New Zealand Deploys Two Naval Ships And One Reconnaissance Plane To The Pacific, What For?

Offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington (P 55) (front) New Zealand. (Wikimedia Commons/New Zealand Defense Force)

JAKARTA - If nothing changes, two New Zealand Navy ships and one reconnaissance aircraft will be deployed to the Pacific Islands next week for a three-month assignment, Defense Minister Peeni Henare said in a statement on Friday.

The two vessels deployed were the offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington (P 55), and the dive and hydrographic support vessel HMNZS Manawanui (A09). Meanwhile, the reconnaissance plane that was sent together to the area was the P-3 Orion.

Defense Secretary Henare said in a statement that the delivery of the ships and aircraft was to provide maritime security and other support for Pacific Island partners. To patrol and prevent illegal fishing and search for unexploded ordnance from previous wars, among other tasks, the statement said.

"Now that most of the Pacific's borders are open, we can return to more direct partnerships to support our Pacific partners' priorities for achieving a peaceful, stable, prosperous and resilient Pacific region," Henare said, citing Reuters, July 22.

Fisheries are a significant resource for Pacific nations, with New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade estimating the region's tuna catch to be worth $5.3 billion per year and provide 23.000 jobs. However, it is threatened by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

“The Pacific is who we are and also where we are. The challenge facing our region is also New Zealand, which is why this region is a foreign and defense policy priority for the government," said Henare.