RNZAF Cook Islands aviator returns home

Sergeant Matatunoa Mata has flown around the world and into plenty of hotspots with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) but he has ticked off his top destination – his tiny home island of Ma’uke in the Cook Islands.

24 September, 2025

Sergeant Mata, a logistics specialist, is flying on the bulk of the C-130J-30 Hercules flights into Ma’uke this month and next, as the aircraft delivers personnel and materials for island upgrades as part of Exercise Tropic Twilight.

Sergeant Mata was born and raised on Ma’uke, population about 240, before he left for Auckland as a 16-year-old in 2004. He joined the RNZAF on leaving high school.

He has flown into Afghanistan, Iraq and around most of the Pacific, and made many trips with prime ministers to Southeast Asia.

However, landing on Ma’uke’s crushed coral runway topped those for satisfaction, he said.

Four people and a RNZAF aviator lift a large metal object that has material netting on top.

Sergeant Matatunoa Mata mucking in at home in the Cook Islands.

He has rich memories of spending time at the local harbour where the sunsets are spectacular, at the water caves and sports fields.

Returning in uniform felt like a complete circle, he said.

“When I was little, I remember the C-130 coming home to drop cargo off. It’s always been a big event and ever since I joined up I always wondered if I would do a flight back home.

“So when this exercise came about, I told my bosses to put me on the flights.

“If I don’t get any more trips out of this, I’ll be happy.”

An aviator and a local person dance together with big smiles on their faces.

Sergeant Matatunoa Mata got an enthusiastic welcome when he landed at his home island of Ma’uke in the Cook Islands for Exercise Tropic Twilight.

An annual exercise funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, this year’s Tropic Twilight involves more than 30 personnel from the New Zealand Army’s 25 Engineer Support Squadron, 2 Engineer Regiment, carrying out maintenance on the island’s solar farm, water infrastructure, school and halls.

One flight will deliver a children’s playground.

Sergeant Mata said the islanders would appreciate what the engineers would be doing over their month on Ma’uke.

“They’ll welcome everything, and I am sure the guys will be fed really well by the locals.”

The first Hercules flights did not allow a lot of time on the ground for Sergeant Mata to catch up with friends and whānau, but another flight will allow him four hours to see them.

Tropic Twilight is a multi-national exercise, with military engineers from Australia, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu also taking part.