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New Council to Benefit Territorial Force
31 October 2006
A group of prominent New Zealand leaders have come together to raise the profile of the NZDF’s part-time soldiers.
The Territorial Forces Employer Support Council was launched recently, to develop employer support for employees in the TF. The 12-member council is made up of high-profile business executives and representatives from government departments, employers groups, unions and the tertiary education sector. It is headed by John Allen, the CEO of New Zealand’s biggest employer, New Zealand Post.
As well as promoting the benefits that TF employees can bring to the workplace, the council will advise the Minister of Defence on what can be done to make the reservist system more employer-friendly.
Lieutenant Mark Weaver, unit employer support officer (USO) with the TF 2nd Canterbury Nelson Marlborough and West Coast Regiment, sees the launch of the council as an important step forward for New Zealand’s 1,907 TF soldiers.
“There are a lot of misconceptions in the business world about what TF soldiers do. As a USO, I’ve talked to employers who weren’t keen on giving employees time off to go on TF training or deployments. But that initial reluctance often gives way once they understand what we are about. So my hope is that the council will shatter those misconceptions.”
LT Weaver says employers need to understand the direct benefits that TF employees can bring to the workplace. “I’ve seen young soldiers develop from shy, uncertain people into young section commanders capable of taking command. They’ve gained in confidence and they’ve got problem-solving skills, lateral thinking, integrity, leadership and all those sorts of things that are useful in the workplace.”
He has also seen personal spin–offs from TF training. “As a project manager of commercial buildings I spend 90 percent of my time managing people. The professional management skills I’ve gained from promotional courses within the Army have had a huge input into my civilian life.”
LT Weaver says the benefits work both ways, with his civilian skills proving useful to the NZDF. While on a three-month deployment to Timor-Leste in 2000, LT Weaver used his project management experience to assist in rebuilding a local school and medical clinic.
Following its first meeting last week, the council is now liaising with TF employees and their employers to identify key issues, before developing advice for the Minister. Six regional employer support committees will also be set up to engage directly with local business communities.
Members of the Territorial Forces Employer Support Council
| John Allen |
CEO New Zealand Post |
| David McGregor |
Senior Partner, Bell Gully |
| Ted Dean |
Manager, Financial Operations at the Ministry of Social Development |
| Mary Bourke |
Mayor of Hawera District |
| Sandra Manderson |
District Commander Canterbury Police |
| Julian Smith |
CEO Allied Press |
| Rodger Kerr-Newell |
CEO New Plymouth District Council |
| Lindsay Taiaroa |
Executive Director of the New Zealand Vice Chancellors' Committee |
| Brigadier Tim Brewer |
Director General Reserve Forces |
| Ross Wilson |
Council of Trade Unions |
| Julie Craig |
Deputy Commissioner of State Services Commission |
| The 12th member is yet to be confirmed |
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This page was last reviewed on 03 November 2006 and is current.
