The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has formally assumed
the hosting and leadership of the Pacific Response Group
(PRG) from the Australian Defence Force (ADF), as the
regional crisis response capability heads into its third
year.
A handover ceremony was held at Headquarters
Joint Forces New Zealand in Trentham, Upper Hutt this
week.
Pacific Response Group is made up of personnel from New
Zealand, Australia, Fiji, France, Papua New Guinea and
Tonga, with Chile participating in a supporting role
(Photo/Supplied)
The PRG,
established in 2024 under the South Pacific Defence
Ministers’ Meeting, is a multinational capability designed
to deliver coordinated military support to humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and crisis response
operations across the Pacific.
The PRG brings together
defence personnel from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, France,
Papua New Guinea and Tonga, with Chile participating in a
supporting role.
Each member nation contributes
specialist planners and staff across key functions including
operations, logistics, intelligence, health and
communications.
Leadership of the PRG has transitioned
from the ADF to the NZDF, reflecting the shared commitment
of partner nations to collective security and resilience in
the Pacific.
Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major
General Rob Krushka said the PRG was a practical
demonstration of Pacific nations working together to support
one another in times of need.
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“Natural disasters in
our region are increasing in frequency. The PRG ensures we
can respond smarter, together.
“This is about
supporting our Pacific neighbours, respecting sovereignty,
and working alongside civilian agencies to deliver the right
assistance at the right time.”
Designed as a
short-notice, deployable headquarters element, the PRG
supports civilian-led responses to disasters, helping
coordinate military contributions and assessing requirements
on the ground.
of Defence Force Air Marshal Tony Davies addresses the
audience (Photo/Supplied)
It can
deploy planning teams to affected areas to determine what
assistance is required, while coordinating the delivery of
critical capabilities with a national disaster management
agency or from contributing nations.
The PRG builds on
decades of Pacific militaries working together during
natural disasters and severe weather events, formalising and
strengthening a cooperative approach to HADR across the
region.
It also enables Pacific countries without
standing militaries to request military support when
disasters strike.
Since becoming operational in late
2024, the PRG has participated in multinational exercises
such as Exercise Croix du Sud in New Caledonia, where it
tested its ability to coordinate complex, large-scale
disaster responses.
Under NZDF leadership, the PRG
will continue to enhance preparedness, interoperability and
readiness across member nations, ensuring the region is
better equipped to respond to future crises.
Major
General Krushka said the handover signalled continuity as
well as progress.
“The transition of leadership
reflects the shared ownership of the PRG. Together, we are
strengthening a capability that is by the Pacific, for the
Pacific.
“New Zealand is proud to assume leadership
of this important initiative, building on the strong
foundations established by Australia and our regional
partners.”
The team will be based alongside the
NZDF’s operational headquarters at Trentham until
mid-2028, when the leadership role will be handed over to
another host
nation.
