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    On the battlefield : exploring gendered experiences of being Infantry in the New Zealand Army : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024-09-25) Brosnan, Amy
    Prompted by the question ‘why aren’t there more women in combat trades?’, this research reaches beyond this to ask about the broader gendered context of the Infantry. Bringing in the experiences of both men and women, this thesis contributes a more nuanced understanding of the gendered issues at play by identifying what factors enable or inhibit success. As such, this thesis seeks to address a gap in knowledge that currently exists with respect to the experiences of men and women working together within a hypermasculine gender integrated combat-focused unit. It does so through the conduct of a qualitative study of soldiers enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR) of the New Zealand Army (NZ Army). As this thesis will reveal, the production of ‘war-fighters’ is not an accidental or inevitable process. Infantry soldiers are socialised into certain ways of thinking and doing, and it is the performance of institutionalised habits, traditions and behaviours that makes an individual Infantry. The production of a war fighter is, therefore, a purposeful process of creating a particular type of Infantry soldier that is deemed to be most effective on the battlefield. What also becomes apparent in the course of this research, however, is that ‘success’ within Infantry is a complex concept; one which is underpinned by a specific gender performance, and which requires negotiation of a number of factors that extend beyond the professional realms of the ‘actual job’. Notwithstanding the need to produce ‘war-fighters’ this thesis argues that the way in which Infantry soldiers are produced within the NZ Army perpetuates a very specific masculine gendered ideology within the RNZIR. This ideology is based on both assumptions and understandings (and also misunderstandings) of gender, coupled with a battlefield narrative that inhibits the possibility of contesting the ‘status quo’. This thesis will illustrate that while some of the participants thrive within this context, others do not. Indeed, the gendered ideology which supports ‘the way things are done around here’ inhibits the participation (and retention) of many men and women, including men and women who exhibit the same qualities and attributes that are claimed to be necessary for Infantry success on the modern, or future, battlefield.
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    New Zealand Defence Force nursing officers' navigation of professional accountabilities and role expectations : an exploration informed by Foucauldian concepts : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2021) Sheard, Maree
    Nurses in armed forces are responsible to their defence employers for meeting the expectations of their roles but they also are accountable to nursing regulatory authorities for maintaining the standards expected of members of the nursing profession. Inherent dichotomies exist for those delivering healthcare in defence forces which are known to create challenges for nurses. This research examines the previously unexplored ways in which nurses serving in the New Zealand Army navigate their dual responsibilities. A qualitative approach was employed in the study using information provided by 11 experienced serving and immediate past members of the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps. Foucauldian theoretical concepts underpinned a thematic analysis to reveal patterns in the techniques used by this group of military nurses to maintain professional standards whilst performing their roles. Complex interactions between a range of New Zealand Defence Force policies and nursing practice behaviours were found to impact upon the decisions that military nurses make and the degree of autonomy they possess. Institutional governmentalities drive a focus on combat ideologies and competition which for nurses, compels the suppression of interprofessional collaboration and affects the maintenance of nursing competence. Efforts by nurses to prioritise patient wellbeing and to comply with international humanitarian law are factors in the marginalisation of nurses. Ways in which nurses work to counteract the subordinating effects of an historic but enduring discourse of nurses not being needed has a consequence in that when nurses are needed, they may not be clinically prepared to deliver the care required. Paradoxically, the importance of nurses being operationally deployable positions those who work in clinical practice as holding higher status than more senior ranking nurses who work in management and leadership. This study found that nurses monitor practice environments to ensure that leadership in care delivery follows a congruent model and not the organisationally endorsed transformational leadership style. Consequently military nurses vociferously resist any perceived interference by general military personnel into professional nursing domains. Problematisation of nursing in the Army can delay nurses’ transition into the organisation but ultimately serves to motivate the construction of a strong military nurse identity.
