Dame Cath Tizard appointed to honorary Colonel role

Former Governor General Dame Cath Tizard has been appointed the Honorary Colonel of 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly’s Own) and Northland Battalion Group.

Colonel Paul Bayly, Commanding Officer of 3rd Auckland and Northland Battalion Group (3ANR), said:

“We are very pleased to have Dame Cath as our Honorary Colonel. Not only is she a former Auckland mayor and Governor General she also has strong links to the Northland and Auckland communities, the communities from which 3ANR draw their soldiers and community support.

“The role of the Honorary Colonel is a largely ceremonial one that seeks to strengthen the relationship between 3ANR and the community and to provide a mentorship role to personnel,” Colonel Bayly said.

The 3ANR Battalion Group is one of six battalion groups that form New Zealand’s 2,000 strong territorial force. It is comprised of two Battalions providing a range of infantry and combat support units.

3ANR was formed in 1965 when the 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and 15th Northland Regiments amalgamated. Both those regiments trace their history back to the early volunteer militia of the 19th Century, and their members served in the Boer War and both World Wars.

3ANR deploys soldiers to a number of missions around the world including most recently a contingent of officers and soldiers deploying to the Solomon Islands, where they where part of the New Zealand Defence Force’s contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI).