The Defence Force admits it should have employed a dedicated manager for its crucial sexual violence programme a lot earlier.
Operation Respect was launched in 2016 with the aim of tackling sexual violence, harassment and bullying behaviours within the armed forces.
A scathing independent report released last month, found a lack of transparency and accountability and a "code of silence" culture still exists within the military.
An Official Information Act request released to RNZ shows a programme manager was only employed to lead the initiative in October last year.
The chair of the Operation Respect Steering Group, Air Vice Marshal Andrew Clark, told RNZ defence reporter, Jonathan Mitchell, a programme manager should have been employed earlier.
