<25 May 2004
Final Rotation to Honiara
The last group to take up posts in the Solomon Islands as part of Operation Rata, will leave New Zealand tomorrow morning (Wednesday 26 May 2004).
An Air Force Boeing will leave Christchurch at 9am with 31 Infantry personnel.
The aircraft will then pick up 21 Air Force personnel at RNZAF Base Ohakea, before departing for Honiara at 11.55am.
The Boeing will return the following day (Thursday 27 May 2004) with 56 New Zealand Defence Force personnel.
After a three-month tour, twenty-four infantry personnel will return to Christchurch at 2pm, while 32 Air Force personnel return to Ohakea at 5pm.
Defence Force personnel and Police deployed to the region in July 2003, as part of the Australian led mission to assist the Solomon Islands Government restore law and order.
There is currently 41 Army, 54 Air Force personnel and two Iroquois helicopters deployed to the Solomon Islands.
ENDS
For further information please contact Danielle Coe, Defence Public Relations
04 496 0286 or 021 676 338
This page was last reviewed 29 September, 2011 and is current.
