As Anzac Day nears, New Zealand, Australia, and parts of the Pacific pause to remember, honour, and mourn the men and women who died in service of their countries. It is a time of collective remembrance, but it also invites reflection on those who continue to serve alongside Defence personnel.
Among them are military chaplains, who walk with the men and women of the Defence Force offering spiritual nourishment, pastoral care, and ethical guidance in times of peace, crisis, and conflict.
Military chaplains nurture the wellbeing and help maintain the morale of all members of the New Zealand Defence Force, both uniformed and civilian. Reverend Glen Popata, a reservist chaplain in the Royal New Zealand Navy, shares insights into the role, responsibilities, and mahi involved in Defence Force chaplaincy.
“We support our people holistically with whatever they might be going through. That could be counselling, one-on-one kōrero, educational sessions, self-harm awareness, grief and loss, and conflict,” he says.
Chaplains are commissioned officers within their respective services—Army, Navy, and Air Force. Holding officer rank allows chaplains to move freely between units and personnel, positioning them as a trusted bridge between individuals and leadership.
“Military command will often refer people on to us,” he explains. “A lot of it is about keeping our personnel deployable—keeping them at the top of their game—so they can continue to serve our country effectively.”
Induction and basic training can be key moments when chaplains are called upon to engage with new personnel. For many, this is the first time the realities of military service are confronted directly.
“One reason a person might come to see us is when their moral or ethical beliefs begin to meet with their reality,” Rev. Glen says. “That can take time to sink in, although for many it happens quite early. That’s definitely somewhere chaplaincy might step in and have a kōrero.”
In addition to pastoral care, chaplains are responsible for officiating a wide range of services within the Defence Force, including funerals, marriages, baptisms, Anzac Day commemorations, and official military ceremonies. They are also frequently consulted by senior leadership as a kind of moral compass—offering ethical, cultural, and spiritual insight to inform operational decision-making.
“Although we are part of the machine, we are also outside of the machine as well so we can bring a more human approach to something that is quite rigid and structured, particularly around our personnel,” says Rev. Glen.
Military chaplains work ecumenically, providing care and support to all personnel regardless of religious belief or whakapono.
For Māori chaplains such as Rev. Glen, there is an added cultural dimension to the work. Their shared understanding of tikanga, whakapapa, and collective identity can enable strong rapport with Māori service personnel and whānau.
“Each Māori chaplain will have their own level of comfort working in that te ao Māori space,” he says. “That’s not to say we know everything, but we are very comfortable referring people on to those who are more knowledgeable.
“Today, we have fantastic Māori cultural advisors across the services. Obviously, being Māori ourselves, we understand what’s important to our people—whakapapa, tikanga, and those deeper connections. Often those conversations arise while on deployment.”
Military chaplaincy was not initially on Popata’s radar. At the time, he was immersed in ministry in South Auckland when a close friend—then serving as an Army chaplain—encouraged him to consider joining the NZDF which led him to begin the application process that took around a year and included officer training.
“And sure enough, he wasn’t wrong,” he says. “I had some great times and great adventures—both on deployment and on the Navy base in Devonport. It’s been awesome.”
Now based in Palmerston North as Priest-in-Charge of St Michael’s Māori Pastorate Church, Rev. Glen continues to serve as a reservist naval chaplain. He is regularly called upon to minister across all three services within the NZDF, maintaining a presence that bridges civilian faith communities and the military world, and will be assisting at the Anzac Day service at Te Rau Aroha Māori Battallion Hall in Palmerston North.