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    The social well-being of women officers who have left the New Zealand Army : "I haven't seen any advantages to being female" : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, School of Management, Massey Business School, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Nelson, Ellen Joan
    Society is recognising the benefits of gender diversity in leadership teams and considerable research exists to support this (Boulton, 2017; Buckingham, 2014; Egnell, 2013; Escobar, 2013; Hoogendoorn, Oosterbeek, & van Praag, 2013; Hunt, Layton, & Prince, 2014; MOD, 2014; Morenzo-Gomez, Lafuente, & Vaillant, 2018; Parsons, 2018). Sexual harassment and bullying is at the forefront of many conversations worldwide, following in particular, the #metoo movement. The NZ Army and the wider NZ Defence Force is no exception, and has come under fire in recent years for it treatment of women (Lawrence, 2018a, 2018b; Livingston, 2017; RadioNZ, 2018; Weekes, 2016). Despite the NZ Army lifting all gender related restrictions in 2000, the proportion of women has remained stagnant at around 13% (Parsons, 2018; Weekes, 2002) for the past two decades. This research examines the social well-being of women officers who have left the NZ Army. A case study approach was used, utilising three forms of data; NZ Army recruiting video advertisements, insider research as I am a member of this group, and interviews with 20 ex-serving women officers. The research is framed with the theoretical concept of social well-being (Keyes, 1998) and this is integrated with the theoretical concepts of authentic leadership and embodied leadership. It was found that recruiting material used during the 1990s and 2000s focused on men. Men were consistently observed doing more physical and command related tasks compared to women. While all of the interviewed women spoke positively about their overall experience in the NZ Army and were all thankful for the opportunities and training received, a number of challenges were identified and discussed. Many of the women officers experienced or observed harassment and gender discrimination. The women identified that the NZ Army trains and forces its leaders to adopt a masculine approach to leadership. In contrast, almost all of the women interviewed conceptualised and exercised leadership in a more feminine manner. Conflict existed, as the women’s feminine approaches were not always valued. This reduced their social well-being and many of the women felt pressured to be more masculine, and therefore, lead in a manner that was less authentic to them. Women officers were judged on their physical appearance which includes their dress and grooming and their physique. Physical performance had an even bigger impact on their social well-being as the NZ Army appears to be very unforgiving of people with low levels of physical performance. This was a particular issue for women with injuries and women struggling with their fitness following the return from maternity leave. All of these findings provide significant evidence to suggest that the NZ Army does not provide an environment that generates social well-being for women officers. This leads to many women officers being worn down and eventually leaving, and therefore does not support the NZ Army’s desire to recruit and retain more women, continuing to limit diversity at the senior level. Recommendations to the NZ Army include: broader representation of women in recruiting advertisements, safer channels for making complaints, a review of the masculine leadership approaches taught at training establishments, introduction of camouflage uniform that fit women’s bodies, and better integration back to physical activities following maternity leave.
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    Lower limb injury prevention in the New Zealand Army : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Sport and Exercise at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Rousseau, Jacques
    Background The mobility of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and its ability to deploy personnel at short notice is compromised by the high number of musculoskeletal injuries, particularly to the lower limbs. Literature searches indicated footwear may be the issue. The aim of this research is to examine the extent of the problem, which injuries and anatomical structures are most affected, the aetiology involved, and finally, the effects of a possible remedial intervention. Methodology Information from 11 years of NZDF injury records were examined. Chi square analysis was used to determine most affected joint(s), injury type and activities (sporting or military). The ankle joint appeared most vulnerable to injury, particularly during sporting or military activities involving running. Traumatic ankle sprains and strains were the most prolific injuries and this occurred when not wearing the military boot. This information was used to determine the subsequent investigations of the biomechanical and neurological aetiology underlying habitual boot-wear that might give rise to these injuries. Ankle range of motion (ROM), endurance strength, power and fatigue were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex) in new recruits and repeated after one year of military boot-wear. Muscle activation of tibialis anterior and both the medial and lateral gastrocnemius were also measured during quiet standing on a force platform to measure postural sway. The same measures of aetiology were conducted on 65 habitual boot wearing regular force military male personnel pre and post-introduction of a low-cut flexible shoe. These 65 personnel all had served greater than two years in the NZDF. At 10 weeks, the effects of pre- and post- flexible shoe wear were measured to determine if the effects of habitual boot-wear could be reversed. Results After 12 months of habitual military boot-wear, ankle ROM was decreased in all planes of movement, endurance strength and power were significantly reduced and fatigue onset increased after one year of boot-wear. Muscle activation was increased in tibialis anterior and both the medial and lateral gastrocnemius, which coincided with significantly increased sway patterns indicating poor postural stability. After 10 weeks of transitioning from habitual military boot-wear to a flexible shoe, ankle ROM, and strength significantly increased, while fatigue, muscle activation and postural sway decreased. Conclusion Chronic military boot-wear causes mal-adaptations and is associated with the high number of ankle injuries in the NZDF, however the effects can be reversed. It was advised that when not on military manoeuvres that personnel wear a low-cut flexible garrison shoe.
