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New Zealand medics Lance Corporal Luke Tamatea (Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment) and Sergeant Jo Walters (Royal New Zealand Airforce) treat a baby in Afghanistan.

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

26 March 2008

Public Encouraged to Show Support for Kiwi Troops

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is encouraging the public to send a message to the Kiwi troops who will be overseas on Anzac Day.

The new facility on the NZDF’s website allows people to send either a general or individual message to military personnel deployed overseas. The messages will be sent to each overseas mission on 26 April, the day after Anzac Day.

“While we honour those who have given their lives for our country in past conflicts on Anzac Day, we would also like to encourage New Zealanders to show their support for our current troops who are based in countries such as Afghanistan, Timor Leste, Sudan and the Solomon Islands,” said Commander Joint Forces Major General Rhys Jones.

“These personnel spend long periods of time away from their families and friends and while not putting their lives at the same danger as our service people in past wars they work in risky environments on a daily basis,” he said.

On Anzac Day the NZDF will have over 400 personnel deployed on 17 peacekeeping operations, United Nations missions and defence exercises around the world.

To post a message visit www.nzdf.mil.nz

ENDS

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