– COMJFNZ in New Caledonia
11 November 2008
The Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, MAJGEN Rhys Jones visited the French Armed Forces New Caledonia (FANC) in Noumea recently.
He was hosted by BRIG GEN Martial de Braquilanges (Commander Armed Forces New Caledonia) with support from the NZ Consulate in Nouméa.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC) cooperate in a range of areas, including response to natural disasters and other emergencies such as search and rescue operations.
Regular exercises are conducted between NZDF and FANC, particularly the Southern Cross Exercise which is held every two years, and ship visits in both directions are frequent. ANZAC and Armistice commemorations are well-attended by both New Zealand, French and New Caledonian dignitaries, and the New Zealand war cemetery in Bourail provides testament to approximately 20,000 New Zealand soldiers who were stationed in New Caledonia during the Second World War.
MAJGEN Jones is responsible for the relationship between the FANC and NZDF. His visit included courtesy calls on the French High Commissioner and the Mayor of Nouméa. In addition to the various military visits and briefings COMJFNZ laid a wreath at the New Zealand war cemetery in Bourail, and inspected a FANC guard there.