NZDF to lead multi-national engineering team in Cook Islands

Exercise Tropic Twilight will involve more than 45 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel working together with military tradespeople from the Australian Defence Force, Republic of Fiji Military Forces, His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga and the Vanuatu Mobile Force. 

The exercise is held annually, and over the coming month will see NZDF’s 25 Engineer Support Squadron, 2 Engineer Regiment, with Australian and Pacific colleagues, deliver practical support to the island of Ma’uke, about 280km northeast of Rarotonga.  

“We are pleased to make this important and practical contribution,” said Commander Joint Forces, Major General Rob Krushka. 

“These engineers will deliver support such as solar farm maintenance, upgrades to Ma’uke School, maintenance of a water bore, water tank repairs, and water collection upgrades.”

The exercise is funded each year in the Southwest Pacific by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is delivered by the NZDF.

“The NZDF stands ready to respond to defence and security, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief events, as required,” Major General Krushka said.

“Our highly skilled personnel and partners will deliver engineering tasks that I am sure will be appreciated by the community of Ma’uke.” 

The exercise will be the first time one of the newly acquired Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J-30 Hercules aircraft will have landed on the island of Ma’uke.

As part of Tropic Twilight, the contingent will return via the main island of Rarotonga, where the soldiers, with local police, will help deliver a Blue Light course with Cook Islands youth – giving them leadership, discipline and teamwork skills in a structured but supportive environment.