The New Zealand Special Air Service, abbreviated as the NZSAS is the special operations forces of the New Zealand Army, closely modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS).
NZSAS is the premier combat unit of the New Zealand Defence Force and it has been operationally deployed to a variety of locations, including the jungles of South-East Asia, the Pacific region and Afghanistan. In 2004, the unit was awarded the United States Presidential Citation as a result of their contributions in Afghanistan.
The NZSAS was accorded Regimental status in 2013 and presently has the responsibility of conducting domestic Counter-Terrorism operations, overseas Special Operations missions and performing the disposal of chemical, biological, radioactive and improvised explosive devices for both the military and civilian authorities.
