Armed Forces Discipline Regulations 2008
Version as at 27 November 2025
Armed Forces Discipline Regulations 2008
(SR 2008/236)
Anand Satyanand, Governor-General
Order in Council
At Wellington this 4th day of August 2008
Present:
His Excellency the Governor-General in Council
Note
The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.
Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.
These regulations are administered by the New Zealand Defence Force.
Pursuant to section 205 of the Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971, His Excellency the Governor-General, acting on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council, makes the following regulations.
Contents
Regulations
1 Title
These regulations are the Armed Forces Discipline Regulations 2008.
2 Commencement
These regulations come into force on 1 July 2009.
3 Interpretation
In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,—
able rank, in relation to the Navy, excludes ordinary rank
Act means the Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971
allowances, in relation to a member of the Armed Forces,—
(a)
means all allowances payable to that member by the Crown in respect of his or her service in the Armed Forces; but
(b)
does not include any payment by way of expenses, refunds, or allowances to meet expenditure already incurred
base hourly rate of remuneration has the meaning given by regulation 16
basic pay, in relation to a member of the Armed Forces, means the daily amount payable to the member as determined by the Chief of Defence Force, but excluding allowances
certified scale of fees means the certified scale of fees prepared by the Chief of Defence Force in accordance with regulation 15
certifying officer means an officer designated by the Chief of Defence Force as a certifying officer for the purposes of these regulations
counsel—
(a)
means a lawyer who is appointed—
(i)
to represent a party to proceedings before the Summary Appeal Court, the Court Martial, or the Court Martial Appeal Court; or
(ii)
to appear for the Crown in any Court or tribunal that makes, or will make, a determination that may affect service discipline or the operations of the Armed Forces; or
(iii)
to advise a person who is being questioned by the service authorities or is being held under close arrest; or
(iv)
as a member of the Discipline Committee under section 160(2)(i) of the Act; but
(b)
does not include a person who is a member of the Armed Forces
leading aviator classification, in relation to the Air Force, excludes an aviator classification and an Air Force cadet
year means a period of 12 months starting on 1 July.
Regulation 3 leading aircraftman: revoked, on 27 November 2025, by section 57 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 74).
Regulation 3 leading aviator classification: inserted, on 27 November 2025, by section 57 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 74).
Part 1 Punishments and forfeitures
4 Reduction in rank
(1)
If the Court Martial sentences an officer of any service to reduction in rank, it may reduce the officer’s rank to any lower commissioned rank in that service.
(2)
If the Court Martial sentences a rating to reduction in rank or a disciplinary officer imposes a punishment of reduction in rank on a rating, the Court Martial or disciplinary officer may reduce the rating’s rank—
(a)
to any lower rank, not below able rank, in the rating’s present branch; or
(b)
in the case of the Naval Police Branch or the Physical Training Branch, to any lower rank, not below able rank, in the rating’s former branch for which the rating is qualified.
(3)
If the Court Martial sentences a soldier to reduction in rank, or a disciplinary officer imposes a punishment of reduction in rank on a soldier, the Court Martial or disciplinary officer may reduce the soldier’s rank to any lower rank, not below private, in the Army.
(4)
If the Court Martial sentences an aviator to reduction in rank, or a disciplinary officer imposes a punishment of reduction in rank on an aviator, the Court Martial or disciplinary officer may reduce the aviator’s rank to any lower rank, not below leading aviator classification, in the Air Force.
Regulation 4(4): amended, on 27 November 2025, by section 57 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 74).
5 Forfeiture of seniority
If the Court Martial sentences a member of the Armed Forces to forfeiture of seniority, it may forfeit all or part of the member’s seniority in the rank that the member holds on the day on which the sentence is passed and the member must take rank and precedence in his or her service accordingly.
6 Stay of seniority
(1)
If the Court Martial sentences a member of the Armed Forces to a stay of seniority, the member must remain in the rank and retain the amount of seniority that the member has on the day on which the sentence is passed for the period, not exceeding 2 years, as the Court Martial specifies.
(2)
If a disciplinary officer imposes a punishment of a stay of seniority on a member of the Armed Forces, the member must remain in the rank and retain the amount of seniority that the member has on the day on which the punishment is imposed for the period, not exceeding 1 year, as the disciplinary officer specifies.
7 Forfeiture of pay and allowances on civil conviction
If a member of the Armed Forces is convicted of an offence by a civil court, the member forfeits—
(a)
1 day’s basic pay and allowances for—
(i)
each day after the conviction during which the member is in civil custody in respect of the offence; and
(ii)
each day after the conviction during which the member is in close arrest in respect of the offence; and
(b)
1 day’s allowances for each day during which the member is suspended from duty in respect of the offence, whether before or after the conviction, or both.
