City of Dunedin Cadet Unit

04/04/2026

17/02/2026

Kia ora everyone,

Due to the weather conditions, we will not be parading tonight. 🌧️

The safety of our cadets and families is our priority.

If you have any questions or concerns,
please email us at [email protected]

Please stay safe, stay warm, and we’ll see you all soon.

12/02/2026

18/01/2026

🌟 Brighton Gala Day – A Fantastic Community Showcase 🌟

We had a brilliant day at the Brighton Gala Day, and we couldn’t be prouder of how our cadets represented the New Zealand Cadet Forces.

Our display looked great and attracted plenty of attention, but what really stood out was the level of engagement. Cadets confidently spoke with members of the public, answered questions, and sparked genuine curiosity and interest in what the NZCF offers young people.

Throughout the day, our cadets lived the NZCF values of Courage, Commitment, Comradeship, and Integrity — from stepping out of their comfort zones to talk with strangers, to working as a team and presenting themselves in a professional and respectful manner.

Community events like this are vital in helping people understand who we are and what we do, and the positive conversations we had will no doubt inspire future cadets.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported the day.

You did yourselves, our unit, and the NZCF proud. 💪🎖️

01/01/2026

What an incredible year for Dunedin’s Cadet Units!

Below are just some of our highlights from this year.

•At the start of November, all three units participated in a parade to farewell Kensington Army Hall. The following day, we took part in the Charter Parade, pausing at Queens Gardens for the Remembrance Service before celebrating the official opening of the new Dunedin Defence Facility.

• At the end of November, all three units also had the incredible opportunity to tour HMNZS Te Kaha, where they learned more about life at sea and the various roles and functions of the ship.

• TS Neptune hosted its annual Exercise Trident over labour weekend, welcoming units from as far as Christchurch and Invercargill. Cadets took part in sailing, first aid, archery, and many other activities, all with a strong focus on teamwork and skill development.

• City of Dunedin Cadet Unit began the year with Expedition Berwick, an adventure camp designed to build leadership and teamwork while encouraging cadets to step outside their comfort zones and take on new challenges.

• 42 Squadron recently hosted Exercise Blueskies, giving cadets the opportunity to learn how to fly gliding aircraft in a hands-on camp environment.

24/12/2025

Merry Christmas and happy new year from everyone at City of Dunedin Cadet Unit 🎄✨️

16/12/2025

Ending the year on a high note!

Over the weekend, our cadets road-tripped to Cromwell to experience the Kiwi Water Park, taking part in swimming activities and tackling the obstacle course. There were plenty of laughs along the way, especially watching the staff fail the obstacle course and end up in the water! It was a fantastic opportunity for our cadets to challenge themselves, step outside their comfort zones, and have lots of fun.

09/12/2025

🌟 CDCU – CELEBRATION NIGHT! 🌟

Tonight was truly a night of two halves — and both were absolutely fantastic!

First, we celebrated the achievements of our incredible cadets. Their commitment to attendance, dedication to community service and public relations, and the huge strides they’ve made in developing key skills such as General Service Knowledge, RATEL, and Navigation were all recognised tonight. Each award represents hours of effort, perseverance, and personal growth — and we couldn’t be prouder.

A special highlight of the evening was honouring Staff Sergeant Butler with the prestigious Vanguard Award— presented to the cadet who consistently leads from the front, demonstrates exceptional initiative, and inspires others through their conduct, service, and unwavering commitment to the values of the New Zealand Cadet Forces. An outstanding achievement!

👏 Congratulations to all our award recipients! Your hard work, dedication, and positive attitude don’t just strengthen you — they strengthen our entire unit. Keep striving, keep stepping up, and keep showing everyone what City of Dunedin cadets are made of!

We also had the privilege of celebrating a major milestone in leadership: 2Lt Butler received her commissioning parchment, formally recognising her successful completion of officer training and her commitment to serving the unit and NZCF with integrity, professionalism, and pride. This achievement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in her leadership journey — congratulations, Ma’am!

We also celebrated several well-deserved promotions tonight. Please join us in congratulating:
✨ WO2 Butler
✨ Staff Sergeant Booth
✨ Sergeant Lee
✨ Acting Sergeant Marsh

Your leadership, teamwork, and commitment have shone through, and we know you will continue to serve as strong role models for your peers.

🎄 The second half of the evening was all about fun, connection, and Christmas spirit!
We relaxed together as a unit and watched a favourite festive classic — Home Alone — while snacking on the essentials: cheese pizza, popcorn, chocolates, and lollies. A perfect way to wind down after a busy but absolutely awesome year of learning, service, growth, and achievements.

What an incredible night for our unit — full of pride, celebration, and camaraderie. Onward and upward, team! 💙💛

06/12/2025

We celebrate the hard work and dedication of our cadets who received awards yesterday at our final prize giving. We also acknowledge all our cadets for their efforts and achievements, even if they did not receive an award.

Award recipients
(Left to right)
CDT Gordon - The First Best Year Cadet Trophy
CPL Green - Dunedin Cadet Unit Trophy and NCO trophy
CPL Marsh - The Camaraderie Award, NCO Trophy and received the Commandants Challenge Coin
LCPL Cade - Most Improved Drill Trophy
LCPL McArthur - The Ritchie Trophy

05/12/2025

Serving our community this Christmas 🎄

We were honoured to support the Can Appeal again this year, gathering food for the less fortunate in our community.

We are grateful to the community for their generous support of this cause.

13/11/2025

Remembrance and New Beginnings

Last Sunday, we joined the Charter Parade, pausing at Queens Gardens for the Remembrance Service before celebrating the official opening of the new Dunedin Defence Facility.

11/11/2025

Last weekend our cadets were part of history.

After 110 years of service, we bid farewell on Saturday to our cherished Kensington Army Hall, a place rich with memories of those who came before us, stood beside us, and helped shape who we are today.