Four Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) personnel have completed a seven-week deployment throughout the Cook Islands and French Polynesia aboard the Cook Islands Police patrol vessel Te Kukupa II.
Supporting maritime security operations and a humanitarian assistance exercise, Midshipman Imogen Herbert, Leading Combat Systems Specialist Leon Fortes, Leading Chef Monique Manuel and Able Communications Warfare Specialist Brodus Murray augmented the Cook Islands maritime police crew on Te Kukupa II.
Midshipman Herbert said the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Pacific environment was one of the most rewarding aspects of the deployment.
“Visiting communities with populations of only a few hundred people gave us a real appreciation of the unique challenges faced by Pacific Island nations and highlighted the importance of regional cooperation,” she said.
While the Navy personnel brought specialist knowledge and operational experience to their time on Te Kukupa II, they gained an appreciation for the Cook Islands’ culture and the close connection between its people and the maritime environment.
“From day one, the crew of Te Kukupa II welcomed us as part of the team. Over the seven weeks living and working together, we developed great friendships and learned a tremendous amount.”
During Operation Tui Moana, the crew completed around 15 boardings of vessels suspected of fishery violations as well as supporting maritime security operations throughout the Cook Islands’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
There was also an opportunity to visit a local school on Penrhyn, the northernmost atoll in the Cook Islands group, and deliver much needed sports equipment.
The deployment concluded with the French-led Exercise Marara in Tahiti, involving 12 Pacific partner nations across land, air and maritime domains. The exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief designed to strengthen the coordination between Indo-Pacific partners using a simulated large-scale natural disaster scenario.
Cook Islands Police Commissioner Teokotai Joseph said the seven week deployment demonstrated the strength of the relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand.
“This is the second time this year that RNZN personnel have augmented the crew of Te Kukupa II on an international deployment and we are very grateful for the additional skills, experience and perspectives they have provided to enhance our capability.
The deployment provided an important opportunity to learn from one another, and develop professional relationships and personal connections that underpin the long-standing partnership between our two services. We thank them for their outstanding contribution.”
For Midshipman Herbert and the other RNZN personnel, the deployment delivered operational and personal rewards.
“It reinforced the importance of working together with our Pacific partners and showed that by sharing knowledge, experience and friendship, we all become stronger.”