8 Forfeiture of allowances on service conviction for period before conviction
(1)
If a member of the Armed Forces is convicted of an offence by the Court Martial or is found guilty of an offence by a disciplinary officer, the member forfeits 1 day’s allowances for each day during which the member is suspended from duty in respect of the offence before the conviction or the finding of guilty.
(2)
In any case to which subclause (1) applies, the Court Martial or the disciplinary officer who found the member guilty may cancel the forfeiture in whole or in part.
9 Forfeiture of pay on service conviction for period after conviction
(1)
If a member of the Armed Forces is convicted of an offence by the Court Martial and is sentenced to imprisonment, or to dismissal from His Majesty’s Service, the member forfeits—
(a)
1 day’s basic pay and allowances for each day during which the member is in civil custody or service custody in respect of the offence after the conviction; and
(b)
1 day’s allowances for each day during which the member is suspended from duty in respect of the offence after the conviction.
(2)
If a member of the Armed Forces is convicted of an offence by the Court Martial or is found guilty by a disciplinary officer and is sentenced to detention, the member must forfeit 1 half-day’s basic pay for each day during which the member is in civil or service custody in respect of the offence after the conviction.
Regulation 9(1): editorial change made by the PCO, on 21 November 2024, under sections 86(1) and 87(d) of the Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 58).
10 Calculation of period of forfeiture
(1)
In calculating the number of days a member of the Armed Forces is in custody, in close arrest, or is suspended from duty for the purposes of regulations 7 to 9 and 11, if that period (whether a continuous period or a number of separate periods of custody, close arrest, or suspension), calculated in hours,—
(a)
is less than 24 hours, it must be counted as a day; or
(b)
is more than 24 hours, each multiple of 24 hours must be counted as a day and any remaining number of hours must be counted as a further day.
(2)
However, no period in respect of which a member of the Armed Forces would not otherwise have been entitled to pay and allowances may be counted in calculating the number of days the member is in custody, in close arrest, or is suspended from duty.
11 Recovery of forfeitures
(1)
If a member of the Armed Forces is to forfeit pay and allowances under regulations 7 to 9, the pay and allowances that are to be forfeited may be recovered from the member by the Crown by deduction from, or withholding or delaying payment of, any pay and allowances or other money due, owing, or payable to the member by the Crown in relation to his or her service in the Armed Forces.
(2)
Subclause (1) does not limit any other mode of recovery.
12 Recovery of fines, compensation, etc
(1)
This regulation applies if a person subject to the Act—
(a)
has been convicted by the Court Martial or found guilty by a disciplinary officer of an offence against the Act; and
(b)
has been fined or ordered to pay compensation or make some other payment for which the person may be liable under the Act.
(2)
If this regulation applies, the fine, compensation, or other payment may be recovered by deduction from, or withholding or delaying payment of, any money due, owing, or payable to the person by the Crown in relation to his or her service in the Armed Forces.
(3)
However, no deduction from, or withholding or delaying payment of, any money under subclause (2) may exceed the sum that would allow the person to draw a minimum of 20% of his or her basic pay per day.
13 Limitation on recovery
Despite regulations 11 and 12, no deductions from, or withholding or delaying payment of, any retiring allowance or other money granted or payable under the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 to a person subject to the Act or on the death of a person subject to the Act may be made under either of those regulations.
Part 2 Legal service fees and allowances
14 Application of this Part
This Part applies to the following work, done on or after 1 July 2009:
(a)
all work done by counsel in relation to advising a person who is being questioned by the service authorities or who is being held under close arrest; and
(b)
all work done by counsel in relation to preparing for, or appearing in, proceedings before the Summary Appeal Court, the Court Martial, or the Court Martial Appeal Court; and
(c)
all work done by counsel for the Crown in relation to preparing for, or appearing in, proceedings before a court or tribunal where the determination in the proceedings may affect service discipline or the operation of the Armed Forces; and
(d)
all work done by counsel appointed to assist a court of inquiry; and
(e)
all work done by counsel appointed as a member of the Discipline Committee; and
(f)
all work done by a person (other than a member of the Armed Forces) engaged from time to time to lecture about any matter arising out of or relating to service law.
15 Certified scale of fees
(1)
The Chief of Defence Force must, before the start of each year, prepare and certify a scale of the fees, travelling expenses, and allowances payable in accordance with regulations 16, 18 to 20, 21(1)(b) and (c), and 22 in respect of work to which this Part applies.
