An army sergeant has been kicked out of the military for assaulting a junior soldier in a drunken melee at the end of an international operation in Hawaii They were part of a drinking culture under examination at a Court Martial hearing at Linton Military Camp A military panel of senior officers on Friday found Sergeant Leaongo Tanginoa guilty of strangling and striking Gunner Nikau Minhinnick Gill The prosecution said Tanginoa overreacted to a drunk and insubordinate Gill abusing him about perceived grievances Tanginoa had already pleaded guilty to a charge of striking a soldier of lower rank and was found not guilty on one further charge of striking and two of kicking Gill Judge Mina Wharepouri and the panel sentenced Tanginoa to dismissal and six months' detention was also found guilty on one charge each of striking and kicking Gill and not guilty on one charge each of striking kicking and threatening him if he told anyone what happened at Schofield Barracks in the early hours of 25 November Nove was sentenced to 35 days detention and a loss in rank to lance bombardier Gill died in November last year in an unrelated incident when the then-21-year-old drowned in the Manawatū River trying to rescue his dog The court martial heard Tanginoa tried to calm Gill when he was causing a nuisance in barracks but when his efforts were rebuffed he and Nove attacked the young soldier once when Tanginoa strangled him and once when he was punched The fracas happened during a night when soldiers were drinking at their Hawaii base to mark the end of a training exercise Judge Wharepouri said the soldiers left to drink in the Hawaiian camp were inadequately supervised "This needs to be address by the armed forces to avoid that type of event occurring again." but he did not deserve the beating he received "It's the wish of this Court Martial to convey to everyone present and those who will read these comments in the future that irrespective of how the complainant behaved on the night or what's been described as barrack room justice will not be tolerated in the army or any service The judge said the offending was made worse because of the attack on Gill's head and the neck Tanginoa's defence lawyer Steve Winter said Tanginoa accepted his military career was over "There's a common theme in that and that's drinking." As Winter saw in his work in the district court "Had Sergeant Tanginoa not had a career in the military it's not difficult to see a substantially different path he might have travelled." Winter said Tanginoa told him he "made good" with Gill on their return to New Zealand in late 2023 Tanginoa had been on retention reviews in 2008 and 2011 and received written warnings in 2011 and 2022 "Interwoven throughout all instances has been themes of alcohol and substance misuse The prosecution said Tanginoa had three previous military convictions relating to drinking alcohol in barracks when ordered not to Nove's defence lawyer Matthew Hague also raised issues about drinking in the military The drinking at the Hawaiian base on the night in question could have been better handled by Defence Force personnel and management Hague said he was not blaming alcohol nor Gill's drunken state for what happened before it debated sentencing: "You might feel that Nove and Tanginoa were left unsupported that evening." Nove's commanding officer in the youth development unit Cooper acknowledged Nove could not continue in that unit after the guilty verdicts Away from court a statement from deputy chief of army said the military expected a high standard of behaviour from soldiers "The NZ Army remain committed to continually enhancing its organisational culture and to maintaining a safe and respectful environment to all of our people." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday Gunner Nikau Minhinnick Gill died in an unrelated incident trying to rescue his dog from the Manawatū River last November A witness to an alleged attack on a soldier by two colleagues at the end of an international operation in Hawaii says he did not see any punches or kicks thrown A soldier was beaten so badly by a sergeant and a bombardier that the soldier twice lost consciousness Gunner Nikau Minhinnick Gill died in an attempt to rescue his dog from the river The man fell into the Manawatū river while walking his dog in Ahimate Park on Saturday New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News Unfortunately you are viewing this website on an outdated browser which does not support the necessary features for us to provide an adequate experience Please switch to a modern browser such as latest version of Google Chrome Having spent more than 25 years in the New Zealand Army and being deployed to a number of conflict zones and disaster relief efforts Colonel Mike van Welie understands what underpins the Army’s success; its people The Alexandra-raised soldier recently took command of 1st (New Zealand) Brigade at a parade at Linton Military Camp It is a crucial leadership role in the NZ Army He says his focus will be on the people he leads – soldiers and civilians – and wants to foster a culture where people work together they are proud of what they do and they feel like they have contributed to something “bigger than themselves” “I want our people to value and enjoy their service We have a tough job; one that can be tough on families tough on relationships and tough on the body But we are also privileged to be part of an incredible profession and one where we are needed,” he said.  1st (NZ) Brigade’s mission is to provide combat-ready land forces to secure and defend New Zealand’s interests and its people It contains most of the Army’s deployable units across combat Colonel van Welie said he would prioritise people looking out for one another and their whānau and ensuring units are ready when called upon by continuing to prioritise investment in people and in readiness activities Colonel van Welie taking a break during service in Afghanistan Colonel van Welie has held numerous roles across the NZ Army and the wider Defence Force from leading a platoon as a 20-year-old in East Timor through to his most recent posting as Assistant Chief of Army (Strategy) Army General Staff where he also served as the acting Deputy Chief of Army earlier this year In taking over the mantle at 1st (NZ) Brigade Colonel van Welie acknowledged the work carried out by its former Commander Colonel Ben Bagley and Warrant Officer Class One Lyall Mooney who led them through a tough period of regeneration “We are an army confronting some of the most significant strategic challenges we have faced for some time,” Colonel van Welie said “It comes as we complete a period of focused regeneration following Covid-19 which has been enabled by the hard work and commitment of our soldiers The change of command ceremony took place at Linton Military Camp Soldiers perform a haka for incoming Commander and her leadership team would be issuing a new Army Directive soon which would focus on sustained operational readiness.  “I anticipate that it will imbue the brigade with a renewed sense of purpose and build energy towards making changes necessary to ensure we are prepared for conflict,” he said 1st (NZ) Brigade will conduct a series of important exercises in 2025 the most significant being Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia which is set to be the largest combined exercise for Ngāti Tūmatauenga This will include 1st (NZ) Brigade deploying a motorised infantry combat team to the exercise.  