Welcome to the New Zealand Sappers Association Website
The Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers, which celebrates its hundredth birthday in October 2002, has a proud record of service in both war and peace.
The men who filled the ranks of the corps in its first fifty years were the original Militia and included British Engineer Officers and ranks who, in both military and civilian guise contributed significantly to the building and development of New Zealand and its essential infrastructure. Some of the earlier tasks these early engineers were involved with included the basis of the Ministry of Works as they contributed to providing the development of New Zealand's:
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Ports, Railways and Roading network including Bridging |
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Communications Systems (Postal and Telegraph) and |
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Mapping and Surveying (e.g. Major Heaphy and the Heaphy Track) |
During the two world wars the Kiwi Sappers made an immense contribution to the war effort, both on the battlefield and behind, by:
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laying or lifting mines in the front line, |
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putting down bridges often under fire, |
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building or improving roads or railroads, |
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constructing ports, |
They were also involved in performing more mundane tasks such as milling trees, providing potable water for the troops and building accommodation.
Since 1945, regular Sappers have played an increasingly important role in the New Zealand Army. Apart from their efforts in several smaller conflicts in Asia, they have applied their skills to a variety of tasks in support of the community and, more recently, have been heavily involved in peacekeeping operations, including that in East Timor from 1999 to the present day.
The Kiwi Sapper has an enviable record of courage, dedication and determination - qualities that have established the corps' reputation for exemplary service over a hundred years.
The New Zealand Sappers Association website has been created to help those involved in the Corp to have a home and focal point on the World Wide Web. To find out more follow link to the Sappers Association Page.
The NZ Sappers Association Site was last updated on 22 Sep 2002.