(2)
A copy of the scale must be given to each certifying officer.
16 Base hourly rate of remuneration
For the purposes of these regulations, the base hourly rate of remuneration for work done in any year is the same as the senior hourly rate of remuneration determined by the Solicitor-General under regulation 4 of the Crown Solicitors Regulations 1994 for work done in that year.
17 Classification of counsel
(1)
A certifying officer may classify counsel as senior counsel if—
(a)
they have practised at the bar for a continuous period of more than 7 years; and
(b)
their experience includes appearances—
(i)
in criminal trials and litigation involving complex legal issues; or
(ii)
as lead counsel in more than 10 trials in the Court Martial; or
(iii)
as lead counsel in proceedings before courts of inquiry, the Summary Appeal Court, or the Court Martial Appeal Court.
(2)
A certifying officer may classify counsel as intermediate counsel if—
(a)
they have practised at the bar for a continuous period of more than 4 years; and
(b)
their experience includes appearances—
(i)
in criminal trials; or
(ii)
as lead counsel in more than 5 trials in the Court Martial; or
(iii)
as lead counsel in proceedings before courts of inquiry, the Summary Appeal Court, or the Court Martial Appeal Court.
(3)
A certifying officer must classify as junior counsel all counsel who are not classified under subclause (1) or (2).
(4)
In subclauses (1) and (2), references to appearances in trials before the Court Martial and appearances in proceedings before the Court Martial Appeal Court include appearances in trials by court-martial before the commencement of the Court Martial Act 2007 and appearances before the Courts Martial Appeal Court before the commencement of the Court Martial Appeals Amendment Act 2007.
18 Power to prescribe maximum number of hours
(1)
The Chief of Defence Force may prescribe the maximum number of hours for which fees may be claimed under these regulations for any particular work or class of work.
(2)
Subclause (1) is subject to regulation 28.
19 Remuneration of counsel
(1)
The remuneration payable to counsel for work to which this Part applies is at the following rate per hour:
(a)
senior counsel, the base hourly rate of remuneration:
(b)
intermediate counsel, 80% of the base hourly rate of remuneration:
(c)
junior counsel, 65% of the base hourly rate of remuneration.
(2)
However, remuneration payable to counsel in respect of appearances before the Court Martial is at the rate prescribed for that counsel in subclause (1) multiplied by 4 for each half-day or part of a half-day.
20 Remuneration of lecturers
The remuneration payable to a lecturer for work to which this Part applies is at the base hourly rate of remuneration for each day or part of a day.
21 Travelling expenses
(1)
A person who is required to travel more than 5 kilometres from his or her usual place of business in connection with work to which this Part applies is allowed the following travelling expenses:
(a)
fares paid for public transport:
(b)
if a private motor vehicle is used, a mileage allowance payable at the rate of the mileage allowance approved under section 4(4) of the Fees and Travelling Allowances Act 1951 as payable to a member of a statutory Board who uses a private vehicle when travelling in the service of the Board:
(c)
a subsistence allowance for each day or part of a day the person is away from his or her usual place of residence, payable at the rate of the subsistence allowance approved under section 4(2) of the Fees and Travelling Allowances Act 1951 as payable to a member of a statutory Board who is travelling in the service of the Board:
(d)
the cost paid for hiring a rental car, if that cost, together with the subsistence allowance under paragraph (c) and the special allowance provided for in regulation 22, is not more than the total of the fares, subsistence allowance, and special allowance that would have been payable if public transport had been used.
(2)
However, in relation to subclause (1)(a), receipts must be produced for fares that exceed 10% of the base hourly rate of remuneration if these are not fixed by law or readily ascertainable.
22 Special allowance for travelling time
(1)
A special allowance at the following rates is payable to counsel for each hour spent travelling in a day for the purpose of work to which this Part applies, in addition to the travelling expenses provided for in regulation 21:
(a)
in the case of senior counsel, 66% of the base hourly rate of remuneration:
(b)
in the case of intermediate counsel, 53% of the base hourly rate of remuneration:
(c)
in the case of junior counsel, 43% of the base hourly rate of remuneration.
(2)
The special allowance is not payable in addition to any other payment, for preparation or otherwise, in respect of the same time.
23 Other expenses
(1)
The fees prescribed in these regulations include all charges for receiving instructions, preparation, correspondence, research, reports, and attendances.
(2)
However, other necessary expenses (for example, toll charges) are payable to the extent that the certifying officer is satisfied that the expenses are fair and reasonable both as to nature and cost.
