About the Council

The Territorial Forces Employer Support Council is a national organisation of senior private, public and non-profit sector representatives established by the Minister of Defence.

The Territorial Forces Employer Support Council (TFESC) is a national organisation appointed by the Minister of Defence following the enactment of the Defence Amendment Act 2004.

The TFESC was set up in 2006 to:

• Promote service in the Reserve Forces
• Provide advice to the Minister,
• and Facilitate good relations between part-time Reserve Forces personnel and their civilian employers.

The TFESC also communicates to employers the importance of the Reserve Forces for New Zealand’s strategic military capability, and the advantages of having employees train in the military.

Although legislation is already provided for Reserve Forces personnel to train without risking loss of employment, the TFESC interacts with employers and employer groups about any concerns they have as employers of Reserve personnel - such as letting staff deploy during busy periods of work.

Members

The Territorial Forces Employer Support Council consists of 21 senior representatives drawn from the private, public and non-profit sectors.