Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa - New Zealand Defence Force.
Kia Rite - Attention.
Tukua! - GO!

Below the Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Kevin Short presented with the formal invitation to race at The King’s Cup, the map of the Henley Royal Regatta course and the record of the New Zealand Army crew that raced in 1919.

All squad members are honoured to be representing the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) in this historic event. They will be researching the crew from 100 years ago, with each member concentrating on the veteran whose seat they are sitting in.

NZDF’s King’s Cup rowing squad ranges in age from 20 to 45 and comprises three women and nine men.

All three services – Army, Navy and Air Force – are represented, while trades range from a dental hygienist to a diver to a pilot.

Tukua Te Ope Katua o Aotearoa – Go New Zealand Defence Force! 

The 1919 Crew

The 2019 Crew

Flying Officer Connor Broughton is a Royal New Zealand Air Force rotary wing pilot. Connor comes from Rotorua and appointed in the Royal New Zealand Airforce in January 2016 at age 18. Connor has completed two running marathons.

New Zealand Army infantryman Lance Corporal Jack Proudfoot comes from Timaru NZ and enjoys anything outdoors, and socialising with friends.

Sub-Lieutenant Rob Creasy is a Royal New Zealand Navy Diver. He has a PhD and has spent twelve years working for High Performance Sport New Zealand. Rob is a three time Triathlon Age Group World Champion and grew up in Cambridge, NZ.

Infantry Platoon Commander Second Lieutenant Ashton Lovell grew up on a 5,000 acre sheep and beef farm in Whangarei, the rural northland of New Zealand. Ashton hopes to one day takes the lessons he has learned from infantry command to running a farm.

Lance Corporal Mark Evans is an infantryman in the New Zealand Army. Mark was a lightweight rower where he represented New Zeeland in under 21s in 2003. He grew up in Whanganui.

Major Emily Hume is an Army Royal New Zealand Signals Officer. She has been awarded the New Zealand Operational Service Medal, General Service Medal, Defence Service Medal, and the UN Medal for campaigns including the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), and United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East. She grew up in Christchurch, New Zealand and enjoys being outdoors and in the mountains, either on skis, bike or hiking.

Lieutenant Ricky Daniel-Nield is a warfare officer in the Royal New Zealand Navy. His grandfather was in the African Campaign, receiving honours for helping a large number of POWs escape from prison in Africa. Daniel has only rowed surf boats until preparation for the King’s Cup.

Corporal Rebekah Salt is an Oral Health Therapist in the New Zealand Army. Her motto is ‘teeth for life” and grew up in Kaiapoi, NZ. She is passionate about modern dentistry, taking opportunities to upskill herself and educating others on the importance of oral health.

Leading Aircraftsman Alex Hill is an aircraft technician in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. With a passion for history, Alex splits spare time studying a Defence Studies degree and model building. Alex is from Blenheim, and hopes to make it to chief of the New Zealand Defence Force one day.

Private Ryan Flintoft is in the New Zealand Army infantry  and enjoys long walks on the beach at sunset.

Royal New Zealand Navy Helicopter observer and airborne combat system officer/navigator Lieutenant Commander Juliet Maclean is excited to participate in the Kings Cup. She has deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Bahrain and hails from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, UK.

Able Marine Technician Cathan Tamarapa is a Royal New Zealand Navy Marine Technician. Cathan’s Great-grand-uncle was in the first Maori Contingent of the New Zealand armed forces and is buried in Portianos Military Cemetery Lemnos. His great-grand-uncle, 7/143 Edward Gordon Weight (Canterbury Mounted Rifle NZEF) died on hill 60 Gallipoli on 28 August 1915. Cathan’s father inspired him to take up rowing from a young age. From the moment he got in a boat he was hooked! Cathan says “the sport, coaches and crew mates have taught me so much and given me some incredible memories over the years! Blessed and Thankful for the sport!”

Ms Rachel Gamble-Flint coaches the New Zealand crew After learning to row at Yarm School, on the River Tees, Rachel had a successful rowing career, which included multiple British representations at Junior, U23 and Senior level between 2007-2013. A former Leander rower, Rachel moved to New Zealand after recurring injury ended her international rowing aspirations. Since arriving in NZ, Rachel has used her experiences and knowledge to coach rowing and aspires to help young athletes achieve their sporting goals.

Wing Commander Rhys Taylor is the Manager of the New Zealand King’s Cup crew. Rhys considers the King’s Cup an important activity toward his ambition to re-establish rowing as an officially sanctioned New Zealand Defence Force sport. Wing Commander Taylor has received the New Zealand Operational Service Medal, and the UN medal after a deployment to Afghanistan.