24 Claims for fees
A person who claims fees, expenses, and allowances under these regulations must, on completion of the work to which the claim relates,—
(a)
prepare and sign a voucher setting out full particulars of the claim; and
(b)
forward the voucher to the certifying officer.
25 Certification of claim
(1)
The certifying officer must certify that the fees, expenses, and allowances claimed are payable under these regulations if—
(a)
he or she is satisfied that they are in accordance with the certified scale of fees; or
(b)
these regulations require them to be fixed by reference to a maximum and—
(i)
the claim does not exceed the maximum; and
(ii)
in the opinion of the certifying officer, they are fair and reasonable; or
(c)
in respect of a claim for fees, there are no appropriate fees provided for in these regulations and the fees claimed are, in the opinion of the certifying officer, fair and reasonable and for each hour involved do not exceed,—
(i)
in the case of senior counsel, the base hourly rate of remuneration:
(ii)
in the case of intermediate counsel, 80% of the base hourly rate of remuneration:
(iii)
in the case of junior counsel, 65% of the base hourly rate of remuneration.
(2)
Subclause (1) is subject to regulations 26 and 28.
(3)
Nothing in subclause (1)(c) applies to fees claimed by a lecturer.
26 Power to approve lesser fee or expenses
(1)
This regulation applies if the certifying officer is of the opinion—
(a)
that the time involved or the nature of the service actually performed does not justify the payment of the full fees set out in the certified scale of fees; or
(b)
that the work involved in a transaction or proceeding is reduced by the fact that the transaction or proceeding is one of a series of transactions or proceedings that are similar or arise out of the same set of circumstances.
(2)
The certifying officer must approve whatever lesser fees he or she thinks are fair and reasonable and certify this on the voucher.
27 Payment of claim
(1)
The certifying officer must forward the certified voucher to the Chief of Defence Force or other officer authorised by the Chief of Defence Force for the purpose of this regulation.
(2)
If the Chief of Defence Force or other authorised officer is satisfied that the services charged have been duly performed, he or she must certify this and arrange payment.
28 Power to refer claim to Solicitor-General
(1)
Subclause (2) applies if—
(a)
the fees, expenses, and allowances claimed are more than the amount that, in the opinion of the certifying officer, could properly be claimed under regulation 24 because of exceptional circumstances; or
(b)
the certifying officer doubts whether the fees are proper fees for him or her to certify.
(2)
If this subclause applies,—
(a)
the certifying officer must refer the voucher and a memorandum setting out his or her reasons to the Solicitor-General; and
(b)
the Solicitor-General may authorise the fees, expenses, and allowances that he or she considers fair and reasonable.
(3)
If the Chief of Defence Force considers that a fee, expense, or allowance payable under these regulations is inadequate or excessive having regard to exceptional circumstances,—
(a)
the Chief of Defence Force may refer the matter to the Solicitor-General for review; and
(b)
the Solicitor-General may authorise the fee, expense, or allowance that he or she considers fair and reasonable.
Part 3 Miscellaneous
29 Transitional provision
(1)
If a member of the Armed Forces is convicted of an offence before the commencement of these regulations and is in civil custody, service custody, close arrest, or is suspended from duty after the commencement of these regulations, regulations 7 to 9 apply to the period of civil custody, service custody, close arrest, or suspension from duty after that commencement.
(2)
Nothing in these regulations affects the validity of any forfeiture in respect of a period of civil custody, service custody, close arrest, or suspension from duty before the commencement of these regulations.
30 Revocations and saving
(1)
The following regulations are revoked:
(a)
the Armed Forces Discipline Regulations 1990 (SR 1990/79):
(b)
(2)
The Armed Forces Discipline (Legal Services Fees and Allowances) Regulations 1991, despite their revocation by subclause (1), continue to apply to work done on or after their commencement but before 1 July 2009.
Michael Webster,
for Clerk of the Executive Council.
Date of notification in Gazette: 7 August 2008.
Notes
1 General
This is a consolidation of the Armed Forces Discipline Regulations 2008 that incorporates the amendments made to the legislation so that it shows the law as at its stated date.
2 Legal status
A consolidation is taken to correctly state, as at its stated date, the law enacted or made by the legislation consolidated and by the amendments. This presumption applies unless the contrary is shown.
Section 78 of the Legislation Act 2019 provides that this consolidation, published as an electronic version, is an official version. A printed version of legislation that is produced directly from this official electronic version is also an official version.
3 Editorial and format changes
The Parliamentary Counsel Office makes editorial and format changes to consolidations using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019. See also PCO editorial conventions for consolidations.
4 Amendments incorporated in this consolidation
Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 74): section 57