New Zealand Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Oiroa Kaihau (right) with an Australian army colleague is based in Irbil in Iraq, where he is providing liaison between the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), the multinational force there, and Iraqi security forces. He also provides advice on security matters to the UN Special representative of the Secretary General. Erbil is in the Kurdish semi-autonomous region of Iraq. The UN is now attempting to build a new and secure compound physically separated from the nearby populated areas. This compound, which is expected to be ready for occupation in July, will provide the UN with a firm base so they can continue to deliver humanitarian aid. Eventually a Fijian guard force will deploy to Erbil to undertake inner ring security tasks.
Ten Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel are in New Zealand as part of the NZDF Mutual Assistance Programme. Three of them, from left, Morris Asil Mandembra, Roderick Noyamefa, and Vele Tanu are based at Devonport Naval Base where they are taking part in staff officer and junior officer training courses.
The four other PNGDF personnel are training with the NZ Army at Waiouru and Linton. About 30 military personnel from Pacific and Asian nations are in New Zealand as part of the programme. Several NZDF personnel are in countries throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia providing in-country training.