NZ tradesmen head for Tongareva

Relief efforts have begun for the island of Penryhn as the Hercules arrived late Thursday night and will leave for the island at 11.30am Friday morning. Penryhn was badly affected by Cyclones, Oli, Pat and Rene and recently the tropical depression 11F over the weekend which was finally upgraded to a tropical cyclone early this morning. The Hercules will deliver chainsaws, tarpaulins, construction material, emergency food supplies, fuel and telecommunication equipment. On board the flight to Penryhn is the 12 NZ Defence Force field engineering team and their equipment along with NZ media and CITV’s cameraman Mack Marona. The 12 NZDF team include electricians, a builder, heavy plant operators, a plumber and field engineers. If the bad weather worsens due to Cyclone Sarah, then the Hercules will return to Rarotonga but may be diverted to Samoa before returning.
While in Penryhn, the team will assist the island administration restore power, provide drinking clean water, construct emergency shelters and make necessary repairs to schools and the hospital which was badly damaged. The Hercules was to arrive early yesterday but were understood to have been waiting on the tarmac in New Zealand awaiting the arrival of emergency supplies. The relief efforts for Penryhn are understood to be good news for the people who have been awaiting help since January. A team from the Emergency Management CI and other agencies were to have left for Penryhn two weeks ago but because of the adverse weather conditions was unable to travel. The decision was made earlier this week to ask for assistance from New Zealand and the request was put through for the Hercules to provide relief efforts. - Moana Tetauru