Cyclone Bola proved to then PM David Lange how good our armed services were. He was kind of disinterested in them up until that point.
Unfortunately, though those protestors wont be begrudging them - that is all they ever want the NZDF to ever do.
I remember the pic of him with the SAS, he seemed like a no BS taking lads lad, can't remember what type of overall poli he was though. Ahh those times have gone as I could not imagine either of the current prospectives doing something like that by choice.