Colonel Commandant

Colonel Commandant's Greeting

Christmas 2025

Tena koutou katoa. Nga mihi nui ki nga Kaipukaha i nga wahi katoa.

Season’s Greeting Sappers and Friends eerywhere.

2025 has been another busy year. With deployments to Poland, the Cook Islands, Antarctica, UAE and the Sinai to name a few, we have contributed to operational missions and the delivery of assistance and relationship building in the Pacific. Every Sapper deployed has a strategic effect.

Underpinning that are course, trade and field training that lifts our core skills and readiness. I enjoyed meeting new sappers from corps training and young officers who will soon head to Australia for their Engineer Regimental Officer Basic Course. Their enthusiasm and the great work of SME instructors was evident and bodes well for our future.  

In January, refurbished church gates were dedicated at Makotutku, the original site of our Corps Chapel. This closed the loop on St Martin’s journey and tells Makotuku their church is a living memorial. While many Sappers were remembered this year, I note two: My old mate Lieutenant Colonel Pete Curran who passed away December 2018 and Captain Kelly Banks who died in Rome in December 1995 while on operational service in Bosnia. Some of Kelly’s soldiers organised a moving service in Linton on 13 December and Kelly’s widow Helen, and her family, attended from Australia.

Congratulations Colonel Paul Hayward as the new Regimental Colonel RNZE and I note the work done in this role by COs of 2 Engineer Regiment. The move of Regimental Colonel to Wellington provides greater opportunities for us to influence where needed.

Many thanks to RSM 2 Engr Regt- WO1 Carl Fairburn, SSM SME-WO1 Evan Windleborne and SSM 25 ESS-WO2 Jeremy Evans who handed over to WO1 Matt Doyle, WO1 Garth Boyd and WO2 Awa Melbourne respectively. Well done to WO1 Gary Besanyi as acting RSM between Carl and Matt.

Closer to home, the Corps Trust, under Don Jones continues to support Sappers in need and maintain our heritage. Great work from the trust board. I must note that Joe Hollander remains a key member of the trust but has had to deal with some health issues recently. Get well soon Joe.

Lastly, thank you Sappers and whanau, serving or not, who have passion for our Corps. Thanks those who administer social media for the greater good; to keep an eye on our mates and to remember those who went before us. Former Sappers watch us closely and it is their legacy we carry forward.

To you and yours, have a very Happy Christmas and New Year. Look after yourselves and each other.  I look forward to catching up in 2026.

I nga wahi katoa,

Colonel Paul Curry

Colonel Commandant

Nga kaihanga e mahi mo ratou i tenei ra,

a nga kaihanga te mana mo apopo

Those who build for others today,

build the mana of tomorrow

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