The New Zealand Defence Force is recognised as a competent and trusted partner by the other militaries it operates with.

These is the overall assessment following a Performance Improvement Framework review released yesterday by the State Services Commission.

Lieutenant General Tim Keating.

The Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Tim Keating, says he requested the PIF Review to help the New Zealand Defence Force test its thinking about how to meet the challenges of the next four years.

'I am pleased with the overall assessment that the NZDF is recognised as a competent and trusted partner by the other militaries we operate with. New Zealand's military partners acknowledged the Defence Force as being in the best condition it has been in for a long time.

'The PIF Review confirms the NZDF knows where its strengths and weaknesses lie, what it needs to maintain, and where it needs to implement change.

'This review also endorses the direction of major reforms to our governance and operating model we started earlier this year. These changes are timely and will help us meet future challenges to New Zealand from an increasingly uncertain global security environment.”

Tim says work is already under way to address areas the lead reviewers confirmed as needing further focus.

That work programme has been built into the NZDF's annual and four-year planning cycle.

'Our purpose is about preparing for combat. I am committed to ensuring the New Zealand Defence Force, as a Force for New Zealand, continuously finds ways to be better at what we do.”

The review can be found on the State Services Commission website.