Media Release

12 October 2012

NZDF Works Alongside South Pacific Partners on Exercise Croix Du Sud

New Zealand Defence Force personnel will be honing their humanitarian aid and disaster relief skills and building key relationships and interoperability in the South Pacific as part of Exercise Croix du Sud.

The biennial exercise, which takes place from 12-26 October in New Caledonia, is led by French Armed Forces New Caledonia (FANC) and involves the Defence Forces of Papua New Guinea, Australia, Vanuatu, Tonga, New Zealand, the US, the UK and Canada.

An infantry platoon from 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment will be attached to a French company and will assist with humanitarian aid and disaster relief and non-combatant evacuation tasks. A small Royal New Zealand Navy detachment from the Littoral Warfare Support Force will be based on various vessels conducting surveys of beach landing sites.

Exercise Croix du Sud is a good opportunity for NZ Defence Force personnel to work closely with our Pacific partners, enhancing co-operation and relationships, says Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Major General Dave Gawn.

“Participating in exercises such as Croix du Sud enables the Defence Force to prepare for a variety of contingencies to ensure that New Zealand can play its part effectively in working with other nations to reduce conflict and improve stability in the Pacific, and also respond effectively to humanitarian aid and disaster relief events.

“We have a good relationship with our partners in the Pacific and it’s important for us to work closely to build interoperability so we can perform tasks together when required.”

ENDS

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