New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Media Release
January 17, 2006

Defence Intervention Saves A Life In Solomon Islands

At the halfway mark of their deployment, the New Zealand Defence Force contingent serving in the Solomon Islands can add saving lives to their list of achievements.

Members of the 45-strong contingent, which includes 33 Territorial Force soldiers, intervened recently to save a man from being beaten by a crowd of infuriated stall owners at a market in Honiara.

The New Zealand soldiers were carrying out a routine patrol through the capital when they were approached by worried locals and alerted to the incident.

When Corporal Rewi Hagen and three other members of his patrol arrived at the market a man lay unconscious on the ground being attacked by angry stall owners and shoppers.

“I pushed through the crowd to find a man in a pool of his own blood,” Corporal Hagen said.

“We quickly cordoned off the area and removed the man to the safety of our Light Operational Vehicle. If we hadn’t turned up, it is likely he may have died from the beatings and loss of blood.”

The soldiers provided aid to the man before handing him over to local police to take to hospital.

His three colleagues - Private Royden Brown, Private Neil Carraher and Private Andre Wilkes - had done their jobs well, Corporal Hagensaid.

New Zealand provides support to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands at the request of the Solomon Islands Government.

The New Zealand Defence Force’s role includes carrying out regular security patrols and assisting with external security at Rove Prison.

ENDS

© Scoop Media