New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Media Release
Tuesday 16 June, 2009

New Zealand Defence Force Complete Humanitarian Mission On Pukapuka

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NZDF personnel at the farewell kaikai (feast)

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The entire contingent reunited once again onboard HMNZS CANTERBURY

Amphibious Support Ship HMNZS CANTERBURY has now departed the island of Pukapuka, 1150 nm north of Rarotonga, after successfully completing a humanitarian mission called Exercise TROPIC TWILIGHT. The joint mission involving personnel from the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force, Exercise TROPIC TWILIGHT is supporting the NZAID led humanitarian mission delivering health and engineering services to the islands residents.

Commanding Officer of HMNZS CANTERBURY, Commander Jim Gilmour, says, “All the exercise objectives have been met including; reconstruction of roofs, repair of water tanks, installation of large water tanks, construction of utility shed and toilets at the airfield, dental check ups for all the children and all health and environmental surveys”.

A farewell ceremony was conducted on the island of Pukapuka on Sunday afternoon (local time) with speeches, gifts, dances and songs with the New Zealand Defence Force contingent treated to an amazing feast called a kaikai.

“It was an emotional farewell with some of the islanders and New Zealand Defence Force personnel brought to tears as an amazing experience was coming to an end.

We have completed a demanding and very satisfying 12 day mission where lifelong friendships were formed within the amazing community of Pukapuka Island”, said Commander Gilmour.

The contingent was successfully withdrawn from Pukapuka Island on Monday (local time) using both embarked Seasprite Helicopters. The helicopters have been working for the last three days extracting many under slung loads of equipment and ferrying personnel back to HMNZS CANTERBURY.

HMNZS CANTERBURY has made her way to Apia to land the Embarked Force who will be transported back to New Zealand via RNZAF 40 Squadron Boeing 757.

HMNZS CANTERBURY is due back home in the Devonport Naval Base on Tuesday 23 June.

The New Zealand Defence Force is actively working with NZ Government departments including NZAid throughout the world. Currently 894 New Zealand Defence Force personnel are deployed on 14 operations, UN missions and defence exercises in 10 countries around the globe.

Facts about Pukapuka

Population 530 and is 5.1 sq km and is one of the most remote and isolated of all the Cook Islands. Pukapuka lies 1150 km north of Rarotonga and was discovered 2000 years ago by Samoan and Tongan voyagers on their way to the Society Islands It was not until 700 years ago that Pukapuka was permanently settled.

Pukapuka’s isolation was ameliorated in 1994 when an airstrip was built on Moto Ko and telephones introduced to the island in 1994.

Pukapuka sustained severe damage during the cyclones that tore through the islands in 2005 and only 10 houses survived the storms without major damage. Taro crops were washed away and the many of the islands water sources were contaminated prompting a huge rescue package to be implemented by the Cook Island Government and aid agencies from New Zealand and other countries. The island is only just beginning to get back on its feet but it could take another two years before the taro plantations and water sources have fully recovered.

Daily life today in Pukapuka is dominated by fishing, farming and harvesting of local crops such as coconuts, bananas and papayas. Most of the produce is consumed on the island with the remainder being exported back to Rarotonga.

ENDS

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