New Zealand flag Victor 3 sub unit flag Victor 3 lapel pin
Victor 3 company weapon pit in South Vietnam victor3 header
2RAR/NZ [ANZAC] Battalion - 4 RAR/NZ [ANZAC] Battalion
1st Australian Task Force, South Vietnam
V3 Vietnam Veterans Reunion 2025 		Victor 3 company weapon pit in South Vietnam
This site is hosted by
V3 2025 Reunion Contact:
Karen Laurance
2B Blake Street
Waitara 4320
Phone: 027 243 7133
email Karen

Webmaster::
Victor Johnson
Email Webmaster

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V3 Reunion at Waitara Friday 15 - Sunday 17 August 2025
Waitara District Service & Citizens Club

Overview

Victor 3 Company 2025 reunion at Waitara, this web page is that of Victor 3 Infantry Rifle Company, First Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment that served in South Vietnam during 1968 and 1969 as a military sub unit within the 1st Australian Task Force [1 ATF] based in Nui Dat, located in Phuoc Tuy Province. V3 Company was seconded to the 2RAR/NZ [ANZAC] Battalion which was replaced by 4 RAR/NZ [ANZAC] Battalion early in V3 Company's 12 month tour of duty.

The Waitara War Memorial
The iconic Waiatara War Memorial

The Waitara War Memorial was erected by the community citizens to the memory of the men of Waitara who gave their lives in the Great War, 1914-1918.

Registration

The registration form is below, it does not include personal refreshments purchased throughout the weekend or an evening meal partaken at the venue on Friday evening.

Local accommodation choices are at the bottom of this page.

Te Awamutu map
Click here for Waitara Township Map

NEWSLETTERS

Periodically a Newsletter will be published by the principal Organiser and accessible online.

VENUE

The 2025 Reunion venue is the Waitara District Service & Citizens Club, 16 Queen Street, Waitara.

ACTIVITIES

VENUE

The 2025 Reunion venue is the Waitara District Service & Citizens Club, 16 Queen Street, Waitara.

ACTIVITIES

Friday 15 August 2025
1400 - 2100hrs
  • Registration
  • Meet and greet
  • Bar refreshments & in-house restaurant; pay-as-you-go
  • Finger foods provided
  • Full meal avaliable in Club Resturant at own cost
Saturday 16 August 2025
1000hrs - 1100hrs
  • Late Registrations
  • Free time
  • Lunch ~ own arrangements.
1200hrs: Mystery bus tour taking in sights of New Plymouth and visit to a top award winning Gin Distillery.
Saturday Evening, at Club premises
  • 1800hrs: Mix and mingle
  • 1900hrs: Buffet meal. Attire:- Men: Semi-formal with medals. Ladies: Semi-formal.
Sunday 17 August 2025
  • 1030hrs: Gather at the Club premises for combined Vietnam and VJ Day commemoration service.
    Dress: Smart Casual with full medals being worn.
  • 1100hrs: Commemoration service commences with the Waitara RSA.
1200hrs - 1600hrs.
  • Finger food lunch
  • Bi-annual General Meeting
  • Fines session
  • Drawing of raffle
  • Selection of next reunion venue
Conclusion of reunion and departures.

REGISTRATION

The following pertains to the registration options.
Registration deposit:
  • $50.00, deducted from final amount due. NOTE: Non-refundable after 30 May 20025
  • $170.00, early bird registration per person if paid by 30 May 2025
  • $180.00, late registration after 30 May 2025
Registration fee covers:
  • Friday mix and mingle foods
  • Saturday mystery bus tour
  • Saturday evening dinner, with some wines on tables
  • Sunday lunch of finger foods following Commemoration service
  • Venue transport to and from Airport
  • Venue transport to and from accommodation
Registration payment:
The registration fee payments can be paid into the bank account shown below. Ensure some means of depositor identification is made as Reference, such as surname and initials.
Payment Transaction:
Bank Account at TSB Waitara 15-3956-0710078-000
Payee Full Account Name: Karen Laurance
Note: Ensure correct spelling of the above name.
Reference: Your surname and initials.

In other details, enter Deposit, Balance of Full payment.
Reunion Contact Address:
Karen Laurance
2B Blake Street
Waitara 4320
karenlaurance1953@gmail.com
Phone: 027 243 7133
Informing Others
The organising team welcome all who arrive in Waitara to enjoy the hospitality. Please contact those who do not have internet services and inform them of the Reunion and details by sharing this web page link. www.nzmilitarymedals.com/V3reunion2025

Contact in Waitara

Karen Laurance
027 243 7133
Email

Register Attendance

Register your attendance with this form.
First and last name: Your Name Tag: Wife/Partner's name: Wife/Partner's Name Tag:
Attending the Reunion?:
YES NO Just update records with my details.
Postal Address:
Street address: Suburb: City/Town: Postal Code: email address: Phone:
Enter payment status:
Paid Deposit: YES  Paid Early Bird: YES  Paid Late: YES  NO
Do you want to book the Bus trip?: YES NO Number of persons?
Do you require pickup from New Plymouth Airport?
YES    NO    Number of persons?
Inbound New Plymouth Airport flight details:
ETA inbound flight number and time of arrival:
Outbound New Plymouth Airport flight details:
ETD outbound flight number and time of departure:
Where are you staying?:
Any special dietary or mobility needs

Comments:
Clicking on the SUBMIT button below will open a Send message in your email server, a page will open to check details.
Then click Send as your email to despatch the registration to the organiser.

