Major General Louis Joseph Gardiner ONZM (4 August 1952 – 18 July 2015) was a New Zealand military officer.

[3] After enlisting in the New Zealand Army in 1971, Gardiner attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon in Canberra, graduating as a Bachelor of Arts in 1975, having majored in economics and geography.

In December 1990 he was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Base Supply Battalion, with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

[1] In the 2004 New Year Honours, Gardiner was appointed an additional Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, in recognition of his military operational service.

[4] Gardiner was promoted to the rank of major general and appointed Commander Joint Forces New Zealand in late 2004.