New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

11 July 2007

Defence Force Joins the Battle Against Far North Floods

The New Zealand Defence Force has dispatched four Unimog trucks and a P-3K Orion aircraft to assist with civil defence efforts at the top of the North Island.

Regular and territorial force personnel have been put on standby and a Seasprite helicopter and Iroquois helicopter are also on standby to assist with reconnaissance and damage assessment efforts this afternoon.

The Unimog trucks will carry supplies and assist by transporting stranded people out of areas unreachable by other vehicles.

The P-3K Orion is currently flying over the area to survey damage and relay information back to rescue teams on the ground.

The Far North was hit with a month’s worth of rain in less than 12 hours yesterday leaving many homes flooded or without power.

Civil defence efforts are being co-ordinated by the National Crisis Management Centre in Wellington.

ENDS

© Scoop Media