page_title: Military history of New Zealand
section_title: Solomon Islands (2003–2013)
hierarchical_section_title: Military history of New Zealand / Peacekeeping and Observer Missions / Solomon Islands (2003–2013)
caption_attribution_description: Army, Solomon Islands, Honiara, Exercise Boss Lift, Op Rata, TG Rata 8, TG Rata 9, Territorial Army Reserves, Deployment: Op Rata consists of NZDF personnel and NZ Police who are supporting the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). TG Rata 8 is made up of mainly Territorial Army reserves and Ex Boss Lift has brought the Bosses of 11 of the soldiers to the Solomon Islands to see what they have been doing for the past 4 months. PTE Tim Vincent and his platoon meet with locals while on patrol in a rural Village, Mbarama.
context_page_description: The military history of New Zealand is an aspect of the history of New Zealand that spans several hundred years. When first settled by Māori almost a millennium ago, there was much land and resources, but war began to break out as the country's carrying capacity was approached. Initially being fought with close range weapons of wood and stone, this continued on and off until Europeans arrived, bringing with them new weapons such as muskets. Colonisation by Britain led to the New Zealand Wars in the 19th century in which settler and imperial troops and their Māori allies fought against other Māori and a handful of Pākehā. In the first half of the 20th century, New Zealanders of all races fought alongside Britain in the Boer War and both World Wars. In the second half of the century and into this century the New Zealand Defence Force has provided token assistance to the United States in several conflicts. New Zealand has also contributed troops extensively to multilateral peacekeeping operations.
context_section_description: New Zealand participated in the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), which aimed to restore peace following the Solomon Islands civil war. RAMSI acted as an interim police force and has been successful in improving the country's overall security conditions, including brokering the surrender of a notorious warlord, Harold Keke. New Zealand contributed four helicopters and about 230 personnel consisting of infantry, engineers, medical and support staff. RAMSI was scaled down in July 2004, as stability had gradually been restored to the country. It was now primarily a police force. In 2007, New Zealand forces provided support relief in the aftermath of the 2 April 2007 Solomon Islands earthquake. The Mission ended in August 2013.
caption: New Zealanders a part of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands on patrol, 2009.
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