Staff Sergeant Brian Egerton is facing a Court Martial at Linton Military Camp this week A soldier allegedly sold $18,000 worth of army uniforms spent ammunition and used explosives on TradeMe Staff Sergeant Brian Egerton was found with a range of Defence Force (NZDF) items at his home after an investigation by military police on the online auction website Egerton said he got most of the gear in “free bins” and through a disposal sale scheme He now faces several charges at a court martial held at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North this week He is accused of stealing service gear and attempting to profit from it on TradeMe Egerton pleaded guilty this morning to two charges of failing to comply with written orders for possessing spent ammunition as well as parts of exploded Claymore mines Egerton later told investigators he had taken the used explosives from the Waiouru Military Camp’s dump and had collected the spent ammunition from a treeline According to the Crown’s summary of facts presented to the court today an NZDF employee had been scanning TradeMe to see if any service gear was being sold which appeared to be for NZDF service gear and made inquiries with TradeMe for the seller’s details It’s the Crown’s case he was using his partner’s account and the phone number associated with the profile matched his on the army’s database Military police estimated nearly 500 auctions run by the seller that appeared to be NZDF property and confronted Egerton about the listings in 2022 Egerton said he had been selling property on TradeMe and acknowledged that he knew he was not allowed to and had other military kit at his home He then handed over miscellaneous service gear to Military Police and said he’d only sold 24 items and that this was the first time he’d done it the Crown claims according to TradeMe’s records had been selling what appeared to be NZDF property since 2019 across some 600 auctions Some of those auctions had been for belts of spent ammunition as well as parts of used claymore mines These explosives were not live and had already been used The Crown claims the value of the property it alleges Egerton sold was $35,000 but he made roughly $18,000 from those sales It claims that ammunition was sold across five separate auctions while mine parts were sold across 50 auctions The Crown intends to call 15 witnesses in coming days the first of which was a member of the military police who gave evidence before the court this afternoon that he confronted Egerton while he was at his work at Linton where he admitted to selling NZDF property on TradeMe That officer told the court that he’d asked Egerton why he was selling the kit to which he claimed he responded; “To make money and to get rid of old kit” Under questioning the officer said that he had conducted similar investigations in the past and they were relatively common He was also questioned about how well it was known among NZDF personnel that it was an offence to sell military property that everyone knows you’re not supposed to,” the officer said “It is taught from a very early stage in a soldier’s career that it is not to be done.” Another witness confirmed it was common to see army gear for sale online but it was the sheer scale of items that caught the attention of military police in this case Jeremy Wilkinson is an Open Justice reporter based in Manawatū covering courts and justice issues with an interest in tribunals He has been a journalist for nearly a decade and has worked for NZME since 2022 The minister says she's changed her processes after admitting processes were 'untidy' You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image The man also groped the buttocks of another female staffer at the Linton Military Camp just outside of Palmerston North following a boozy function for the private’s unit at the bar denies a fifth charge of indecent assault by allegedly attempting to grab one of the women in the groin as well as two charges of intimidating a third bartender after being confronted about his behaviour It’s also alleged he called a superior officer According to the agreed summary of facts for the four charges the man has pleaded guilty to he became so intoxicated following a function at the camp that staff at the on-base bar stopped serving him alcohol he went in and out of the smoking area before sitting down next to one of the female civilian bar staff who was taking a break He put his arm around the back of her chair before sliding his hand down to grab her bottom I haven’t done anything to lead you on in any way," the woman told him "I’m not trying to get into you or anything before showing her photos of his girlfriend on his cellphone Several minutes later he sat down next to another female staff member the soldier groped each of the women once more in the same manner again The prosecution alleges he attempted to reach for one of the staff member’s groin which encompasses the fifth indecent assault charge The court was shown CCTV footage from the bar which pictured the alleged reach for the woman’s groin said that it was unintentional and under questioning the woman agreed that it didn’t appear to be a deliberate grab for her Prosecutor Lieutenant James Olsen said that it was also the Crown’s case that the soldier became aggressive with a third staff member at the bar when confronted about having touched her colleagues It’s alleged that he was overheard saying to a fellow soldier "If I went for her would you back me up" while pointing at the staff member Under evidence one of the bar staff said that they had cut the soldier off after he became visibly intoxicated by about 7pm She said she saw him touch her colleague’s bottom and pushed his hand away "I could visibly see that she was uncomfortable and didn’t know what to do," she said she claims she overheard the private asking another soldier "If I went for her would you back me up?" and pointing at her "I felt unsafe in that environment," the woman said the woman said she found the soldier in the cleaning cupboard and asked him to get out He complied and then outside the bar she says he took a step toward her and when she moved back allegedly said "What are you scared of me or something?" in a manner she described as aggressive whom the soldier had touched inappropriately earlier in the night claimed that he also asked her to get into the cleaning cupboard with him A lieutenant who was on duty as a security officer on the evening turned up at the bar after receiving a call from the staff She said under evidence today that she spoke to the private about his behaviour that night and claims that he called her a "ball bag" and a "motherf***er" in response before rejoining his friends inside the bar Having broken ground on the new Linton Regional Supply Facility at the end of 2024 work has now begun on site at Linton Military Camp signalling a significant upgrade to the camp’s facilities and the modernisation of regional logistics Modern and effective logistics is fundamental to an army’s effectiveness as it enables the force’s equipment to be ready at the right time and place when called upon for operational duty The new facility will bring together a group of currently separate functions into a single efficient building that will enable Ngāti Tūmatauenga and evaluate equipment at Linton Military Camp an expanded pool of equipment to the region and consolidated Quartermaster Stores and will serve as the home of the Army’s deployable 21 Supply Company “The Linton Regional Supply Facility will provide a modern and fit for purpose capability for our logistics personnel It will allow us to effectively and efficiently manage and control the limited resources we have and ensure they are available to enable training and operations,” said Deputy Chief of Army Brigadier Hamish Gibbons This is the third of five logistics builds that will sustain the Equip-the-Force model of equipment provision The first Maintenance Support Facility in Linton has been delivered and the second Maintenance Facility at Burnham Camp is 75 % complete and due to be introduced into service later this year – each facility is designed to help modernise logistics to support our people Much of Defence’s logistics infrastructure dates from a post-Second World War era and whilst personnel have done a remarkable job maintaining the assets these new facilities signal a significant positive step forward The alleged victim in what a military prosecutor says was a violent attack by two soldiers on a junior colleague can now be identified as a man who drowned in an unrelated incident last year Gunner Nikau Minhinnick Gill died when trying to rescue his dog from the Manawatū River in Palmerston North in November but Judge Mina Wharepouri on Thursday removed the interim order in place at a Court Martial at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North A military panel was now deciding the fate of two soldiers accused