Established in 1955 on the blueprints of the British Special Air Service, the New Zealand Special Air Service selects the top recruits to join the regiment during a tough selection course prior to which applicants spend two days preparing and learning about military skills. The key function of this corps is to ensure a small group of men that can cope under harsh conditions for significant periods of time, but still work as efficiently as possible. This unit provides support to the New Zealand Police Force and stepped in during the conflicts in Rhodesia (1979-1980), Bosnia (1995-1996), and the Solomon Islands (2000). The regiment also aided in relief efforts after the Papua New Guinea tsunami in 1998.