Click SUBMIT ONCE Only

General

Numbers Registering to Attend

It would help us for numbers if you could register with your deposit now, so we know the numbers we are looking at and can make this a very special occasion for you.

Commemorative Travel Contribution Grant

For those who have not yet used the Commemorative Travel Contribution from NZ Veteran Affairs this can be claimed up to the full amount of $2,500 for person with Qualifying Operation Service. This covers: The above does not cover food, entertainment or other costs.
If you claimed the full amount of $2,000 prior to 1 July 2016 you cannot get a top up to $2,500. Full details are on the Veteran Affairs Website.

Waitara Accommodation Options

As Waitara is a small town there is only one Hotel and no Motels. The Hotel is double storied with accommodation upstairs, there is no lift access to the second floor.
The following are accommodation options on the outsirts of Waitara. To see full details for each listing, click on the named link, Web info.

NOTE: There is a camping ground near the beach in Waitara which is good for mobile homes. There are also plenty of nice Hotels and Motels in New Plymouth.

Masonic Hotel and Bar

Web booking: Masonic Hotel Bookings
Tel: 06 754 7071
This Hotel is in the street immediately behind the Club.

The Little Gem

Web bookings: The Little Gem
This Guest House is 1.6km from the Waitara town center offering a garden and garden views.

Short Stays in Waitara

Web info: Short Stays in Waitara
Tel:021 146 4306
This is a beach house stay located 100m from the beach with 4 bedrooms and sleeps up to 9 people.

Apartment by the Sea

Web info: www.Apartment by the Sea
The Apartment is 5 minutes drive from the Club and sleeps 3 in one room with a Queen size bed and and single bed.

Villa Retreat

About 5 minutes drive from Club, this is a modern villa studio offering all home comforts.
A complimentary continental breakfast is included in your stay.

Crab Apple Cottage

Te: 06 754 7114
99 Turangi Road, Waitara.
On North side of Waitara, approximately 15 minutes drive off main road.

Wai iti Beach Resort

Email: wai-itibeach@clear.net.nz
Tel: 06 752 3726
On North side of Waitara, approximately 15 minutes drive off main road.

Sea View Motel

Email: seaviewmotel@xtra.co.nz
Tel: 027 622 5499
7 Sutton Road, Onaero, RD43, Waitara.
On North side of Waitara, off the SH3A approximately 15 minute drive from the Club.

Sentry Hill Motel

Web info: Sentry Hill
Email: sentryhill@infogen.net.nz
Tel: 06 752 0696
Closest Motel to airport and Waitara wilh 22 Ground floor units. Located on State Highway 3A from the south, it is only 10 minutes drive from the Club.
It has caravan powered sites and dump station.

New Plymouth Villa Heights B &B

Web info: Villa Heights Email: villaheights.co.nz
Tel: 06 755 2273
Located 15 minutes from Waitara off State Highway 3A.




Cottage by the Sea

Web info: Cottage by the Sea
66 Lower Turangi Road, Waitara.
Tel: 06 754 4548
Located on the North side of Waitara off State Highway 3A, approximately a 10 minutes drive to the Club.


About Victor 3 Infantry Rifle Company

The Victor 3 Vietnam veterans have a Facebook Group page to which members can subscribe, go to the Groups' Facebook Page by clicking on this icon   V3 Facebook Group.

The Company [V3] was comprised of personnel who were members of the 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment [1 RNZIR], garrisoned at the time in Terendak Military Camp, about 15 kilometres north of Malacca on the Malay peninsula. 1 RNZIR was a highly-trained, combat-ready unit, well able to fulfil the roles envisaged in various SEATO contingency plans and as well as combat operations in South Vietnam.

Extensive training programs culminated in testing operational exercises designed to assess the Company's preparedness for active service.

Given that early training had commenced in New Zealand this was followed with more intense training on the Malay peninsula where New Zealand infantry troops had been stationed since 1955. Some of the V3 soldiers and many of the junior and senior NCO's were experienced in the techniques of jungle warfare in Malaya and Borneo, the most recent prior to Vietnam being during the Indonesian Confrontation in the mid-1960's. Such experience was to hold V3 in good stead in South Vietnam during its deployment from May 1968 to May 1969.

The V3 sub unit ultimately had 172 personnel posted to its strength in South Vietnam, two were killed in action. The rotation of Australian infantry battalions saw V3 attached as a rifle company for a short period of time with the 2 RAR/NZ [ANZAC] Battalion. The remainder of its tour of duty was with attachment to the 4 RAR/NZ [ANZAC] Battalion. Both battalions were integral components of the 1st Australian Task Force garrisoned at Nui Dat in the Phuoc Tuy province.

The following comment from Brigadier Ian Thorpe, a former second-in-command ot a 2 RAR/NZ [ANZAC] Battalion sums, up the contribution of V3 personnel:

'If there is one element in the New Zealand military ethos that is worth emphasis, it is, to me, the attitude that, in the international field where we have always served and planned to serve, we are always a small increment in a larger force, and therefore can only make our mark through quality and I think that amongst regulars there has been the recognition that quality does not fall like manna on the chosen but results from serious study and hard training.'
Source: The Australian Army and the Vietnam War 1962-1972.

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This page is sponsored and hosted by nzmilitarymedals.com in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Email       V3 Reunion Webmaster. Updated 19 February 2025.