NZDF-Led Projects Boost Drought Resilience of Tongan Communities
Community projects undertaken by a multi-national task group led by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) are expected to
reduce the vulnerability of remote communities to the impact of drought, Tongan officlals say.
The projects, designed to improve water storage in two main islands in Tonga’s Ha’apai island group, were undertaken as
part of Exercise Tropic Twilight 2016 and have been formally handed over today to the Tongan Government.
“Tropic Twilight conducted a vast range of activities that will directly improve the resilience of communities in
Ha’apai in addressing some water security issues and safety equipment shortages. It was also an opportune time to
collaborate with partners to address health issues,” said Tongan Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni.
Lieutenant Colonel (LTCOL) Josh Wineera, the NZDF Senior National Officer for Exercise Tropic Twilight, said about 40
personnel from the New Zealand Army and the Royal New Zealand Air Force worked alongside engineers from Tonga, China and
the United States to improve water storage and sanitation in Lifuka and Foa Islands.
Nine 10,000-litre water storage tanks were installed at churches, the fire station and city hall in Pangai, the
administrative capital village of Ha’apai. The multi-national task group also built a toilet block near the Pangai Ferry
Terminal.
On the health front, medical personnel from New Zealand and Australia worked with Tongan medical staff to conduct
environmental health tests to assess the risk of communicable diseases such as dengue and the zika virus to the local
population.
“Apart from the construction projects, members of the multi-national task group also engaged with local communities.
This included outreach activities at schools in Lifuka which were well-received by the students, teachers and
principals,” LTCOL Wineera said.
“The installation of the water storage facilities complements New Zealand’s broader development assistance to vulnerable
communities across Tonga. It will go some way to increase the resilience of Ha’apai communities during seasons that are
drier than normal or extend to periods of drought,” New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga Sarah Walsh said.
Major General (MAJGEN) Tim Gall, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said activities undertaken as part of Tropic
Twilight demonstrated New Zealand’s continuing commitment in the Pacific and marked a fresh opportunity to strengthen
defence co-operation with Tonga and other international partners.
“Tropic Twilight started years ago as a military exercise to get our personnel ready to conduct humanitarian assistance
and disaster relief operations. But it has since evolved into a major multi-national activity and the projects we have
been undertaking in recent years are making a positive and tangible difference to communities in the Pacific,” MAJGEN
Gall said.
Tropic Twilight is a recurring humanitarian activity focused on disaster relief operations which began Tonga this year
on 7 July. New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade funded the projects as part of the New Zealand Aid
Programme.
ENDS