RNZAF NH90 helicopter hovers above HMNZS Canterbury off the
coast of Raoul Island
(Photo/Supplied)
The
Governor-General of New Zealand’s visit to Tokelau, the
upgrade of critical tsunami and volcano monitoring equipment
on Raoul Island, and a search and rescue operation near
Tonga were among the achievements of the New Zealand Defence
Force’s first extensive operation to the South-West
Pacific this year.
With New Zealand Army and Royal New
Zealand Air Force personnel aboard, military sealift vessel
HMNZS Canterbury under the name Operation Calypso covered
4580 nautical miles without the ship needing to take on
additional food or fuel over 23 days.
Commanding
Officer, Commander Wayne Andrew, said the mission was a busy
one for everyone and was one of the best examples of Service
interoperability he had seen.
“With two NH90
helicopters and crew, and supporting personnel from the NZ
Army’s 5 Movements Company, this was a tri-service
operation covering a range of tasks supporting New Zealand
Government agencies in our Pacific
neighbourhood.”
MetService personnel were aboard to
assess available meteorological observing resources on the
three atolls, and a New Zealand Police officer met the
Tokelau Chief of Police and took part in community
engagements.
Commander Andrew said the NZDF’s strong
Pacific connections were an important part of the
mission.
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“Not only was the ship there for the
centenary of New Zealand’s administration of Tokelau, but
two Tokelauan members of the Navy were able to reunite with
their families there.”
The ship’s company also had
two Tongan speakers who were able to translate when
Canterbury was last week called on to rescue two men
drifting 105 nautical miles south of Tonga.
“Seeing
the reaction when our two Tokelauan personnel were welcomed
home was incredibly emotional for everyone who witnessed
this, and having two Tongan speakers within our ship’s
company meant we could reassure the rescued sailors that we
would be delivering them home,” Commander Andrew
said.
The ship’s final stop at Raoul Island allowed
crew working parties to clear overgrowth from the Homestead
and Green Lake areas, while NH90 helicopters and 5 Movements
Company personnel secured and flew MetService and Earth
Sciences NZ (ESNZ) personnel and equipment to remote parts
of the island.
Critical tsunami and volcano monitoring
equipment on Raoul Island, which provide an early warning
system for New Zealand and the region, were
upgraded.
As Canterbury returned to Devonport Naval
Base this week, Commander Andrew reflected on what the
mission had achieved.
“All the people who joined the
ship from Her Excellency the Governor-General Dame Cindy
Kiro through to the MetService and ESNZ scientists and
technicians, NZ Police, Army and Air Force personnel, fully
immersed themselves in the ship’s culture and added to
it.
“Canterbury’s motto is Kotahitanga (Unity) and
this was certainly on display
throughout.”
