The Royal New Zealand Air Force has flown a team of New Zealand Army engineers to Ma‘uke in the Cook Islands as part of Exercise Tropic Twilight, an annual humanitarian mission funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Over 30 NZDF personnel from the 25 Engineer Support Squadron, 2nd Engineer Regiment, will spend the next few weeks upgrading the island’s solar farm, water supply, school, and community halls. They’re joined by tradespeople from Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu, with medical and logistics support teams also on-site.
Lieutenant Jarrod Wilson said the work would have lasting impact, especially improvements to the solar-powered water bores and Ma‘uke’s only school, Apii Ma‘uke.
Ma‘uke Mayor Joanne Rongoape Stephens welcomed the team, noting the importance of maintaining the island’s pure aquifer water and the excitement of seeing the Hercules aircraft again after 40 years.
For many, like apprentice Sapper Killian Ansell, it’s their first overseas deployment, a chance to gain valuable experience while supporting a grateful and welcoming island community.
