Samoan Tsunami Relief

Following the earthquake and subsequent Tsunami in and around Samoa on 30 September 2009, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) promptly deployed an RNZAF C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying NZ Aid, Red Cross and NZDF personnel, as well as medical and relief supplies. An Air Force Orion carried out searches for missing people and provided images and information to the Governments of Samoa and New Zealand to assist authorities determine the extent of the damage. 

As at 4 October 2009 NZDF had 105 personnel in Samoa, including NZ Army Medics, Navy divers and NZDF engineers. An Air Force Boeing 757 transported NZ Police Search and Rescue dogs and handlers and additional aid equipment. The HMNZS CANTERBURY delivered further supplies to the stricken region.

Press releases

• HMNZS CANTERBURY berths in Wellington after aid mission (27 Oct 2009)
• Mangere man glad to be part of Samoan reconstruction effort (21 Oct 2009)
• NZDF begins tsunami draw down (20 Oct 2009)
• NZ High Commissioner and NZDF visit Lalomanu School (16 Oct 2009)
• HMNZS CANTERBURY offloads aid in Tonga (14 Oct 2009)
• Army medic helps Tsunami victims (13 Oct 2009)
• NZDF Tsunami Relief - Update 6  (7 Oct 2009) 
• Navy diving team successfully restores water to Manono Island, Samoa - Update 5 (6 Oct 2009)
• NZDF Tsunami relief - update 4  (4 Oct 2009)
• NZDF Assistance to Pacific Tsunami - Update 3 (3 Oct 2009)
• NZDF deploys people and assets to Samoa -Update 2 (2 Oct 2009)
• NZDF personnel deploy to Samoa (1 Oct 2009)

Images 

Visit our Samoan Tsunami Relief image gallery for a broad selection of images, many of them available in high resolution. The image gallery will be updated regularly  as we receive new images in from Samoa.

Further information

For further information about the New Zealand Defence Force's role in the Tsunami relief effort, please contact Captain Zac Prendergast, Defence Communications Group on 021 806 926.