Source: New Zealand Defence Force
1 October 2026
New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel have been making good progress in their construction, maintenance, health and hydrographic survey tasks on the island of Penrhyn in the northern Cook Islands.
The work is part of the annual humanitarian assistance and disaster relief effort Exercise Tropic Twilight, which is supported by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The main body of the more-than-50-strong contingent arrived on Penrhyn in the middle of September for the month-long deployment.
New Zealand Army engineers and one carpenter from the Vanuatu Mobile Force have installed six new water tanks and an outdoor classroom at Omoka School and completed electrical rewiring of Te Tautua School.
The hospital has had plumbing and electrical repairs and upgrades and the NZDF dental team and medical officer have seen more than 75 patients.
A NZ Army vehicle mechanic has repaired and serviced island machinery and vehicles.
Royal New Zealand Navy hydrographers surveyed priority areas and discovered current charts were no longer accurate.
They have since recorded 400 survey lines over 205 nautical miles and significantly increased the quantity of modern survey data available, which will provide a more complete understanding of the approaches and harbour areas.
The Tropic Twilight contingent has also undertaken a beach clean-up in front of Omoka School as a voluntary community initiative.
This week the Kiwis were joined by five engineers from from Les forces armées en Polynésie française, who will carry out an airfield assessment.
New Zealand troop commander, Lieutenant Hannah Brady, says it’s been a busy and rewarding time so far.
“The team has been working really hard in the heat to get these tasks done, because we all know that what we’re doing will have a direct and positive impact on this community.
“Exercise Tropic Twilight is a special thing to be a part of.”
Photo captions:
- Photo 1: NZ Army Engineers have completed construction and maintenance tasks at Omoka and Te Tautua Schools and the local hospital
- Photo 2: Royal New Zealand Navy hydrographers have carried out surveys of approaches and harbour areas
- Photo 3: The NZDF Dental Team and Medical Officer have seen more than 75 patients
- Photo 4: Five engineers from Les forces armées en Polynésie française have carried out an airfield assessment