The airlift deploying elements of the New Zealand Defence Force moved into its third day today. A further 69 personnel
left RNZAF Base Ohakea for Darwin this morning on Air Force transport aircraft.
This evening, there will be 218 soldiers in Darwin preparing to move forward to East Timor. The complete personnel
elements of New Zealand’s Mechanised Company Group, and four M113 armoured personnel carriers will be at Robertson
barracks by early next week. The MV Edamgracht, a Dutch cargo ship is scheduled to sail for Darwin 30 September. Cargo
will include 21 Armoured Personnel Carriers, 25 non- military vehicles and the remainder of equipment for the company
group.
The two Air Force Hercules aircraft that have been operating between Darwin and East Timor as part of Operation
STABILISE have been re-tasked to assist in the New Zealand Australia airbridge. These aircraft will arrive at Whenuapai
at 1030 and 1130 pm tonight.
The Air Force helicopter detachment of 4 Iroquois and 100 personnel will begin deployment on Friday 24 September. One
Iroquois, 21 personnel and stores and equipment will depart from Whenuapai on an Air Force Hercules at 0815pm on Friday.
HMNZS Canterbury is enroute to Darwin and is expected to arrive on 25 September. HMNZS Te Kaha remains off the coast of
Eat Timor as part of the multinational naval force. Te Kaha’s Seasprite helicopter is undertaking a range of activities
in support of the naval force including surface surveillance.
In Dili, New Zealand soldiers are working alongside forces from Australia and the United Kingdom to secure key
facilities and open local liaison. There has been no resistance to the arrival of INTERFET forces, and Commander
INTERFET, General Peter Cosgrove, is pleased that the operation is going smoothly as planned. Over the next several
weeks, the force on East Timor is expected to swell to a coalition force of around 7000 as international troops become
available. The New Zealand Mechanised Company Group will move to East Timor to join this coalition when called forward
by the INTERFET commander. While at Robertson Barracks outside Darwin, the New Zealand soldiers will acclimatise,
prepare equipment and exercise with Australian soldiers.
ENDS.