History
The City of Auckland Cadet Unit has a long and proud history starting with its inception in October 1987, where it operated briefly from the Freemans Bay Community Centre then for 2 years in the grounds of Unitec on Carrington Road. The Unit then operated from a host of locations over the following several years until eventually settling in to a long-term spot at the Arch Hill Auckland Army Centre from 1994 through to 2001.
The Unit then moved from Arch Hill to Mt Albert Grammar, and again to Monte Cecilia Catholic School in Hillsborough in November 2006. The Unit operated at this location until the Auckland City Council informed the School that they would soon be required to find another location. Following this, we were offered a greatly-appreciated location at the Point Chevalier RSA, where the Unit relocated to in October 2010. We have since found ourselves back at the Arch Hill Auckland Army Centre, where we remain today.
Achievements
During the three-plus decades that our Unit has been proudly serving the community and developing Auckland’s youth, the Unit has accomplished numerous great achievements at both an Area and a National level.
Recently, our Skill-at-Arms team competed in the National Skill-at-Arms Competition held in the Waiouru Military Training Area, following their triumph at the Northern Area Skill-at-Arms Competition. In the Northern Area competition, the Skill-at-Arms team was awarded with first-placings in Fieldcraft, Rifle Safety Drills, Casualty Evacuation and General Service Knowledge & Cadet Forces Knowledge. This led to the team being awarded with The Specialist Unit’s Anti-Tank Trophy for the Overall Competition Winner.
Two members of the team were also recognised for their individual successes, one being awarded with The Captain Karen Woodward Memorial Trophy for the Top All Round Cadet, and the other being awarded with The Major T. Sweetman Leadership Trophy for the Team Leader who displays the strongest leadership principles and best embodies the NZCF Core Values of Courage, Commitment, Comradeship and Integrity. At the National competition, the City of Auckland Skill-at-Arms team placed third overall in New Zealand.
Find Out More
If you would like to find out more about the history of the New Zealand Cadet Forces as an organisation for the youth of New Zealand, click here.
Associated with our Unit is also a Unit/Parent Support Committee which is a branch of the Cadet Corps Association of New Zealand (CCANZ), which you can read more about at Unit Support Committee.
The New Zealand Cadet Forces is an organisation that has the ability to enhance the lives of New Zealand’s youth, offering valuable training in leadership, discipline, life skills and fieldcraft, among many other life enhancing skills and qualities. Read more about our training programme at Our Training.