Foreign support arrives in Kaikoura, NZ
Warships from Australia, Canada and the United States, with about 660 sailors and four helicopters between them, are in Kaikoura to support the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) disaster relief operation.
CAPTION: HMAS Darwin’s embarked S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter airborne behind a US Seahawk in Kaikoura, New Zealand. Photo by Corporal Amanda McErlich.
“The ships, crews and maritime helicopters provided by our partner militaries have given us a great deal of flexibility in supporting the national relief effort,” Major General (MAJGEN) Tim Gall, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said.
“They could assist in the clean-up, movement of vital aid supplies and in conducting welfare checks in communities affected by Monday’s earthquake.”
MAJGEN Gall said poor weather conditions, further cracks on the road and risks of further landslides halted a convoy of 27 Defence Force trucks that left Burnham Military Camp before midday, carrying vital aid supplies for quake-damaged communities in North Canterbury.
Another survey will be conducted before the convoy is allowed to proceed to Kaikoura, he said.
The convoy was earlier given the green light to move after Army engineers completed a reconnaissance of the Waiau to Kaikoura route this morning. Massive slips caused by Monday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake cut off land access to Kaikoura.
Aid supplies, including food, medicines and portable toilets, are being loaded into the amphibious sealift vessel HMNZS Canterbury, which evacuated around 450 people out of Kaikoura yesterday. The ship will return to Kaikoura tonight.
NH90 helicopters from the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 3 Squadron today evacuated another 60 people and delivered two tonnes of aid to Kaikoura, bringing to about 660 the total number of people evacuated from the quake-damaged town.
Australian frigate HMAS Darwin, Canadian frigate HMCS Vancouver and US destroyer USS Sampson arrived overnight from Auckland with the Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha. The foreign warships, which are here to take part in the Navy’s 75th anniversary, were redirected on Tuesday to support the Government’s relief operation.
Surveillance aircraft from the United States Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted surveys of quake-damaged areas, particularly inland and railway routes, today.
The NZDF has mobilised about 560 personnel, at least 11 aircraft and four vessels to support the Government’s earthquake response.
Fast facts: NZDF and foreign support for the Government’s earthquake response
Aircraft
- NH90 medium utility helicopters – X4
- A109 helicopter – X2
- SH-2G(I) Seasprite helicopter – X2
- C-130 Hercules – X1
- P-3K2 Orion surveillance aircraft – X1
- B200 King Air – X1
Ships
- Multi-role vessel HMNZS CANTERBURY
- Offshore patrol vessel HMNZS WELLINGTON
- Frigate HMNZS TE KAHA
- Replenishment tanker HMNZS ENDEAVOUR
Foreign assistance
- Australian frigate HMAS DARWIN + 1 S70B Seahawk helicopter + 177 sailors
- Canadian frigate HMCS VANCOUVER + 1 CH-124 Sea King helicopter + 231 sailors
- US destroyer USS SAMPSON + 2X MH60 Seahawk helicopters + 250 sailors
- US Navy P-3 aerial surveillance aircraft
- Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-1 aerial surveillance aircraft
NZDF personnel
- Navy – about 410 sailors
- Army – about 30 soldiers
- Air Force – about 50 aircrew and some 200 support personnel on the ground at bases in Whenuapai, Ohakea, Woodbourne and Christchurch
Evacuation – about 660 people (with four dogs and seven tonnes of baggage)
Aid supplies delivered by NH90 – about 18000 kg
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