Arriving in the Solomon Islands

By Major Sholto Stephens, SNO

The main body of the fourth rotation deployed to the Solomon Islands from Ohakea Air Force Base in the Manawatu on Sunday 22 July 2007. 

A small advance party had already arrived in the Solomon Islands 5 days before, and were already taking the duties of 3rd Rotation personnel. 

4th Rotation personnel have been drawn mostly from the Wellington, Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Wanganui and Taranaki regions and is mostly comprised of Territorial Force Soldiers from the 5th and 7th Battalion Groups.

The team really appreciated having so many friends and family see them off at Ohakea on Sunday morning.

On arrival at Honiara, the Solomon Islands capital city, the contingent was challenged by the current NZDF personnel with a Haka (pictured).

The NZDF contingent was also welcomed by the High Commissioner for the Solomon Islands, Deborah Panckhurst, who came out to the airport to greet us.

Over the next four months we New Zealanders will work closely with Australian personnel as well as military personnel from Tonga and Papua New Guinea.  An international Police Force made up of at least 14 countries will work alongside the New Zealand soldiers to assist in maintaining law and order in the Islands.

While in the Solomon Islands serving with RAMSI the New Zealand soldiers will perform a wide variety of tasks, including patrolling Honiara alongside the Police, helping maintain security of the Solomon Island's main prison and travelling throughout the Solomon Islands to support the International Police Officers’ day to day work.

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