terms of professionalism."

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Defence Minister Phil Goff said the major-general would be promoted to Lieutenant-General when he replaced Air Marshall Bruce Ferguson from May 1.

As a result of the movement at the top Major-General Lou Gardiner will take over from Major-General Mateparae as Chief of Army, and Air Commodore Graham Lintott will be appointed Chief of Air Force, at the rank of Air Vice-Marshal, to take over from Air Vice-Marshal John Hamilton.

Rear Admiral David Ledson has also had his term as Chief of Navy extended to April 30, 2009, to bring the appointment into line with the other senior roles.

Air Marshall Ferguson said his successor had been a role model for years and would continue to be in his three-year term at the top of the military.

Asked if the appointment was significant for Maori, Major-General Mateparae said: "You will need to go and speak to Maoridom. I have a view. I am immensely proud as a New Zealander, to serve. I am also immensely proud as a member of Ngati Tuwharetoa to be selected."

The military promoted people on merit, he said.

Helen Clark said Major-General Mateparae had a distinguished career and would serve New Zealand well as the head of defence.

His appointment came as a result of a recruitment process by the State Service Commission, but ended up as a return to the tradition of rotating the top job through the three branches of the defence force - Army, Air Force and Navy.

The Prime Minister also praised outgoing Air Marshal Ferguson and Air Vice-Marshal Hamilton for their outstanding service.

Mr Goff said the new head of defence had melded the traditions of the Maori warrior and the British Army to produce great leadership.


The new top brass

* Major General Jerry Mateparae

51, joined the Army in June 1972.

He graduated from the Officer Cadet School at Portsea, Australia, in 1976, and then commanded at platoon, company and battalion level, and served with the SAS.

The Army's land commander in December 1999, he was named Chief of Army in February 2002.

Major General Mataparae commanded the Truce Monitoring Group on Bougainville in 1998, and was Joint Commander for New Zealand Forces in East Timor from December 1999 to July 2001. He was chief observer with the United Nations Truce Supervisory Organisation in Southern Lebanon for a year from May '94.


* Rear-Admiral David Ledson

55, joined the Navy as a cadet midshipman in January 1967, and underwent initial training at the Royal Australian Naval College.

He did his sea training on the HMNZS Taranaki, and also served on the Otago and the Waikato, the command of which he was given in October 1989.

In July 1992 he was appointed as chief of naval development, and was posted to the US Navy War College from July 1994 to June 1995. He was appointed Deputy Chief of Naval Staff in April 2000, and then Maritime Component Commander in July 2001.

He was promoted to Rear-Admiral in April 2004 and assumed the position of Chief of Navy.


* Major General Lou Gardiner

53, joined the Army in January 1971 and did his officer training in Duntroon, Australia.

In April 1994 he was posted to the United Nations Operation Somalia as the Deputy Chief Logistics Officer.

In December 1998 he became Deputy Chief of General Staff. Named Land Commander in January 1999, he was deployed to East Timor in 2000 for 12 months as the chief military observer to the UN Transitional Authority. In July 2001 he was made project officer at Defence Force Headquarters and posted as Head New Zealand Defence Staff, Canberra, in December 2001 and named Commander Joint Forces in November 2004.


* Air Commodore Graham Lintott

50, joined the Air Force in 1973. In 1985 he was posted to the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai as Flight Commander of the Anzac Rotary Wing Unit. He commanded the New Zealand contingent from February 1986.

In May 1986 he took command of 141 Flight in Singapore. He was commander at Ohakea from November 1998 until November 2000, and then Air Component Commander at Joint Force Headquarters in February 2002. He became Joint Forces Commander in September 2004 and was appointed Assistant Chief Strategic Commitments and Intelligence, Defence Force Headquarters, in November 2004.

- NZPA