Chief of Navy (New Zealand)
| Chief of Navy | |
|---|---|
 Naval Ensign of New Zealand | |
since 27 August 2024 | |
| New Zealand Defence Force | |
| Abbreviation | CN |
| Member of | Navy Leadership Board |
| Reports to | Chief of Defence Force |
| Term length | Three years (renewable) |
| Formation | 1 October 1941 |
| First holder | Commodore Edward Parry |
| Deputy | Deputy Chief of Navy |
| Website | Official website |
Chief of Navy (CN) commands the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and is responsible to the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) for raising, training and sustaining those forces necessary to meet agreed government outputs. The CN acts as principal advisor to the CDF on Navy matters, and is the most senior appointment in the RNZN. The rank associated with the position is rear admiral, and CNs are generally appointed on a three-year term.[1]
The position was originally created as Chief of Naval Staff and First Naval Member upon the formation of the RNZN on 1 October 1941. A number of the officers who became CNS served as Commodore, Auckland (later named Maritime Component Commander) before taking the helm of the Navy. The title changed to Chief of Naval Staff in 1970, and CN in 2003.[2] Rear Admiral Garin Golding assumed the post on 27 August 2024.[3]
Appointees
The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief of Navy or its preceding positions, with rank and honours as at the completion of the individual's term.[2][4][5]
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief of Naval Staff and First Naval Member | |||||
| 1 | Commodore Edward Parry CB (1893–1972) RN | 1 October 1941 | June 1942 | 8 months | |
| 2 | Commodore Sir Atwell Lake, 9th Baronet CB, OBE (1891–1972) RN | June 1942 | 12 July 1945 | 3 years, 1 month | |
| 3 | Commodore George Haines Faulkner DSC (1893–1983) RN | 13 July 1945 | May 1947 | 1 year, 9 months | |
| 4 | Commodore George Simpson CB, CBE RN | July 1947 | June 1950 | 3 years, 1 month | |
| 5 | Commodore F.A. Balance DSO RN | June 1950 | April 1953 | 2 years, 10 months | |
| 6 | Commodore Sir Charles Madden, 2nd Baronet CB (1906–2001) RN | April 1953 | May 1955 | 2 years, 1 month | |
| 7 | Rear Admiral John McBeath CB, DSO, DSC RN | May 1955 | February 1958 | 2 years, 9 months | |
| 8 | Rear Admiral Michael Villiers OBE (1907–1990) RN | February 1958 | March 1960 | 2 years, 1 month | |
| 9 | Rear Admiral Peter Phipps KBE, DSC & Bar, VRD (1909–1989) [a] | April 1960 | June 1963 | 3 years, 3 months | |
| 10 | Rear Admiral Richard Washbourn CB, DSO, OBE RN/RNZN | June 1963 | October 1965 | 2 years, 4 months | |
| 11 | Rear Admiral John Ross CB, CBE | October 1965 | June 1969 | 3 years, 8 months | |
| 12 | Rear Admiral Lawrence Carr DSC | July 1969 | May 1970 | 10 months | |
| Chief of Naval Staff | |||||
| 1 | Rear Admiral Lawrence Carr CB, DSC | June 1970 | June 1972 | 2 years, 1 month | |
| 2 | Rear Admiral Edward Thorne CB, CBE (1923–2013) | July 1972 | December 1975 | 3 years, 6 months | |
| 3 | Rear Admiral John McKenzie CB, CBE | December 1975 | December 1977 | 2 years | |
| 4 | Rear Admiral Neil Anderson CB, CBE (1927–2010) [a] | December 1977 | April 1980 | 2 years, 4 months | |
| 5 | Rear Admiral Keith Saull CB | April 1980 | April 1983 | 3 years | |
| 6 | Rear Admiral Cedric Steward CB | April 1983 | February 1986 | 2 years, 10 months | |
| 7 | Rear Admiral Lincoln Tempero[6] CB | February 1986 | May 1987 | 1 year, 3 months | |
| 8 | Rear Admiral Douglas Domett CB, CBE | May 1987 | May 1989 | 2 years | |
| 9 | Rear Admiral Somerford Teagle [a] | May 1989 | March 1991 | 1 year, 10 months | |
| 10 | Rear Admiral Ian Hunter CB (1939–2022) | March 1991 | April 1994 | 3 years, 1 month | |
| 11 | Rear Admiral Jack Welch CB | April 1994 | 7 April 1997 | 3 years | |
| 12 | Rear Admiral Fred Wilson CBE, LVO | 8 April 1997 | April 2000 | 2 years, 11 months | |
| 13 | Rear Admiral Peter McHaffie OBE | April 2000 | April 2003 | 3 years | |
| Chief of Navy | |||||
| 1 | Rear Admiral Peter McHaffie CNZM, OBE | April 2003 | 7 April 2004 | 1 year | |
| 2 | Rear Admiral David Ledson ONZM (born 1951) | 8 April 2004 | April 2009 | 4 years, 11 months | |
| 3 | Rear Admiral Tony Parr ONZM, MVO (born 1955) | April 2009 | 29 November 2012 | 3 years, 7 months | |
| 4 | Rear Admiral Jack Steer ONZM | 30 November 2012 | 30 November 2015 | 3 years | |
| 5 | Rear Admiral John Martin ONZM | 30 November 2015 | 29 November 2018 | 2 years, 11 months | |
| 6 | Rear Admiral David Proctor | 29 November 2018 | 16 May 2024 | 5 years, 5 months | |
| 7 | Rear Admiral Garin Golding | 27 August 2024 | Present | 3 months | |
Notes
- ^ a b c was subsequently promoted to vice admiral and appointed Chief of Defence Force.
References
- ^ "RNZN Key Personnel". About Your Navy. Royal New Zealand Navy. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ a b Wynd, Michael. "Lists of Commanding Officers NZ Division of the RN/RNZN Fleets". The Family History Network. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- ^ McCulloch, Craig (28 August 2024). "Army gets first woman chief as new Defence Force leadership announced". RNZ News. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Waters, S.D. (1956). The Royal New Zealand Navy. Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45. Wellington, New Zealand: Historical Publications Branch. p. 539.
- ^ "Chiefs of Navy". Torpedo Bay Navy Museum. National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ Tempero was CO HMNZS Santon in Singapore (A Kiwi on Our Funnel, 95); promoted lieutenant-commander in 1966; COMAUCK 11 April 1983 - 29 January 1986 (see Second Air New Zealand Almanac); and CNS 1986-7.