More than 50 New Zealand Defence Force personnel have arrived on the remote northern Cook Islands atoll of Penrhyn for a major programme of construction, health, water and maritime work.
The deployment is part of Exercise Tropic Twilight, New Zealand’s long-running annual humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise in the Pacific.
At the request of the Cook Islands Government, personnel were flown to Penrhyn aboard an RNZAF C-130J Hercules, with New Zealand Army engineers working alongside five engineers from the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia and an engineer from Vanuatu.
Their work includes upgrading facilities at Omoka and Te Tautua Schools, repairing the roof of the Omoka Market, installing solar water stills and helping local mechanics service vehicles and machinery.
Royal New Zealand Navy personnel from HMNZS Matataua will also survey navigational approaches, lagoon routes and maritime infrastructure, providing updated hydrographic information to the Cook Islands Government.
NZDF health personnel will work alongside local medical staff to provide services for the Penrhyn community.
Before heading north from Rarotonga, Navy hydrographers surveyed the boat ramp at Avatiu Harbour, while Army personnel carried out plumbing and roof work at Aotearoa Marae to support rainwater collection and assisted a local reusable-plastics sustainability project.
Exercise Tropic Twilight has operated for more than 25 years, with last year’s Cook Islands deployment focused on Ma’uke, where personnel worked on water infrastructure, the solar farm, schools, community facilities and the island hospital.
The latest mission continues New Zealand’s practical defence partnership across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa — combining military skills with infrastructure, health and disaster-resilience projects designed to leave something behind long after the Hercules flies home.
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