- New Zealand Troops Help After Pacific Disaster
17 November 2009
The New Zealand Defence Force’s immediate disaster relief tasks in the wake of the tsunami that struck Samoa and Tonga on 29 September 2009 are completed, and all troops involved in the operation have returned home.
HMNZS CANTERBURY loaded the Iroquois helicopter, vehicles and plant, and sailed from Apia on 21 October. The departure of NZDF personnel did not signal the end of New Zealand’s assistance however; the NZ$6.1 million dollar contribution to a combined trans-Tasman package, announced by the New Zealand government, will provide the Government of Samoa with the ability to rebuild its infrastructure, restore essential services and begin the process of economic recovery.
In Tonga, New Zealand has pledged $1.5 million dollars to help the northern island of Niuatoputapu rebuild.
More than 150 personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force helped with the disaster relief.
Major Paul Hayward, of Linton-based 2 Engineer battalion, took a multi-trade team with him to help with the disaster relief, including field engineers. They spent a lot of time moving debris using plant that was already on the island, and also built whatever was needed immediately, mostly water tanks and stands.
He said the operation reinforced the need to be able to deploy quickly. “We managed to get everything together that we needed, and got stuck in. We always have to be prepared for operations such as this.”
Trades section commander Corporal Jeremy Evans said his team initially thought they would be going to Samoa, but ended up in Tonga. They worked with New Zealand’s Deputy High Commissioner who liaised with local authorities to establish their work and clean-up priorities.
He said the piles of debris were huge. “You don’t really realise how bad it was until you are standing there in front of it. About 90 percent of the buildings on the shoreline were just flattened.”
For an engineer just four months into his military career, helping with the disaster relief in Samoa was a “hugely rewarding experience” says Sapper Tom Motley.
Formerly from Pateley Bridge in Yorkshire, England, Sapper Motley marched out from his basic course in May this year. He has been in New Zealand for eight years, and worked as a builder both here and in England. The deployment to Samoa was his first with the Army.
His spent his time there at first helping local police search for missing or injured people, and then using his carpentry skills to build water tank stands and toilet facilities for local people.
Sapper Motley said he was very impressed by how people rally around and work together in a crisis situation. “We did a lot of work, but they also did a lot for themselves. It was great to see how keen they were to help us and each other.”