The navy's new ship, the tanker Aotearoa will join the major United States-led RIMPAC military exercise, which takes place from late June.
The Defence Force announced on Tuesday the Aotearoa and navy, air force, and army crews were headed to Hawaii and Southern California to participate in the Rim of Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, alongside the militaries of 26 other countries.
“This will be a real test of warfighting capabilities and exciting to be part of for all those involved,” said maritime component commander Commodore Garin Golding, in a statement.
Joining the HMNZS Aotearoa at RIMPAC would be navy dive and hydrography teams that will practice mine countering, an army team that will practice live firing, and staff from all military branches will contribute to air and warfighting operations.
The Defence Force did not specify how many staff would participate in the exercise.
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An Official Information Act request, made public by peace activist Valerie Morse, showed as well as more than 60 staff that crew the HMNZS Aotearoa, there were 34 naval officers, nine army soldiers, and 35 others from across the force attending.
The New Zealand staff would lead a carrier strike group in the exercise, the Defence Force said, for the first time since it began participating in the exercise in 2012.
The US Navy said, in total, the exercise would include 38 ships, four submarines, nine armies, more than 170 aircraft and some 25,000 soldiers. It would take place from June 29 to August 4.
The Aotearoa would remain in the Asia-Pacific region for nearly six months for various engagements that were not specified.
It would attend a fleet review of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force in November, and be back in New Zealand for Christmas.
An activist group has called on the Government to withdraw the Defence Force from RIMPAC, criticising the exercise as jeopardising peace.
Marco de Jong, a member of the Cancel RIMPAC coalition, said New Zealand should “maintain principles distance” from the exercise and participate in alternative security arrangements for the region, such as that of the Pacific Island Forum.
“New Zealand draws its international standing from its place and influence in the Pacific. Playing American lapdog is equivalent to authoritarian apologist and jeopardises New Zealand interests.”
