Support Command (New Zealand)

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Support Command was a New Zealand Army formation that operated from 1984 to 1998. After the 1983 Defence Review, the Army reorganised to separate operational commands from support and training, creating Support Command based at Base Area Wellington in Trentham. It was formed from the split of the New Zealand Land Forces Command, which was divided into Land Force Command and Support Command.

Support Command had three main parts: the Army Training Group in Waiouru, the Force Maintenance Group in Linton, and Base Area Wellington in Trentham. It took on responsibilities for individual training, third‑line logistics, and base support. The Force Maintenance Group had 19 units to provide logistics for the Rapid Reaction Force and the Integrated Expansion Force.

In 1985 the command’s units included two field squadrons (Linton and Petone), an engineer support squadron, a signals squadron, a transport regiment, a general hospital, RNZAOC supply companies at Linton and Waiouru, a Base Supply Battalion at Trentham, independent workshops (Waiouru and Linton), a base workshop at Trentham, an engineer workshop at Linton, the School of Military Engineering at Linton, the Military Police School at Trentham, the RNZAOC Ordnance School at Trentham, and three camp headquarters (Linton, Trentham, and Fort Dorset).

Over time the command was described as providing individual training, equipment management, static support, and base support, and it controlled the Army Training Group (Waiouru) and the 5th Base Logistics Group (Trentham). The headquarters moved from Palmerston North to the Messines complex at Trentham during 1990–1992, and Brigadier Graham Birch was in command around that period.

Support Command was disestablished in mid‑1998. Its training and support functions were moved to Headquarters Land Command (New Zealand), while logistics and support functions went to the Logistics Executive within the Army General Staff.