of assaulting Gill at the end of an international operation in Hawaii It was alleged Sergeant Leaongo Tanginoa and Bombardier Gus Nove attacked him in the early hours of the 25 November The prosecution said the pair punched and kicked Gill causing him to lose consciousness as they beat him for mouthing off But the defence said Gill was drunk and insubordinate Tanginoa has pleaded guilty to one charge of striking Gill and his friends cooked up a story so he did not get in trouble for his behaviour Three senior military officers retired on Thursday afternoon to consider their verdicts for the five charges each Tanginoa and Nove have pleaded not guilty to military prosecutor John Whitcombe said the accused were confronted with abuse and insubordination "After Gunner Gill continually refused to listen to them they lost their tempers and meted out some barrack room justice." Gill mouthed off at Tanginoa over alleged ill-treatment during the operation as they attacked him inside and outside the Hawaiian barracks and he and Nove landed more than 20 kicks and punches In an interview with military police Gill did not minimise his own poor behaviour "He told the whole story even when it didn't paint him in a particularly good light," he said nothing he did that night justified or warranted the response of Sergeant Tanginoa or Bombardier Nove." Whitcombe dismissed defence suggestions of a concocted story and said statements the accused made to military police where Tanginoa admitted slapping Gill twice were not consistent with the injuries suffered Tanginoa's defence lawyer Steve Winter said Tanginoa did at one stage grab Gill by the collar and slap him and this could have resulted in some injuries to the neck and his friends lied about what happened to excuse his behaviour Their evidence was in conflict to two defence witnesses Tanginoa was honest when speaking with military police making admissions that he lost his temper and had slapped Gill In contrast Gill and his friends got together and came up with a story starting the morning after the fracas when they photographed the soldier's injuries "They're building a case already against Sergeant Tanginoa and Bombardier Nove." Nove's defence lawyer Matthew Hague said Nove did not kick or punch Gill Hague disputed that Gill's account was truthful and said he did not tell military police he confronted and pursued Tanginoa He echoed Winter's comments about the unreliability of some witnesses Nove admitted he slapped Gill to shut him up but that was not the subject of the striking charges The military panel was continuing its deliberations Police are searching the Manawatu River in Palmerston North after a report of a man in trouble in the water The soldier was sentenced today at the Linton Military Camp A soldier who groped two bartenders on a drunken night out has been kicked out of the New Zealand Army. was subject to a court martial this week at the Linton Military Camp after an incident that happened following a boozy function for his unit in 2022 The soldier pleaded guilty at the start of the trial to four counts of indecent assault in relation to touching two female civilian staff on the bottom on four occasions throughout the evening he pleaded not guilty to two charges of intimidation against a third civilian staff member at the bar and for calling a superior officer who spoke to him about his behaviour a “ball bag” and a “motherf***er” One of those charges of intimidation was dropped by the Crown on Tuesday The soldier also pleaded not guilty to a fifth charge of indecent assault against one of his first victims for allegedly reaching for her groin with his hand On Wednesday a panel of three senior military personnel took under an hour to find the private not guilty of the remaining indecent assault and intimidation charges They did however find him guilty of insubordination for the final charge against a superior officer in sentencing Judge Jonathan Moses and a panel of three senior military personnel opted to dismiss the private from the service of the New Zealand Defence Force Judge Moses said the man’s behaviour was obnoxious and offensive in any circumstance whether it be a civilian or a military setting “You have disregarded the rights and privacy and rights of your victims and were content to humiliate them in front of others,” he said Judge Moses said it was disappointing that the private had only sought help for his alcohol dependence in the last four weeks “It is clear that your actions have resulted in a lack of trust in you,” he said “You have in your short time in the army displayed concerning behaviour and this offending is of greater concern.” The first victim said that she had worked at the Linton Military Camp for eight years but felt she had to leave after the incident for fear she would run into the man “It felt like I was the one who had done something wrong,” she said especially when people approached her from behind The private’s second victim had worked at the camp for four years and also felt like she had to leave after the incident “What the accused did to me made me feel like a piece of meat,” her victim impact statement The woman said it felt like she was being punished when she had her duties at the bar restricted but saw the soldier back in the bar playing pool with his friends not long after the incident prosecuting the defendant on behalf of the crown entered into the court record the private’s service history which included a civil charge of common assault against another female private in 2021 a breach of visitation rules in army barracks and several summary charges of failing to comply with orders from his superior officers One of those charges involved failing to source a poppy for ANZAC Day Lieutenant Olsen said it was not tenable for the private to remain in the army “The previous offending from 2021 demonstrates what the crown says is a pattern of conduct related to females,” he said but it was persistent conduct throughout the night.” Lieutenant Olsen said a psychologist’s report noted that the private had a severe alcohol use disorder which had got worse since 2022 despite him being suspended for nearly a year “This is far from someone who has used their time productively to address their issues related to their offending,” he said The commanding officer’s representative for the private’s unit said he belonged to a unit that could be deployed overseas at any time “In those circumstances any lack of trust is corrosive,” he told the court this morning “The private does not enjoy the trust of his chain of command.” The representative said the private’s service history showed he was consistently unable to comply with the ethos and values of the NZDF which had a duty to ensure the safety of those around him He went on to say that if he were to remain in the army it would place an unsupportable burden of continued oversight and supervision appealed to the three-person panel of senior military members to appeal to the New Zealand Defence Force’s pride in being a force for good “This is a case which is difficult to sit through and not feel certain ways towards the complaints “It is understandable that you may feel conflict between wanting to help those involved and taking a clinical assessment of the evidence and that you must approach your job clinically.” Hague said that his client’s offending was at the lower end of the spectrum but there’s an absence of factors that bring it up from that low end,” he said Hague urged the panel to consider that a small and “sad” factor was that his client was extremely intoxicated at a unit function yet no superior officers intervened to remove him Hague also stressed that the common assault offence his client committed in 2021 had no sexual element and couldn’t be compared to the indecent assault charges he’d pleaded guilty to later Hague said his client had sought help from a counsellor “He has sought treatment and has taken concrete steps to address his alcohol problem,” he said Hague said that his client was respectfully asking to remain in the service “I’m asking for a chance for a junior soldier to show that he will never abuse that trust again.” The private’s name remains suppressed while he decides if he