# Chief of Navy (New Zealand)

Chief of Navy (CN) commands the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and is responsible to the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) for raising, training and sustaining those forces necessary to meet agreed government outputs. The CN acts as principal advisor to the CDF on Navy matters, and is the most senior appointment in the RNZN. The rank associated with the position is rear admiral, and CNs are generally appointed on a three-year term.
The position was originally created as Chief of Naval Staff and First Naval Member upon the formation of the RNZN on 1 October 1941. A number of the officers who became CNS served as Commodore, Auckland (later named Maritime Component Commander) before taking the helm of the Navy. The title changed to Chief of Naval Staff in 1970, and CN in 2003. Rear Admiral Garin Golding assumed the post on 27 August 2024.

## Appointees

The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Chief of Navy or its preceding positions, with rank and honours as at the completion of the individual's term.
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| Chief of Naval Staff and First Naval Member ||||||
| 1 | Parry, EdwardCommodore Edward Parry CB (1893–1972) RN | 1 October 1941 | June 1942 | 8 months |
| 2 | Parry, EdwardCommodore Sir Atwell Lake, 9th Baronet CB, OBE (1891–1972) RN | June 1942 | 12 July 1945 | 3 years, 1 month |
| 3 | Faulkner, GeorgeCommodore George Haines Faulkner DSC (1893–1983) RN | 13 July 1945 | May 1947 | 1 year, 9 months |
| 4 | Simpson, GeorgeCommodore George Simpson CB, CBE RN | July 1947 | June 1950 | 3 years, 1 month |
| 5 | Balance, FCommodore F.A. Balance DSO RN | June 1950 | April 1953 | 2 years, 10 months |
| 6 | Madden, CharlesCommodore Sir Charles Madden, 2nd Baronet CB (1906–2001) RN | April 1953 | May 1955 | 2 years, 1 month |
| 7 | McBeath, JohnRear Admiral John McBeath CB, DSO, DSC RN | May 1955 | February 1958 | 2 years, 9 months |
| 8 | Villiers, MichaelRear Admiral Michael Villiers OBE (1907–1990) RN | February 1958 | March 1960 | 2 years, 1 month |
| 9 | Phipps, PeterRear Admiral Peter Phipps KBE, DSC & Bar, VRD (1909–1989) | April 1960 | June 1963 | 3 years, 3 months |
| 10 | Washbourn, RichardRear Admiral Richard Washbourn CB, DSO, OBE RN/RNZN | June 1963 | October 1965 | 2 years, 4 months |
| 11 | Ross, JohnRear Admiral John Ross CB, CBE | October 1965 | June 1969 | 3 years, 8 months |
| 12 | Carr, LawrenceRear Admiral Lawrence Carr DSC | July 1969 | May 1970 | 10 months |
| Chief of Naval Staff ||||||
| 1 | Carr, LawrenceRear Admiral Lawrence Carr CB, DSC | June 1970 | June 1972 | 2 years, 1 month |
| 2 | Thorne, EdwardRear Admiral Edward Thorne CB, CBE (1923–2013) | July 1972 | December 1975 | 3 years, 6 months |
| 3 | McKenzie, JohnRear Admiral John McKenzie CB, CBE | December 1975 | December 1977 | 2 years |
| 4 | Anderson, NeilRear Admiral Neil Anderson CB, CBE (1927–2010) | December 1977 | April 1980 | 2 years, 4 months |
| 5 | Saull, KeithRear Admiral Keith Saull CB | April 1980 | April 1983 | 3 years |
| 6 | Steward, CedricRear Admiral Cedric Steward CB | April 1983 | February 1986 | 2 years, 10 months |
| 7 | Tempero, LincolnRear Admiral Lincoln Tempero CB | February 1986 | May 1987 | 1 year, 3 months |
| 8 | Domett, DouglasRear Admiral Douglas Domett CB, CBE | May 1987 | May 1989 | 2 years |
| 9 | Teagle, SomerfordRear Admiral Somerford Teagle | May 1989 | March 1991 | 1 year, 10 months |
| 10 | Hunter, IanRear Admiral Ian Hunter CB (1939–2022) | March 1991 | April 1994 | 3 years, 1 month |
| 11 | Welch, J.Rear Admiral Jack Welch CB | April 1994 | 7 April 1997 | 3 years |
| 12 | Wilson, FredRear Admiral Fred Wilson CBE, LVO | 8 April 1997 | April 2000 | 2 years, 11 months |
| 13 | McHaffie, PeterRear Admiral Peter McHaffie OBE | April 2000 | April 2003 | 3 years |
| Chief of Navy ||||||
| 1 | McHaffie, PeterRear Admiral Peter McHaffie CNZM, OBE | April 2003 | 7 April 2004 | 1 year |
| 2 | Ledson, DavidRear Admiral David Ledson ONZM (born 1951) | 8 April 2004 | April 2009 | 4 years, 11 months |
| 3 | Parr, TonyRear Admiral Tony Parr ONZM, MVO (born 1955) | April 2009 | 29 November 2012 | 3 years, 7 months |
| 4 | Steer, JackRear Admiral Jack Steer ONZM | 30 November 2012 | 30 November 2015 | 3 years |
| 5 | Martin, JohnRear Admiral John Martin ONZM | 30 November 2015 | 29 November 2018 | 2 years, 11 months |
| 6 | Proctor, DavidRear Admiral David Proctor | 29 November 2018 | 16 May 2024 | 5 years, 5 months |
| 7 | Golding, GarinRear Admiral Garin Golding | 27 August 2024 | Present | 1 month |