Nelson Cadet Unit

12/12/2025

08/12/2025

On Tuesday 2nd December, CAPT Zoe Moulam was awarded the Cadet Forces Medal. This medal is awarded for long service, recognising 12 years of continuous service to New Zealand Cadet Forces.

Serving with Nelson Cadet Unit since 2014, Zoe has held numerous senior appointments and currently serves as our Executive Officer. She has completed a wide range of professional development courses and continues to give back as an instructor on Officer and Cadet course and Area Skills competitions.

She is recognised for her calm, pragmatic and solution-focused leadership, always placing the needs of cadets first. Her professionalism was formally recognised in 2016 with the award of the Commandant’s Commendation for her response to a roadside medical emergency.

The CFM is a well-deserved acknowledgment of CAPT Moulam’s sustained service and ongoing contribution to NCU and the wider Nelson community.

Congratulations CAPT Moulam!

04/12/2025

End of Year Parade & Prizegiving 2025

2025 has been a huge year for NCU, and we marked it on Tuesday 2 December with our End of Year Parade & Prizegiving alongside families, friends, and supporters. It was great to have Hon Dr Nick Smith join us as our VIP for the evening.

Individual Prizes
Section Trophy, Top Section: Alpha Section, received by CPL Christopher Murdoch as Section Commander
1881 Trophy, Top Aggregate Shot: SGT Hannah Buckland
Carpenter Cup, Most Improved RFL: CPL Jaya Ellison
Patron's Trophy, Dedication & Efficiency: SSGT Edie Lloyd
Sigley Memorial Cup, Most Improved First Year Cadet: CDT Charlie Hayday
McDonald Cup, Top Nelson College Cadet: SSGT Rory Shand
Rees Trophy, Most Outstanding Female Cadet: WO2 Kiera Harwood
Ramsay Cup, Most Improved Cadet of Any Rank: LCPL Lylah Scowen
Crown Cup, Most Improved NCO: SGT Jacob Gallagher
CSMs Trophy, for the Cadet who best demonstrated the ethos of NCU, as nominated by the CSM: LCPL Lylah Scowen

Promotions
SSGT to WO2: Rory Shand, appointed Company Sergeant Major
SGT to SSGT: Jacob Gallagher

02/12/2025

Thanks Hon Dr Nick Smith for presenting at speaking at our End of Year Parade & Prizegiving last night!

Nelson can be very proud of our army cadet unit who celebrated their year in total class this evening with a parade and prize giving.

Congrats to award winners and thanks to the officers, parents and committee who support this stunning group of young men and women.

22/11/2025

Bringing back the C4 competition with an inter-unit shooting competitions between the 4 Nelson/Tasman units!

Congrats to 23SQN A for taking the team win over NCU A by 3 points!
Top individual shot for C4 was even closer with only 1 point between 1st and 2nd!

Top Teams:
🥇23SQN A
🥈NCU A
🥉23SQN B

Top Indiv Shot:
🥇 SGT Buckland NCU
🥈 W/O Jackson 23SQN
🥉 CPO Daikee TAL

09/11/2025

In Flanders fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

29/10/2025

Join the team at NCU in 2026!
If you're 13-15 years old and interested in adventure training, teamwork, army-style leadership training, fi****ms training and more, check out ncu.org.nz and come along to our info nights!

28/10/2025

Check out what the NCU skills team got up at at Nationals earlier this month!

18/10/2025

Section Comp 2025
Alpha, Bravo and Charlie sections competed against each other across a number of different stands to test their skills and training from the year, battling it out to try and win the Section Trophy at end of year parade and prizegiving!

14/10/2025

2NZ!
The NCU team placed 2nd by 1point at the National Skill-at-Arms Competition! A huge few days, physically and mentally tough, they worked extremely hard and we are so proud of them🥈

They also secured the “Spirit of the Competiton” award for their demonstration of teamwork, fieldcraft skills, initiative and adaptability, and NZCF values throughout the competition.

Tonnes of great photos to come once they’re approved by HQ

01/10/2025

The NCU team is heading to Waiouru for the National Skill at Arms competition representing Southern Area - New Zealand Cadet Forces!
Good luck team!

29/08/2025

BASIC FI****MS COURSE
Each year our 1st year cadets head over the hill to complete their fi****ms training on the Woodbourne range. Our 2nd year cadets learnt how to shoot from seated and kneeling positions.
They all had a busy weekend of living in barracks, mess food, revising their ratel and nav, and PT with planking competitions and sports.
This year we had TS Talisman - Navy Cadets Nelson and Motueka Cadet Unit join us!