wants to appeal the court’s finding A soldier was beaten so badly by a sergeant and a bombardier when they were in Hawaii on an international exercise that the soldier twice lost consciousness It is alleged the attack happened after the soldier called the sergeant a dick as the soldier protested about the way he and his mates were treated during the exercise in late 2023 The sergeant and the bombardier are before a court martial at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North Sergeant Leaongo Tanginoa pleaded not guilty to five charges of strangling He has pleaded guilty to one charge of striking a soldier of lower rank Bombardier Gus Nove has pleaded not guilty to five charges of striking kicking and using threatening language against the soldier Defence lawyers for the pair say the prosecution case has inconsistencies and that some prosecution witnesses were not telling the truth about what happened in the early hours of 25 November 2023 Prosecutor Lieutenant Troy McLaren said Tanginoa and Nove "beat up a subordinate" "When the complainant disrespected Sergeant Tanginoa he reacted violently He also punched and kicked the complainant He later threatened the complainant with further violence should he report what happened to him." The two accused and the soldier they are accused of beating were part of an international exercise that also featured troops from the US McLaren said the soldier with name suppression returned to barracks after midnight complaining about the way Tanginoa had treated him and others during the operation Tanginoa and Nove then told the soldier to go to bed "From that point on Sergeant Tanginoa and Bombardier Nove lost control," McLaren said The prosecution alleges the pair assaulted the soldier initially outside the barracks including that Tanginoa strangled the soldier causing him to lose consciousness for a short time McLaren said the soldier fell to the ground as Tanginoa and Nove punched and kicked him A bystander tried to intervene but could not stop the attack The soldier was then taken back inside the barracks "At one point Sergeant Tanginoa knelt on and punched the complainant in the head once causing the complainant to again lose consciousness." Nove then threatened the soldier not to tell anyone about what happened The charge Tanginoa admitted was about the incident inside the barracks said there were inconsistencies in the prosecution narrative Tanginoa denied the rest of the allegations against him "It will be suggested that what witnesses are telling you is inaccurate They aren't telling the truth," Winter said said there were clear contradictions between prosecution witnesses He echoed Winter's comments about not everyone telling the truth said the fracas started when the soldier confronted Tanginoa about the operation "He didn't like the way we were getting treated and he stood up for everyone." The witness said Tanginoa and Nove's egos then got the better of them He denied suggestions from Winter that he was not telling the truth and that he and the soldier had together polished their versions of events to show Tanginoa in the worst light The court martial heard a recording of a military police interview with the soldier allegedly attacked He said he was taken to a military hospital on 25 November 2023 where he was cleared of internal bleeding and broken bones and said in the aftermath felt anxious and afraid before a military panel and Judge Mina Wharepouri Bombardier David Clark said the soldier allegedly attacked It is alleged Sergeant Leaongo Tanginoa and Bombardier Gus Nove assaulted the solder in the early hours of the 25 November Clark told a court martial hearing at Linton on Wednesday that Tanginoa and Nove tried to calm and restrain the soldier But the prosecution has questioned the reliability of Clark's evidence saying he presented a "watered down" version of events Clark was the first witness called for Nove's defence and said he noticed a confrontation between the soldier and Tanginoa outside the barracks The pair's arms were locked and Clark said he tried to break them apart He described the soldier as drunk - eight out of 10 - but said Tanginoa and Nove showed no signs of intoxication The soldier ignored Clark's instructions to go to bed and continued to act aggressively towards Tanginoa At one point Nove too tried to break apart Tanginoa and the soldier and the three fell to the ground Clark said he restrained the soldier as he continued to confront Tanginoa and Nove and Clark and the soldier fell to the ground "He got straight back up and went charging towards them." Clark said he followed the confrontation inside the barracks Tanginoa and Nove slapped the soldier five or six times "I didn't see any punching or kicking outside the barrack room… or inside." Military prosecutor John Whitcombe suggested Clark was minimising the situation "What you have told the court today isn't really what happened Whitcombe asked Clark if he thought the soldier was getting what he deserved for abusing his seniors "I can't recall what I thought at the time," Clark said He agreed with Whitcombe that Tanginoa and Nove had taken as much abuse as they could and lost their tempers The Crown case finished early on Wednesday with expert witness Dr Clare Healy giving evidence Among the soldier's injuries she was asked to comment on she said marks on the left side of his neck in particular indicated force applied to the area It was unlikely they were caused by an open-handed slap Gurgling noises witnesses had reported were consistent with pressure applied to the windpipe Healy said a person could lose consciousness if blood flow to the brain was blocked for just a short time and a loss of oxygen to the brain could cause aggression or confusion Lawyers for both the accused asked Healy if a volley of kicks and punches were thrown whether she would expect to see more serious injuries in the photos of the soldier Healy said photos did not always reveal injuries such as swelling that it was possible the neck injuries were suffered when the men were wrestling Tanginoa has pleaded not guilty to five charges He has pleaded guilty to one charge of striking a soldier of lower rank - admitting a slap inside the barracks Nove has pleaded not guilty to five charges of striking The prosecution and defence will sum up their cases on Thursday morning The Defence Force is still struggling with too few firefighters even though the numbers of personnel overall who are quitting has dropped At the big Burnham and Linton military camps it still has its emergency responders on reduced hours This was the case on 8 May, the night a teenager died in a fire at a Defence house at Burnham It was reported earlier that Fire and Emergency (FENZ) went to the blaze instead of Defence Force responders and got there within its time target of 11 minutes "No evidence or circumstances have come to light that warrant an internal investigation or review into the incident," Defence told RNZ on Thursday Email trails released under the Official Information Act to RNZ show a commanding officer at Burnham had asked about the state of Defence's depleted fire crews Defence "has faced significant challenges in maintaining its Emergency Response outputs to Linton and Burnham areas over 2023 - specifically maintaining continuous coverage from those two stations" It was "currently losing more personnel than it is gaining" and had not recruited to cover all dozen vacant positions for 2024 or because of "unsustainable shift patterns" the fire crews at the camps were stood down for a month in December-January FENZ covers the camps outside of that time An insurance adviser told the Burnham commander that FENZ monitored the fire alarms "FENZ would respond and would know the location of a fire but it is possible that those on the base would not be aware of a fire's location." FENZ said on Thursday the death at Burnham of 16-year-old Elizabeth Marvin in May was being looked into by the coroner RNZ had asked FENZ If it had any concerns or questions which had not been dealt with Fire and Emergency cannot answer your questions as we consider the disclosure would be likely to prejudice that process," it said "We are seeking a view from the coroner as to whether there is anything that can be made public at this stage." A teenage girl has reportedly died after the blaze early on Wednesday morning The fire station closest to where a 16-year-old girl was killed in a blaze at Burnham Military Camp was unmanned when it broke out The New Zealand Army has taken a major step forward in its ability to maintain a combat-capable well-equipped and fully prepared fighting force with the opening today of the new Maintenance Support Facility at Linton Military Camp is replacing Second World War-era buildings with state-of-the-art infrastructure which will allow personnel to maintain and repair current and future defence equipment ‘Farrier’ comes from the Latin word ferrum (meaning iron) and the name Farrier Lines is a nod to the history of artisanal metal work in the NZ Army which includes repairing gun carriages and artillery tending to cavalry horse shoes and blacksmith work particularly during the First World War.  