MEDICS IN PNG - Royal New Zealand Navy

NAVY PEACEKEEPERS
OUR PEOPLE
Photos: CPO Rob Powell
AK 07-0394-51
BY CPOWTR ROB POWELL
DEPLOYMENT TO DARWIN
& EAST TIMOR
BY PETTY OFFICER CHEF SPADIE NUKU
HELPING WITH THE
HOMECOMING
The Navy group with CPL Apiata VC: Back
row l to r: ACH Te Hau, AMT2 Mio, OCSS
Mansell, OSCS Paniani, OHSO Butler,
OSCS Karauna; front row l to r: ACSS
Retallick, POCH Nuku, CPL Apiata VC,
OSCS Smith, ASCS Phillips & OCSS Hoko.
HELLO FROM Darwin, temperature 31º C
yet again! I am part of the logistical support
team for TG GYRO, East Timor, and am
based in Darwin for the next few months.
CPL Cpl Gabby Knight & LAC Steve Brogan
(both Air Force) and LCPL Benno Schumacher
and SIG Rebecca Biss from the
NZ Army make up the team.
After completing PDT at Burnham camp,
then a Hercules flight via Amberley, we
arrived in Darwin to meet our new OC
MAJ Brett Grieve. We were pleased to be
accommodated in proper barrack accommodation
– not Tin City!
After completing our handovers, we
were invited to a gathering at the Buzz Bar
to meet all the people whom we would
be dealing with over the next six months.
(The first lesson - wine and hot weather
are not good matches!)
Our new crew assumed full responsibility,
with our first task being to greet and
on-move 95 personnel from Dili back to
NZ, after a night in Tin City. My first task
was to balance the cash book for the end
of the month - this went without a hitch.
After the first couple of months in Darwin,
I had seen a number of the nearby
tourist attractions: Crocadylus Park, Litchfield
National Park and a few of the privileged to have a detailed explanation
Army only this year, so we were rather
outlying suburbs. I also joined the Northern of the tanks’ capabilities and a close look
Territory Soccer Referees association and over one.
have been refereeing most weekends. So far this deployment has been very
My first TOD into East Timor was at Camp enjoyable – hard work and good people.
Phoneix, where the CO NSE and the SNO But I intend to take my mid-tour leave
are located. I did my second TOD back to in September and go with my wife to
East Timor in the middle of August. Thailand.
In Darwin, one of the highlights for our For other in the Writer branch I recommend
this deployment to Darwin - a re-
team was being invited to 1 Armoured
Regiment at Robertson Barracks to view warding experience especially if you take
their new tanks - the Abrams M1A1. This the time to get to know and mingle with
has been introduced into the Australian the locals.
The Kiwis take a close look at the new M1A1 Abrams tank.
IN EARLY August, 9 ratings and
I set off to help out with the hui
for CPL Willie Apiata VC, at Tukaki
Marae in Te Kaha. Our first day of
work involved erecting tents for
the huge numbers attending. In
true Navy style, we got stuck in,
and even though we don’t put up
too many tents, it was Navy who
took control to put up 5 huge
tents for eating, as well as accommodation
tents and one tent
at the local RSA, for the overflow
of people.
It was a highlight on Saturday
11th, when the local iwi, Te
Whanau A Apanui, welcomed
Ngati Porou and Nga Puhi onto
their marae. The whai korero of
both tribes, and then the waiatas
and hakas were awesome!
On the Friday night in one of the
marquees, iwi and kura kaupapa
from around the coast all put on
performances that lasted until late
into the night. Even the Maori Affairs
Minister, Parekura Horomia,
was in amongst it.
The hakari the next day was a
highlight. So much kai moana of
crayfish, paua, pipis, and mussels,
Te Whanau A Apanui sure know
how to put on a feed.
But the highlight I think for
everyone, was finally meeting
Willie, shaking his hands, and
seeing how softly-spoken and
humble the guy is. Being told by
him how blown away he was at
seeing the people come together
to welcome home a war hero. We
all got a photo together, the whole
NZDF contingent, and as single
Service groups (thanks to SGT Te
Hau for letting the senior service
go first!) Incidentally, ACH Tim
Te Hau, who was on leave, also
came and gave us a hand for the
whole time we were there.
Special thanks to Te Whanau A
Apanui for making us all welcome,
and to the marae, Tukaki, for letting
us stay in the wharenui, as
well as the kohanga reo, for letting
both Navy and Air Force use
their facilities.
And thanks too, to MAJ Tod and
SGT Te Hau, and all the Army and
Air Force personnel, especially
the Cooks, who - as NZDF - all
got in to help out with this special
hui. Kia Ora.
OSCS Pomane Karauna (left) and ASCS Padre Philips help
prepare the Hungi pits.
OHSO Julie Butler hands a PR pack to a local school student.
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