NZDF personnel serving overseas send Christmas video Christmas messages

New Zealand Defence Force personnel posted to Antarctica hold the Christmas packages they received from the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association. The packages include Christmas cards written by students from Mt Cook Primary School and Silverstream Primary School, as well as quintessential Kiwi treats

Donning Santa hats and Christmas jumpers, New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel from Antarctica to Africa have sent touching video messages to their loved ones at home.

In Afghanistan, where 13 NZDF personnel are deployed to support NATO’s Resolute Support Mission, troops tried to recreate a typical Kiwi summer barbecue scene, including personnel playing cricket.

Former New Zealand Labour Party leader David Shearer, who now heads the United Nations mission in South Sudan, played the guitar as three of the five NZDF officers based at the Central African nation — Brigadier Mike Shapland, Lieutenant Colonel Murray Brown and Lieutenant Colonel Ed Craw — sang heartily “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”.

NZDF personnel serving as United Nations monitors in South Korea filmed their message from the Demilitarised Zone with North Korea, while those in Antarctica braved freezing temperatures to film outside Scott Base.

Troops in Iraq’s Camp Taji, Israel and the Sinai Peninsula also sent their Christmas messages.

About 250 NZDF personnel are serving on operations overseas over Christmas.

See the video here.