Soldiers from the New Zealand Army’s 2nd/1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR) have trained alongside soldiers from 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR) during an exercise at Burnham and Tekapo.
The biennial Exercise Pacific Kukri enables RGR, an elite Nepalese branch of the British Army, to train their soldiers in New Zealand’s unique and dynamic landscape, supported by their New Zealand counterparts.
“Our soldiers really appreciate the experience they gain from the challenging New Zealand terrain and value the opportunity to build capability alongside the NZ Army in such a distinct environment,” said Major Samuel Ackers, Officer Commanding B Company, 2RGR.
Ex Pacific Kukri was one of several international military activities in 2026 involving personnel from 2/1 RNZIR.
The exercise brought together around 50 soldiers from the New Zealand Army and approximately 120 Royal Gurkha soldiers to strengthen combat capability, improve interoperability and build readiness to operate together in future exercises or operations.
Exercise Pacific Kukri gave us the opportunity to train together here in New Zealand, share knowledge and strengthen relationships that underpin effective operations,” said Commanding Officer 2nd/1st Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Mateparae.
“It ensures we are ready to operate effectively alongside our partners when we need to.”
A key phase of this year’s exercise involved the Gurkhas conducting live field firing, supported by the FSG heavy weapons team, including anti-armoured platoon personnel and direct fire support weapons.
“Our heavy weapons teams worked closely alongside the Gurkhas during live firing, while our support teams enabled the movement of personnel and equipment across the exercise and took care of repairs,” said LTCOL Mateparae.
Ex Pacific Kukri was one of several international military activities in 2026 involving personnel from 2/1 RNZIR.
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