Farrier Lines cost around $50 million and is one of five planned infrastructure projects to be delivered as part of the NZ Army’s Consolidated Logistics Programme said the Linton facility would improve and modernise Army logistic service delivery to better enable the force to meet the demands of the modern day operating environment Linton Military Camp has opened Farrier Lines its state-of-the-art Maintenance Support Facility which will boost its ability to maintain vehicles and equipment Farrier Lines has a number of features designed to improve its environmental footprint It will allow soldiers to work in comfort with drive-through bays a gantry crane and a weapons range to test small arms after repairs This facility will help maintain the NZ Army’s primary combat vehicle the recently acquired armoured Bushmaster trucks and a wide range of weapons “Farrier Lines is key to ensuring future generations are well prepared for future challenges,” Major General Boswell said Fit-for-purpose logistics infrastructure is fundamental to our Army being combat-ready and able to operate across the spectrum of military operations throughout the Pacific and around the world and is the NZ Army’s biggest camp and is home to its primary operational force It is also home to its biggest workshop which supports several hundred vehicles and its widest range of equipment A military court had heard that a soldier was beaten so badly by a sergeant and a bombardier when they were in Hawaii on an international exercise that the soldier twice lost consciousness It's alleged the attack happened after the soldier called the sergeant a dick when he protested about the way he and his mates were treated during the exercise The sergeant and the bombardier are before a Court Martial at Linton Military Camp Reporter Jimmy Ellingham spoke to Lisa Owen See terms of use for easy access to all your favourite programmes Sergeant Leaongo Tanginoa (standing left) and Bombardier Gus Nove face a court martial at Linton Military Camp By Jimmy Ellingham of RNZ The sergeant and the bombardier are before a court martial at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North and that some prosecution witnesses were not telling the truth about what happened in the early hours of November 25 Prosecutor Lieutenant Troy McLaren said Tanginoa and Nove “beat up a subordinate” “When the complainant disrespected Sergeant Tanginoa he reacted violently He later threatened the complainant with further violence should he report what happened to him.” The two accused and the soldier they are accused of beating were part of an international exercise that also featured troops from the United States “From that point on Sergeant Tanginoa and Bombardier Nove lost control,” McLaren said “At one point Sergeant Tanginoa knelt on and punched the complainant in the head once causing the complainant to again lose consciousness.” Nove then warned the soldier not to tell anyone about what happened “It will be suggested that what witnesses are telling you is inaccurate They aren’t telling the truth,” Winter said He echoed Winter’s comments about not everyone telling the truth “He didn’t like the way we were getting treated and he stood up for everyone.” The witness said Tanginoa and Nove’s egos then got the better of them The court martial heard a recording of a military police interview with the soldier who had allegedly been attacked He said he was taken to a military hospital on November 25 He suffered a concussion and said that in the aftermath he felt anxious and afraid Sign up to The Daily H a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday New Zealand and international personnel have been welcomed to Linton Military Camp with a pōwhiri ahead of Exercise Tropic Twilight in Tonga Skilled soldiers from New Zealand and overseas will soon deploy to Tonga to assist local communities with various projects and help increase their resilience to natural disasters In preparation for Exercise Tropic Twilight the personnel have been welcomed to Linton Military Camp with a pōwhiri funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand Army engineers will head to the island of Lifuka to help increase resilience to natural disasters A unit of Defence Health personnel will also be deployed to the island to hold community dental clinics Sixty New Zealand soldiers will be joined by 10 army personnel from Fiji Officer Commanding 25 Engineer Support Squadron Major James Brosnan says those involved in the overseas deployment will embrace diversity and utilise their strengths to move forward as one unit and achieve their objectives “This is about supporting the Kingdom of Tonga enhancing stability in the region and reiterating that we are all trusted partners within the Pacific we wouldn’t be able to achieve all the goals so the participation of the other countries cannot be understated “It also creates an opportunity to make new friends increase our ability to operate together and be exposed to different perspectives and methods to achieve a mission.” This is the second year in a row the New Zealand Defence Force has chosen to hold Exercise Tropic Twilight in Tonga in order to provide the island kingdom with aid as it continues to recover from the impact of the 2022 Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption the engineer troop will focus on renovations and upgrades to the Ha’ateiho Community Centre to ensure the community has a safe place to shelter during or after cyclones The troops will also makes repairs to the Koulo Meteorological Station and upgrade facilities at two local schools “We are looking forward to the challenge of projecting and sustaining a force on a remote island group within Tonga and the Pacific,” says Major Brosnan “It will really test the NZDF’s ability to plan execute and respond to developing situations – all essential elements of being a highly trained and deployable force “Similar problems we could experience in New Zealand which could be easily fixed with a phone call or ducking down to the local vendor will take innovative and collaborative solutions in order to achieve our tasks “The tangible end state will be highly rewarding too As a team being able to stand back and say you built that for the community or delivered dental care to a certain number of locals will be a gratifying experience.” personnel will complete a number of activities including a trade skills competition before leaving for Lifuka later this month How do you feel about Tauranga’s rapid population growth Back to top A pōwhiri at Linton Military Camp has welcomed military personnel from New Zealand and abroad The personnel are about to deploy to Tonga as part of Exercise Tropic Twilight where they will assist local communities with a range of projects as well as helping increase disaster resilience The contingent is made up of 60 New Zealand soldiers as well as 10 army personnel from Fiji Officer Commanding 25 Engineer Support Squadron Major James Brosnan said those involved in the overseas deployment will embrace diversity and utilise their strengths to move forward as one unit and achieve their objectives “This is about supporting the Kingdom of Tonga enhancing stability in the region and reiterating that we are all trusted partners