One of the world’s most elite military units has made a trip to New Zealand, training with the NZ Army in the South Island.
About 200 members of the Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR) descended on Buller and Tekapo in April to conduct exercises with the NZ Army’s 2nd/1st Battalion.
The Gurkhas, a regiment in the British army comprised of Nepali soldiers, are jungle specialists known for brandishing their distinctive kukri short swords.
The cold plains and bush of the South Island are a change for the visiting soldiers, who are used to the humidity of Asian jungles.
“Coming to New Zealand’s plains and forests in winter provides us a valuable opportunity to train and develop our skills in a completely different environment and climate,” RGR Delhi officer Major David Walker said.
“Delhi Company takes experimenting and learning seriously.
“We want to see how others approach situations, experiment, discuss and learn.
“We also wanted to experience some unique New Zealand Defence Force customs and traditions while sharing some of ours.”
An NZDF spokesperson said the training was a “step up” for the battalions and saw the groups spend two weeks “working through various manoeuvres and scenarios, developing warfighting capabilities focused on operating in the close country”.
![The Royal Gurkha Rifles patrol in Reefton.](https://tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/the-royal-gurkha-rifles-patrol-in-reefton-UQ3U2TS5P5F5XEX43U7BKGSYLA.jpg?auth=bfa47b1a4e71901b9ad30f2043cb41f62ad950b706806c69a1c15b2f408b09d0&quality=70&width=767&height=431&focal=960%2C640)
The troops also conducted patrols around Reefton and performed manoeuvres in nearby bush.
“From conducting attacks on a target to ambushing and patrolling for extended periods in rough terrain and weather — all of this will challenge the unit,” NZ Army Lieutenant Colonel Sam Smith said.
“Training with international partners like the Gurkhas improves our ability to integrate into multinational forces on the battlefield and shows how we can scale our capabilities.”
The Gurkhas were formed after the British East India Company fought a war with the powerful city-state of Gorkha between 1814 and 1816.
![A Royal Gurkha Rifles soldier brandishes his Kukri in training.](https://tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/a-royal-gurkha-rifles-soldier-brandishes-his-kukri-in-traini-AZFCTFCUM5HXZC4HJVEE77SJ3E.jpg?auth=c30ae0a3cf2a617863876115eb0e4681b5492790faae8d523dd75fb99f503b05&quality=70&width=767&height=431&focal=960%2C640)
According to the UK’s National Army Museum, the British top brass were so impressed by their fighting skills that they permitted them to join the company as part of a treaty.
In recent history, the Gurkhas have fought in WWI and WWII, the Falklands War, and the Gulf War, as well as in Afghanistan and Iraq.