Kiwi troops bound for Middle East to help Australians
Kiwi troops and a C-130 Hercules aircraft are being deployed to the Middle East for two months at the request of the Australian Defence Force.
After a trip last week to Camp Taji in Iraq with the Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Tim Keating, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee announced yesterday that the Cabinet has approved a short-term deployment which would involve up to 30 military personnel.
The Hercules is being deployed at the request of Australia to ‘‘provide additional capacity during a period of high operational tempo’’.
‘‘I am pleased the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) can provide this assistance, considering the significant support we receive from the Australian Defence Force in Iraq and New Zealand’s other deployments in the region,’’ Brownlee said.
‘‘The aircraft will carry out logistics flights in support of New Zealand and Australian operations, including carrying people, equipment and supplies to Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan and the Sinai Peninsula.’’
This is the fourth time a Hercules has been deployed to the region and the estimated cost of this mission is about $1.3 million and will not require additional funding, Brownlee said.
In June last year the Government extended the NZDF deployment to Iraq by another 18 months to November 2018.
Short-term training was also extended to include another secure coalition base at Bemaya last year – until then Kiwi troops had all been based at Camp Taji.
The Government approved five NZDF personnel based at Taji head to Al Taqaddum Air Base, west of Baghdad, to deliver training to Iraqi soldiers for short stints of about two weeks at a time.
It is also expected Kiwi troops will move to even more locations in the future.
Fatal chopper crash
The man who died in a helicopter crash on the West Coast was Noel Edward Wilson. A Rescue Coordination Centre spokeswoman said they received a distress beacon at 6.45pm on Monday and a search and rescue helicopter was sent to the scene near Reefton. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has opened an inquiry into the crash.
Woman still missing
The area where 21-year-old Kim Bamber has gone missing includes the steepest cliffs in Auckland, a rugged trail and a number of caves. Yesterday, police said a drone and at least six rescue officers were searching the cliffs surrounding Mercer Bay, south of Piha. Bambus has not been seen since March 21.
Gastro report delayed
An inquiry panel looking into last year’s Havelock North gastro crisis has asked for more time to prepare its reports, with some of its findings now not due with the Government until December. The inquiry panel, chaired by retired Court of Appeal judge Lyn Stevens QC, had been due to report back by this Friday. But Attorney-General Chris Finlayson said yesterday the report-back date had been extended at the request of panel, with its findings now to be delivered in two stages with reports due in May and December. The panel began its inquiries in October, two months after more than 5000 Havelock North residents became sick after the town’s water supply was contaminated with campylobacter.
Dead tourists named
Tristan Melzner and Lucas Leschok were two young German tourists visiting New Zealand after a stint picking cherries in Australia. They were excited to get out and explore the world, but died in a horrific car crash last Tuesday. Their rental car collided with a bus carrying 16 other tourists near Te Anau. Witnesses tried to free the trapped men, who are said to have survived the initial impact, before the car burst into flames, killing both of them. None of the bus passengers were injured. Police have not formally identified the men, but have contacted next of kin. An investigation into the crash was under way, police said.
Dotcom loses work case
Kim Dotcom has been ordered to pay more than $33,000 in lost wages and compensation to former staff. A ruling released by the Employment Relations Authority on Monday has upheld complaints from two of the internet mogul’s former employees that they were unfairly dismissed. It has thrown out a complaint from a third employee.
Two fatalities
Police have confirmed two people were killed when a truck and car collided head-on in North Canterbury. A south-bound white car and a northbound Freight Lines truck crashed on State Highway 7, about 5 kilometres north of Culverden, just after 8am yesterday.