Starting in 1992 the New Zealand Army underwent a series of re-organisations, and the three New Zealand Logistic Corps: the Royal New Zealand Corps of Transport (RNZCT), the Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (RNZAOC), and the Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RNZEME), came under the spotlight for potential change as increases to efficiencies became the priority.[1]

Observing developments in the United Kingdom where on 5 April 1993 the British Army amalgamated the Royal Corps of Transport, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Pioneer Corps, Army Catering Corps and the Postal Branch of the Royal Engineers into the Royal Logistic Corps the stage was set for a change in New Zealand.[2]

The practice of having the separate New Zealand Logistic Corps remaining as small independent units under different administrative structures was inefficient, and the decision was made to follow the British lead and amalgamate the Logistic Corps of the New Zealand Army into one Logistic Regiment. On 4 April 1996, the Chief of General Staff, Major General P.M. Reid, signed CGS Directive 07 /96, authorising the formation of the New Zealand Logistic Regiment.[3]

The RLC Badge

When the British Army formed the Royal Logistic Corps, a new badge was designed by Sergeant R.R Macneilage of the RAOC in 1991, incorporating aspects of all the forming Corps.[4]

• The outer star form the Royal Corps of Transport badge
• The wreath from the Royal Engineer badge
• The crossed Axes from the Royal Pioneer Corps badge
• The Shield and garter from the Royal Army Ordnance Corps badge, and
• The mottos from the Army Catering Corps badge

The RNZALR Badge

The RNZALR was to amalgamate not only the RNZCT, RNZAOC and RNZEME Corps but also the All Arms Storeman trade personnel from across all Corps and Regiments of the New Zealand Army. To break down the resistance to the new Regiment and extinguish the perceived traits of tribalism that existed amongst the corps and trades about to be amalgamated, [5]  a neutral badge was to be adopted. Following a design competition encompassing 110 designs, a design with no connection to the forming Corps and that was acceptable to the Herald of Arms was selected and approved on 21 October 1996.

The RNZALR badge consists of the following elements;

• A set of green ferns unique to New Zealand providing the main body,
• Crossed Swords representing the Army supporting an oval shield.
• The oval shield has a blue background displaying the stars of the Southern Cross. The Southern Cross is an identifier long associated with New Zealand Army logistics in that it was used as an identifier by;
  • 2NZEF for non-divisional vehicles, primary logistics at Maadi in 1942
  • The Logistic Support Group from the 1960’s
  • Headquarters Support Command up to the early 1990’s
• A riband embossed with “Royal N.Z Army Logistic Regiment.”
• All surmounted with a St Edwards Crown, which represents the ties to the Monarch.

Distinguishing Patches

The formation of the RNZALR saw the introduction of coloured regional distinguishing patches to be worn behind the badge on berets or attached to the left-hand side of the puggaree on the Mounted Rifles hat.[6]

• 1st Base Logistic Battalion, Trentham Camp (Disbanded 30 January 1998)

• 2 Combat Service Support Battalion (Previously 2 Logistic Battalion)

• 3 Combat Service Support Battalion (Previously 3 Logistic Battalion)

• 4th Logistic Battalion, Waiouru Camp (Disbanded 30 June 2001)

• 5th Base Logistic Support Group, Trentham . Retitled to Trentham Regional Support Centre 1 July 2001 and restructured as Trentham Regional Support Battalion on 17 July 2006. (Distinguishing patch no longer used)

• 5 Force Support Company, Auckland (Patch approved but never adopted, unit disestablished)

RNZALR officers and soldiers posted to units other than Logistic Battalions wear the badge with no coloured backing. An exception is the 2/1 Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment where attached RNZALR Officers and Soldiers wear the 2/1 white and black backing.

Interim Embroidered Badges

At the time of the formation of the RNZALR, interim embroidered badges substituted for metal badges, which had not been manufactured at the time.

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Backings for metal badges

When metal badges become available in late 1997, a mixture of cloth and plastic regional distinguishing backings were adopted, although the patch was meant to be a 50mm square, units adopted either a rectangular backing or one in the shape of the badge.

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Pugaree Flashes

Until the withdrawal of the Mounted Rifle Hat in 2017, backing flashes were not worn behind the badge but were worn on the left-hand side of the Pugaree.

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RNZALR Officer Badges

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Variations of Badges

In the time since the introduction of the RNZALR metal Badge, different productions runs have resulted in slight variations of the badge.

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RNZALR Stable Belt

Dispensing with the traditional colourful stable belts based on the parent British Corps, the new RNZALR stable belt includes the following features

• The RNZALR Corps badge in the centrepiece
• The RNZALR motto “Ma Nga Hua Tu Tangata” in the outer piece[7]

At the time of the formation of the RNZALR, the new stable belts were not available, the interim use of blue webbing pistol belts were utilised until the provision of the correct items.

Formation Parades

Her Majesty the Queen approved the disestablishment of the foundation corps to take effect on 8 December 1996 with the formation of the RNZALR to take effect from 9 December 1996.[8] Marked with simultaneous formation parades at the main camps.[9] Officers and soldiers marched on in the embellishments of their parent Corps and marched wearing the embellishments of the RNZALR.[10]

Copyright © Robert McKie 2018

Notes

[1][1] Carol J. Phillips, “The Shape of New Zealand’s Regimental System” (, Massey University, 2006), P.99.

[2] Royal Logistic Corps Museum, “The Royal Logistic Corps and Forming Corps,”  http://rlcmuseum.co.uk/docs/history.html.

[3] “Why? ,” New Zealand Army Publication, Chapter 1, Section 10, Para. 1393.

[4] The Royal Logistic Corps YouTube Channel, “What Makes up the Royal Logistic Corps Cap Badge.,”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6MNuiVm2E4.

[5] Phillips, “The Shape of New Zealand’s Regimental System,” P. 98.

[6] New Zealand Army, NZ P23 – New Zealand Army Orders for Dress (Wellington: New Zealand Defence Force, 1997), Chapter 3, Section 2, Para 30321, Sub-paras f to J.

[7] English translation  “By Our Actions We Are Known.”

[8] “New Zealand Army,” New Zealand Gazette  (1997): P. 4723.

[9] NZ Army Public Information Officer, “Forming of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment,” news release, 5 December 1996.

[10] “Regiment Forms,” Dominion Post, 7 December 1996.