Six New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel have this month been part of a multinational effort in Papua New Guinea to destroy about 2200 explosive remnants left over from the Second World War.
Delivered under Australian Defence Force (ADF) leadership, Operation Render Safe brought together military personnel from Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States to locate and safely dispose of about 7550kg of the explosives.
The operation focused on explosive remnants of war – or ERW – identified during previous missions in the Gazelle, Kokopo and Rabaul districts of East New Britain province. They have continued to pose a serious risk to local communities for more than 80 years.
The munitions were moved to pits that had been dug so charges could be placed on them to destroy them.
The smaller and more stable bombs were moved via vehicle and the larger ones carried by several people with slings.
New Zealand Army Captain ‘C’*, Senior National Officer of the Kiwi contingent, said the six-person NZDF Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was embedded within the ADF-led task force, working alongside Papua New Guinea Defence Force and international counterparts.
“It’s a challenging task, in a hot and humid jungle environment and with seriously degraded munitions that have spent 80 years exposed to the weather and sea salt,” Captain C said.
“But it’s an important task to ensure the safety of communities in these areas.”
The NZDF maintains a highly capable EOD service, drawing personnel from the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force.
EOD teams provide regular domestic support to New Zealand Police, including the assessment and disposal of improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance.
NZDF personnel are also very experienced in ERW clearance operations across the Pacific, having undertaken similar work in Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Nauru in recent years.
The Force Integration Training conducted in Australia prior to deployment ensured the multinational team could operate effectively together in the challenging Papua New Guinea conditions.
“The training ensured we were not only a strong, cohesive team, but also allowed us to build enduring relationships that will support future operations,” Captain ‘C’ said.
“Every time we work with the ADF and our partner nations, it’s a valuable opportunity to understand each other’s procedures—ensuring we remain interoperable and ready to deploy together when needed.”
Render Safe is a long-standing multinational initiative, running for more than 20 years, aimed at reducing the threat posed by ERW across the Pacific and strengthening regional security through cooperation.
The NZDF contribution reflects New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to regional security and its close defence relationships with Papua New Guinea, Australia and other international partners.