within the Pacific,” he said we wouldn’t be able to achieve all the goals It also creates an opportunity to make new friends increase our ability to operate together and be exposed to different perspectives and methods to achieve a mission.” New Zealand Army engineers will travel to the Tongan island of Lifuka where they will work with the community on increasing resilience to natural disasters They will be accompanied by Defence Force health personnel who will hold community dental clinics on the island the engineer troop will focus on renovations and upgrades to the Ha’ateiho Community Centre to ensure the community has a safe place to shelter during or after cyclones “We are looking forward to the challenge of projecting and sustaining a force on a remote island group within Tonga and the Pacific,” Major Brosnan said “It will really test the NZDF’s ability to plan execute and respond to developing situations – all essential elements of being a highly trained and deployable force.” He said while natural disasters can impact any country there is a huge difference in availability of resources between Tonga and New Zealand “Similar problems we could experience in New Zealand will take innovative and collaborative solutions in order to achieve our tasks.” Exercises such as this one are a positive experience for all involved “The tangible end state will be highly rewarding too As a team being able to stand back and say you built that for the community or delivered dental care to a certain number of locals will be a gratifying experience.” Andy Stewart pushed on with his motorbike trek despite his growing pain Serving and former New Zealand Army personnel have come together at Linton Military Camp in Palmerston North to remember fallen comrades Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1RNZIR) memorial wall was unveiled on Saturday in recognition of the 97 personnel that have passed away while posted to the unit since 1957 The project planning was started in 2018 by then Commanding Officer Colonel Aidan Shattock said there had been a huge amount of input and invaluable support from the Army and local community over the years for the project “Te Ao Turoa Environmental Centre and Rangitāne o Manawatū provided more than 300 plants to be planted around the wall by 1st Battalion personnel and Downer NZ provided specialised guidance around placement so the garden can be maintained in the future,” he said “First year apprentices from the School of Military Engineering 25 Engineer Support Squadron and 2nd Engineer Regiment have been a continued support to 1st Battalion during the construction of the wall doing construction and placing the steel has really been a team effort “This will be a place where family and friends present and future soldiers can honour those who’ve passed It will ensure that future generations never forget their service and sacrifice.” Inscribed on the wall are the names of those who served and died died in November 2018 after being diagnosed with cancer while he was serving with the Multinational Force and Observers mission in the Sinai Peninsula was serving as a Captain in the New Zealand Army Serving and former New Zealand Army personnel family and friends gathered at Linton Military Camp in Palmerston North for the unveiling of the 1st Battalion Mrs McGregor said she had been looking forward to attending the opening of the Linton Memorial for Fallen Personnel It’s somewhere people can go to just quietly remember And it means the name of your loved one gets to live on You know you always have them and their stories but this is where you can go to reflect and he was a member of the Patriots Motorcycle Club He loved the idea of going on motorcycle runs and that sort of things to remember military personnel who have passed He would think this was a wonderful way to remember the fallen.” The New Zealand Defence Force’s Liaison Officer for Families of the Fallen She made many visits to the NZDF archives to source the necessary background information on the 97 fallen personnel remembered through the memorial A new $47-million high-tech maintenance facility project at Linton Military Camp has gotten underway with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern breaking the first ground in appropriate style using a military earth excavator The Prime Minister was guided through the mechanics of the operation by a qualified operator after being given a brief on the new Maintenance Support Facility.  within an environmentally sustainable and energy efficient building will provide modern and future-proof maintenance facilities for the wide range of sophisticated equipment the New Zealand Defence Force now uses.  The Linton project is the first of five new logistics buildings being built to replace old and inefficient workshops around the country is the NZ Army’s biggest camp and is home to its primary operational force It is also home to the Army’s biggest workshop that supports several hundred vehicles and the widest range of equipment.  Chief of Army Major General John Boswell said the new Maintenance Support Facility would make soldiers’ jobs much easier.  “The old building was built in the 1980s and is now unsuitable,” he said “This new state-of-the art workshop will give us the tools necessary to maintain a high level of readiness A large part of the design brief was for the building to be multi-functional to have a low environmental impact and to be sustainable.  The new facility has numerous features that promote environmental sustainability improved energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint including supporting any future investment to diversify electricity supply through the use of solar/wind generation.  “Soldiers will also be able to work in comfort with the building being designed with thermal and acoustic controls the old buildings didn’t have,” Major General Boswell said.  “The largest of our trucks will fit inside a gantry crane and even a weapons range to test small arms after repairs.” The infrastructure upgrade programme will be delivered over four years with delivery based on the most critical pressures within the logistical chain Other new logistics facilities include a Maintenance Support Facility at Burnham Military Camp and Regional Supply facilities at Linton and Burnham and a Regional Vehicle Storage facility at Linton The Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (RNZALR) hosted their annual trade competition at Linton Military Camp this month with five trades vying for coveted trophies and bragging rights Up for grabs was the Operational Catering Trophy the Rickshaw Trophy (Logistics Specialists) Movement Operator of the Year and Driver of the Year The competition was held over three days and featured a diverse range of stands around camp designed to test aspects of that trade’s core skills Executive Officer 2nd Combat Service Support Battalion RNZALR said competitions like these simulate stressful combat situations setting up competitors with physical and mental challenges needed to complete complex tasks within a timeframe “It enables each soldier and each team to assess their skills and discover what they’re good at and where they could improve Major Cocks said as well as recognising achievement and excellence the competition also fosters teamwork and unit identity “This year with international competitors from 325 Brigade Support Battalion (325BSB) we get to pit our trade skills against our US Army partners “This in turn helps to build their confidence in us as a trusted partner It also demonstrates to our international partners the skills we have and provides them confidence in our ability to integrate with them if required.” NZ Army Chefs fulfil one of the most vital roles in keeping our soldiers sustained Trained in both culinary arts and front-of-house service chefs are responsible for the consistent delivery of tasty Catering teams from 2 and 3 Combat Service Support Battalions and the US Army (325BSB) were put to the test in a field environment cooking their own creations from a list of around 100 available ingredients Ovens and preparation areas were set up in canvas tents in a field simulating a kitchen and mess in combat conditions Their