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Tonga Response

On Saturday 15 January, a significant eruption of underwater volcano Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai resulted in a tsunami in Tonga and surrounding areas.

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26 April 2023

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules does a 3rd trip to Tonga

The flight today was New Zealand’s third by a Hercules carrying humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies.

The flight today was New Zealand’s third by a Hercules carrying humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies.

The flight today was New Zealand’s third by a Hercules carrying humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies.

The aircraft left RNZAF Base Auckland with food, water purifiers, medical supplies, chainsaw sets, and communications equipment including satellite phones, handheld marine radios and VHF radios.

Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Canterbury arrived in Tonga yesterday and, in a contactless delivery, has offloaded stores including milk powder, tarpaulins and water pumps. Personnel on board the ship remain ready to assist with relief efforts as directed by Tongan authorities.

HMNZS Canterbury’s arrival in Tonga means Navy ship HMNZS Aotearoa can depart tonight, after about a week in Tonga, so the ship can continue with a planned mission to Antarctica next month.

HMNZS Aotearoa took bulk water supplies to Tonga and has been producing safe drinking water, providing more than 415,000 litres of fresh drinking water for Tongan communities.

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HMNZS Aotearoa has also been providing fuel to Tongan Navy vessels involved in distributing aid and fresh water, as well as refuelling ships from nations such as Australia, the US, France and UK assisting with relief efforts. Today, HMNZS Aotearoa refuelled the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey. 

HMNZS Wellington has divers and hydrographers on board who have been inspecting and surveying damage to infrastructure, ports of entry and harbours, ensuring ships, including those of partner nations, can safely enter to deliver aid to Tonga.

HMNZS Wellington is transiting to Niuatopatapu to conduct harbour surveys and relocate a navigational mark that moved in the natural disaster.

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18 February 2022

Government agencies work together to get supplies to Tonga

Crew on one of our Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules have today flown to Tonga with vaccines, personal protective equipment and rapid antigen tests to support Tonga’s Covid-19 response.

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11 February 2022

NZ Navy ships to return from Tonga after roles in relief efforts

The New Zealand Defence Force will bring home HMNZ Ships Canterbury and Wellington which have been in Tonga assisting with relief efforts following last month’s undersea eruption and tsunami.

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9 February 2022

Royal New Zealand Navy ships HMNZS Canterbury and HMNZS Wellington are currently near Nuku’alofa

The ship went alongside Vuna Wharf yesterday to offload the water generated on the ship. This is done via a contactless delivery to tankers on the wharf, for onward distribution to Tongan communities.

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Story Collections

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20231201 NZDF C1033116 101

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20240904 NZDF K1071142 008

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20240521 NZDF C1033116 004

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Training1 Credit ADF

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