Commander Wilson Trumper sets out on patrol in Dili.
6 March 2008
The New Zealand military commitment to Timor-Leste is the biggest of New Zealand’s current military deployments, and the commanding officer of all New Zealand personnel in Timor-Leste is a Royal New Zealand Navy officer who was born and raised in Temuka.
Commander Wilson Trumper has spent 23 years in the Navy and held a variety of appointments including command of ANZAC Frigate HMNZS Te Mana. In October 2007 he was posted to Dili, capital of Timor-Leste as Commanding Officer of the New Zealand National Command Element there and he became the first Navy officer to serve in this role.
“Having command of young New Zealanders serving their country is a great privilege, especially in an operational environment like this where we are working with the local population to help them rebuild their country”, said Wilson.
The 180 strong NZDF contingent is primarily drawn from the Army and the Air Force and is part of the Australian led, International Stabilisation Force (ISF).
“The New Zealand contribution to the ISF is significant because NZDF personnel make up a quarter of the total strength of the ISF. This is the biggest New Zealand operational commitment by number of personnel deployed and while that factor is perhaps not well known, it is important that New Zealanders are aware of the nature of the Kiwi contribution to Timor-Leste and what our personnel are doing here.
“In a command position, the most important thing is the people and that’s what makes this extremely special for me - interaction with and leadership of people from the Army and Air Force and just five from the Navy.
“This role is a great learning experience and a great opportunity to help the people of Timor-Leste develop their country, which they genuinely want to do, and it’s something which you can only achieve when you come to someone else’s country, get stuck in and lend a hand.
“New Zealanders are extremely fortunate in not having to deal with the draining heat and environmental health concerns that Timor-Leste’s climate imposes on anyone deployed to the country. For that reason I think the one big thing I miss the most about home is our great temperate climate.”
New Zealand has contributed to various United Nations and peacekeeping efforts in Timor-Leste since 1999. The commitment to Timor-Leste is the largest one for the New Zealand Defence Force and at present consists of more than 180 Defence personnel and two helicopters serving with the Combined Joint Task Force as well as two Military Liaison Officers serving with the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) and two advisors to the Timor-Leste Defence Force.
ENDS
Currently 664 New Zealand Defence Force personnel are deployed on 17 operations, UN missions and defence exercises around the world.
For further information please contact Nicole Munro-Johnson, Defence Public Relations, on 04 529 6033 or 021 569 148.