Kiwi soldier’s Niue disgrace
Inquiry after day off sees soldier locked up in cells following boozy brawl among troops
TI expect all NZDF personnel to act in a way befitting the honour and integrity of the Defence Force and New Zealand. Defence Minister Peeni Henare
he New Zealand military engineers were sent to Niue to help upgrade the facilities of the nation’s only high school. But the humanitarian exercise ended in disgrace for one Kiwi soldier, who found himself in the island’s police cells when a boozy day off devolved into a blue-on-blue brawl.
A team of 30 from the NZ Army’s 2nd Engineer Regiment was on the South Pacific island, population about 1600, on a mission to upgrade the Niue High School ablution blocks and replace the electrics of its science laboratory.
On July 23, a lieutenant allowed a group of off-duty soldiers to unwind over a few drinks, with festivities kicking off before noon, the Herald understands.
Details are murky over what happened next.
But it is understood tensions rose among the troops and a brawl ensued.
“Following an off-duty period, one soldier was observed to be intoxicated at the contingent’s accommodation,” an NZ Defence Force spokeswoman said in a statement.
“Soldiers were permitted to consume alcohol while off duty. The situation escalated into an altercation between NZDF personnel.”
Niuean police were called to the engineers’ accommodation, the spokeswoman said.
No local Niuean residents were present or involved in the incident, she said.
“One soldier was detained in the Niuean police cells overnight.”
They were released after sobering up without having to answer any charges from local officers.
Niue chief of police Tim Wilson declined to comment.
The NZDF spokeswoman said a “preliminary inquiry” was continuing under the Armed Forces Discipline Act and was “yet to determine the number of soldiers involved and their ranks”.
The soldier who landed in the cells was sent back to New Zealand while the rest of the contingent were slapped with a booze ban for the remainder of the exercise.
“NZDF will not be making any further comment until such time as the formal investigation / disciplinary process concludes.”
Defence Minister Peeni Henare said he was not informed of the incident.
“I was not briefed on this incident as it is an operational matter.
“I have always made my expectations clear with the Chief of the Defence Force, that I expect all NZDF personnel to act in a way befitting the honour and integrity of the Defence Force and New Zealand.”
The deployment, dubbed Exercise Tropic Twilight, usually happened annually in the South Pacific but was postponed for two years due to Covid.
It was funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Ten Naval personnel from the dive unit HMNZS Matataua were also sent to Niue to conduct hydrographic surveys of the wharf and channel.
In publicity materials regarding the work, Land Component Commander, Brigadier Hugh Mcaslan was quoted as saying the NZDF welcomed returning to the South Pacific
“Being able to support our Pacific neighbours in such a hands-on capacity is something that we’ve missed during the past couple of years.
“We’re committed to providing assistance where it’s required throughout the South West Pacific.”
Niue, one of the world’s largest coral islands, lies 2400km to New Zealand’s northeast.
It is a self governing country in free association with New Zealand.