Goff to Farewell Lebanon Contingent
Defence Minister Phil Goff will formally farewell the first New Zealand Defence Force personnel deploying to Lebanon,
where they will work with the UN disposing of unexploded munitions, at Devonport Naval Base, Auckland on Friday
afternoon.
Minister Goff announced the deployment on December 17 saying, "The New Zealand Defence Force will contribute two, ten
person explosive ordnance disposal teams to the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre in Southern Lebanon (UNMACC-SL). The
teams will consist of four explosive ordnance disposal technicians and six surveyors who will work together to locate,
map and destroy unexploded ordnance.
"Each team will deploy for six months. New Zealand's contribution of twelve months is in accordance with the UNMACC-SL
timetable to have the area cleared of unexploded ordnance by December 2007.
ENDS