mission was to present a VIP afternoon tea and lunch for 40 people They were critiqued by judges on all aspects of food presentation and taste as well as health and safety and basic all arms training Winners: 3 Combat Service Support Battalion 2nd place: 2 Combat Service Support Battalion Army Logistics Specialists play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of military operations They ensure our soldiers have enough equipment and supplies to successfully complete any task in both peacetime and on operations From ammunition and fuel to spare parts and clothing logistic Specialists ensure the Army has everything it needs to get the job done This competition tested a range of skills from field supply tasks 3rd place: Up the Taniwhas - 21 Supply Company The 2024 Farriers Trophy assessed the ability of nominated RNZALR Maintenance Support personnel and invited international participants to carry out expedient repairs in austere conditions under operational pressures 2nd place: 3 Combat Service Support Battalion Combat Drivers are responsible for operating and maintaining military vehicles in both New Zealand and overseas operations These drivers undergo rigorous training on the majority of the NZDF B Vehicle fleet of vehicles They are responsible the safe transportation of personal stores and equipment to the right place at the right time in all environments both day and night from Antarctica to the Deserts in the Sinai Competitors were tested operating a variety of vehicles and equipment including MHOV HX60 including 0.75 tonne GS cargo trailer; Manual and automatic gear boxes and vital supplies from A to B efficiently The various stands tested conventional and non-conventional warfare operations terminal operations; aerial delivery operations; movement control as well as basic all arms skills Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the Linton Army Base Defence Minister Peeni Henare says a new $47 million engineering facility is part of bringing "sub-standard" military facilities across the country up to scratch Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern accompanied Henare to Linton Army Camp in the Manawatū-Whanganui region for the announcement about the site which will maintain and upgrade specialist military vehicles and weapons It was Ardern's first visit to an army base and she was greeted with a pōwhiri and a wero led by a wāhine Māori for the military's first time The move came a week after the army came under fire after an essay criticising moves to increase diversity in the ranks won a military writing competition only to be taken off the website amid an internal backlash Henare said the pōwhiri structure was "a good move" and especially being Ardern's first visit to an army base Women have been a huge part of the military for a long time and today was a good day to showcase that." The Linton Maintenance Facility is expected to open mid-2023 It will have an electric vehicle charging station and the ability to support solar and wind electricity generation The base services over 3000 personnel and several hundred vehicles Henare said the Linton upgrade was part of a wider upgrade project for New Zealand's military facilities Since becoming Minister of Defence he had seen many facilities across the country and not up to an "environmentally-modern standard" Part of Ardern's visit to Linton included turning the first sod of soil at the site with a military digger under supervision - an act which drew a few light-hearted comments "I normally only get offered a spade," Ardern said Army Chief Major General John Boswell John Boswell responded: "It was either [the digger] or explosives." "I would have been happy to push a button," Ardern responded The announcement comes as the Government launches into a week of highlighting its infrastructure work Earlier on Tuesday Ardern visited the opening of stage 2 of a 3-stage 85-unit social housing site at Papaioe in Palmerston North people with disabilities and those on low incomes The city has seen massive demand for social housing with the waiting list more than doubling in two years to 716 households The Palmerston North City Council project had received $4.6m from the Government's shovel-ready Covid-19 recovery fund Ardern said the new units were part of the Government's wider plans to make sure every person's "basic needs" were met in relation to housing The Government had added 7671 additional social houses since 2017 "There is still a lot of work to do," she said More than half a billion dollars is going to defence in this year's Budget to improve pay for the frontline and upgrade equipment Defence Minister Judith Collins made the pre-Budget announcement at Burnham Military Camp near Christchurch on Friday with the exception of $19m of capital funding which will be allocated to the 2028 to 2031 financial cycle $163 million is for increasing the pay of our hard-working women and men of our New Zealand Defence Force - the people who do us proud at home and throughout the world "Our people are at the frontline of New Zealand's security in an increasingly unstable world and that increasingly unstable world makes it essential that we retain our hard-working and well-trained people who without hestitation deploy throughout the world," Collins told her audience She said it would be "a significant improvement" to current pay rates Collins believed the Defence Force was in "a pretty dire state" when she took over the portfolio late last year in terms of morale and attrition more deployments and a sense that the government "had their back" contributing She had already commented in the past that attrition rates must be addressed "with urgency" "We need to stabilise the force and today's announcement of pay increases for our uniformed personnel is key to that." She would like to see the attrition drop to a 7 percent rate which would take a while to reach Another $408m will go toward projects and infrastructure The project funding will be broken down into $127m in operating funding and $281m in capital funding A small portion of the new funding has been clawed back from savings within the New Zealand Defence Force Collins said $99m of the $107m in savings is from the New Zealand Defence Force which will be reinvested into remuneration and the other $8m was found within the Ministry of Defence Those savings have come from projects ending and "a reduction in international and domestic travel as well as a decrease in spending on contractors and consultants" Any major projects already planned and underway are expected to continue a project will begin to replace the Unimog and Pinzgauer trucks "Replacement vehicles will have integrated communications that will enhance interoperability with regional and global partners the United Kingdom and the United States," Collins said Collins said people would most recently have seen the current vehicles in use to assist communities during Cyclone Gabrielle Some vehicles had been used for 40 years and it was time they were replaced with vehicles which would complement those used by our allies and "would be a crucial step in this challenging world we live in" The other projects for which funding has been allocated through Budget 24 Collins said retaining personnel and having them equipped to do their jobs is vital to ensure "New Zealand is ready willing and - crucially - able to play its part internationally" "NZDF personnel are at the frontline of New Zealand's security but they cannot do their jobs without the right equipment and conditions We have only to look at events in the Ukraine and Middle East to see how quickly people's lives can change," Collins said "This Budget announcement is a signal that New Zealand is ready to step up and play its part to protect the freedoms that so many of us take for granted." The next step for defence is the Capability Plan which Collins said "will shape our future investment decisions around the equipment we need as we step up" There is renewed interest in defence spending at present because of talks the government has been having on possibly joining Tier 2 of the AUKUS agreement between the US Foreign Minister Winston Peters has repeatedly played down the prospect saying New Zealand hasn't been invited to join and he doesn't know what it would entail it is expected more spending on defence would be required from allies On Thursday, Finance Minister Nicola Willis gave a major pre-Budget speech in the Hutt Valley and in the process ruled out an austerity Budget and reaffirmed her commitment to tax cuts for most New Zealanders Politics RSS The New Zealand Army today honoured and remembered Private David Stewart NZBM in ceremony by dedicating his name to the 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR) Theatrette situated at Linton Military Camp Private Stewart lost his life through the selfless acts of looking after others during a blizzard on Mt Ruapehu in August He was one of six military personnel who died during the alpine training exercise - the largest loss of life 1 RNZIR has suffered in any one event in the unit’s history “David’s selfless actions embodies all the best traits we want in our people The theatrette was chosen to honour him because it is our learning hub for our junior soldiers,” said 1 RNZIR Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Logan Vaughan.  “They will walk into the David Stewart NZBM Theatrette to carry out their training and will read about his bravery That will help them understand the values of the soldiers in the 1st Battalion and the culture they are now a part of.” Whānau and dignitaries arrive to the ceremony at Linton Military Camp with Chief of Army Major General John Boswell Chief of Army Major General John Boswell was in attendance alongside whānau and dignitaries “What we are doing here is recognising the courage of a brave and selfless young soldier who lost his own life caring for his comrades in appalling conditions This serves as an enduring reminder to Private Stewart’s bravery on the mountain all those years ago.” At the conclusion of the dedication service poppies were laid and volleys fired.   The five others who perished on Mt Ruapehu were Privates Brett Barker Jason Menhennet and Able Rating Jeffrey Boult A Linton-based soldier accused of spying is applying for a stay of proceedings on the basis of delay faces more than a dozen charges - including espionage - in a case that is the first of its kind in New Zealand A minute issued by the Court Martial this morning revealed the accused would ask the judge to put an end to the case on the basis of delay The soldier had initially applied for further disclosure from the NZSIS The hearing relating to this disclosure application held in a closed court meaning neither members of the public nor the media were permitted to attend the soldier's application to stay the prosecution will be heard on that day with the disclosure hearing to be completed at a later date The soldier, a member of far-right groups the Dominion Movement and Action Zealandia is accused of failing to report finding classified documents This was after was allegedly found with a Pams chiller bag containing intelligence training materials The charge sheets for the case also state that on or about 20 November 2019 he failed to report contact from what he believed was an official of a foreign country to the Defence Security Directorate The country at the centre of this case cannot be made public after the Chief Judge of the Court Martial's Chief Judge Kevin Riordan moved to suppress it along with the identities of half a dozen expert Crown witnesses A Linton soldier charged with espionage is applying for a chance to argue access to highly-classified information held by the NZSIS The soldier is further accused of stashing classified documents and taking copies of the Linton Military Camp layout including a letter assessing its security vulnerabilities The judge overseeing a rare espionage court martial has moved to suppress the name of the country at the centre of the case Prince Harry visits Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North Image 1 of 9: Prince Harry performing a haka with 1 Brigade soldiers during his visit to the Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North This online-only contest showcases the best of nature photography The underwater photographer of the year competition celebrates photos beneath the surface engineering skills and steely nerve was all competitors needed Thousands gathered at Waitangi in Northland to celebrate our national day The week-long festivities have been full of colour ahead of Waitangi Day 5 C-130H Hercules transport aircraft retire with a nationwide flypast But there were plenty of really good pictures that came close NZ Herald Summer Holiday Photography Competition entries NZ Herald Summer Holiday Photography Competition entries.. NZ Herald Summer Photo Competition online gallery of entries.. NZ Summer Holiday competition entries from New Year's Week NZ Herald Summer Holiday Photo Competition - entries from 24th - 26th December NZ Herald Summer Photo Competition - first days entries - Day 1 and 2 A selection of cartoons from Herald cartoonist Rod Emmerson over the past year Stunning images from the awards that celebrate the beauty of science Doctors have told Paige Suisted she has 18 months to live She is determined to live each moment to the fullest Mairehau house fire: Firefighters battle two-storey house blaze 10 patients were assessed and treated by our crews in total Auckland commuters face a chaotic morning after two highways leading into the central city have been majorly disrupted by crashes A 23-year-old soldier died at Linton Military Camp today following a stand-off with police that lasted more than five hours Police were alerted that an armed soldier had barricaded himself inside a property on the base early this morning Central District Police Manager of Operations "Shortly before 10am this morning police were called to a private residential area at Linton Camp after reports of a firearm being discharged at a house.'' Community Constable Robyn Moore said cordons were placed around the house as negotiators spoke to the man was closed from 10am and residents were urged to stay inside their homes Sergeant Graham Wehipeihana of Palmerston North police said the soldier in the house had been collected from the city about 1am by a colleague and taken back to the base Police had hoped to resolve the situation amicably and did not plan to "go in shooting'' Between 10am and 2pm police tried to make contact with the man inside the house but to no avail The sounds of multiple shots and police dogs barking were heard at the base about 1.15pm The shots were in fact gas canisters placed around the soldier's house Medics then entered the cordon and dog handlers and police armed offenders squad members left the area "You've probably guessed what happened,'' Mr White said to media at the scene Police entered the house shortly after 2pm and found the soldier dead A defence force spokesman said it was not known whether the gun involved in the incident was a military or civilian weapon it is believed the weapon was privately owned said the army was in full support of the police and supported them throughout the ordeal friends and colleagues of the soldier concerned at this difficult time "The NZ Army will be providing appropriate support to the family.'' The soldier was not deployed overseas during his time with the NZ Army Mr White said police and defence force staff worked hard to try to resolve the ``tense and difficult situation peacefully'' "While we are grateful that no-one else has been hurt we are deeply saddened that it has ended in this way,'' he said Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman declined to comment on the incident However a spokesman from his office described it as an "absolute tragedy'' Coronial and military inquiries are set to investigate the incident further.Camp Rd was closed since about 10am and residents were urged to stay inside their homes One resident on nearby Whitmore Rd said it wasn't unusual to hear gunshots at the military camp "so that wouldn't necessarily be cause for alarm'' Fire Service and St John ambulance all referred inquiries to police Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said he wouldn't comment until later today The minister says she's changed her processes after admitting processes were 'untidy'.