PAE NZ to continue longstanding partnership with NZDF

Boyd Scirkovich, PAE NZ/Kā te Rama Switched On Group board member, left, Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Tony Davies and Citycare acting chief executive Lee Gardiner at the contract signing at Defence House in Wellington.

PAE New Zealand will continue its longstanding support of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) after being selected to provide facilities maintenance services across the Defence Estate over the next decade. 

The appointment extends a partnership that has supported NZDF operations for more than 30 years and marks a new chapter for PAE NZ as part of the Kā te Rama Switched On Group whānau.

Alongside fellow New Zealand-owned company Citycare, PAE NZ will deliver core maintenance services that support operational readiness across camps, bases and associated sites nationwide from mid-2026. 

PAE NZ has an unbroken service history with NZDF, supporting operational-readiness across Defence facilities for more than 30 years. These new contracts will see the PAE NZ/NZDF relationship stretch into its fifth decade, an unparalleled service history in which PAE NZ holds immense pride. 

Across the next decade, this will see PAE NZ supporting Royal New Zealand Naval operations at Devonport, supporting critical Royal New Zealand Airforce Assets at RNZAF Base Ohakea, and supporting Ngāti Tumatauenga – the New Zealand Army, at some of their most critical training facilities at Waiouru and Papakura Military Camps.

From left, Wally Butt (NZDF General Manager Estate Delivery), Dr Taku Parai ONZM (PAE NZ); Boyd Scirkovich (PAE NZ); Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Tony Davies, Bill Bayfield (Citycare) and Lee Gardiner (Citycare)

PAE NZ Chief Executive Chris Pile says the appointment reflects trust built over time and the strength that comes from local ownership. 

“PAE NZ has supported NZDF’s operational readiness for more than 30 years. Now, as a locally and iwi-owned business, we’re able to continue that support with long-term focus — investing in people, systems and capability here in Aotearoa while delivering nationally.” 

PAE NZ will establish site-based delivery teams across the country, supported by local call centres and New Zealand-based leadership roles. The company is also committed to training and upskilling its workforce to support long-term capability within the facilities management and engineering sectors. 

As part of Kā te Rama Switched On Group, majority owned by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, PAE NZ brings together decades of Defence facilities management experience with a broader Group focus on local employment, skills development and intergenerational outcomes. 

Mr Pile says the Group’s ownership reinforces their commitment. 

“Our move to local ownership through Kā te Rama in 2025 strengthened our foundations. It enables us to keep doing what we’ve always done for NZDF while building scale, resilience and opportunity for the future.” 

The new facilities maintenance services contracts will commence progressively between July and November 2026, as existing contracts expire.