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    The effects of organisational decision making on supply chain execution : a case study of the NZDF light armoured vehicles supply chain : submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master of Supply Chain Management thesis, Massey University / New Zealand Defence Force
    (Massey University, 2018) Alexander, Sheree
    The purpose of this research is to examine how organisational management models, outside of traditional corporate supply chains, drive supply chain success. Corporate supply chains have applied supply chain improvement theories and practices, which have resulted in supply chain success and, ultimately, organisational success. Supply chains for military industries and non-commercial industries are not sufficiently unique to be able to discount the advances that have occurred in corporate supply chain management (SCM) concepts. This lack of uniqueness has seen the military industry commence implementing supply chain improvement theories and practices to its supply chains. Limited research has been conducted into the rationale for non-commercial industries delaying the implementation of advances in SCM concepts or, when they have been implement, why they have not had the desired level of success. Research in the field of organisational management and its influence on supply chains may provide insight into how advances in SCM concepts can be successfully transferred from commercial organisations to other industries. The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) provides a non-commercial context with sufficient complexity regarding its drivers for implementing changes that are likely to result in observable performance trade-offs with respects to SCM and organisational management models. This research will examine existing and previous supply chain and organisational management scenarios to determine the level of success achieved. It will also identify strengths and weaknesses with the existing models and propose an alternative organisational management model.
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    Reeling them in : printed New Zealand Army recruiting material 1899-1999 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate of Philosophy in History at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Wildy, Daniel
    The decision to join the army, or any other armed service, is a significant one. Unlike most jobs, the prospect of death in violent circumstances, particularly during periods of armed conflict, is a realistic possibility. Regardless of how unattractive this proposition might be, New Zealand maintained an army made up largely of volunteers throughout the period under review: beginning with the South African War in 1899, through to the deployment to East Timor in 1999. Whether militia forces, part-time Territorials, or full-time Regulars, the army has used printed recruiting material to attract New Zealanders, both men and women, to join the potentially fatal occupation of soldiering. To be successful as items of advertising, printed recruiting material has to resonate with its audience. By assessing the various themes used to encourage generations of men and women to enlist in the army, it is possible to identify what was relevant to various audiences at particular times, and by extension, what was valued within society during certain periods. In addition, how the army portrayed its worth to society, not just its worth to potential recruits, is an important aspect of recruiting material, and one that provides further opportunities to understand New Zealand society. This thesis will demonstrate significantly greater continuity among the themes used in recruiting material, and by extension, greater continuity in social values during the period than there was change.
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    New Zealand's forgotten warriors : 3NZ division in the South Pacific in World War II : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2008) Newell, Reginald Hedley
    This thesis examines the origins, deployment, operations and demise of 3NZ Division. It argues that the forces that became the Division were sent to Fiji because of a perceived strategic threat, particularly from airpower, if the islands were seized by the Japanese. The Division was relieved in Fiji by the Americans but returned to the Pacific in 1943 because New Zealand wanted to earn a place at the peace table and the Americans lacked troops in the theatre. Whether the Division was primarily an offensive or garrison unit remained unclear throughout its existence and influenced its constitution. Major General Harold Barrowclough, its commander from 1942 to 1944, had somewhat different strengths from his fellow divisional commander Major General Bernard Freyberg, and operated in a very different environment, with amphibious operations at brigade level. Furthermore, his division operated in an area dominated by the United States Navy rather than the more familiar culture of the British Army. More generally, the relationship between the New Zealanders and the Americans in the South Pacific was complex, generally symbiotic but occasionally unfriendly and even lethal. The perception in New Zealand that service in the South Pacific was less onerous than service in the Mediterranean ignores the often unpleasant and even deadly conditions faced by the soldiers of 3NZ Division. The Division’s combat operations contributed significantly to the neutralisation of the Japanese stronghold of Rabaul. Except for a brief period in 1942, 3NZ Division took second place in New Zealand’s war effort to 2NZ Division. This reflected Wellington’s general inclination to favour Commonwealth over local defence, and, despite some wavering, New Zealand declined to follow Australia and focus its efforts in the Pacific. Lack of manpower to field two divisions resulted in 3NZ Division having only two brigades and growing demands from the Air Force, industry and agriculture ultimately led to its disbandment. Thereafter it faded from the public consciousness and its contribution disregarded. The men and women of 3NZ Division have undeservedly become New Zealand's forgotten warriors.