Much inter-governmental assistance provided by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is of a technical or support nature. For example NZDF assistance with drivers and security for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference was provided in 1999.

Requests for NZDF technical or support assistance are forwarded from the relevant government department headquarters to Headquarters NZ Defence Force.

Section 9 of the Defence Act 1990 governs use of NZDF personnel to perform any public service.