NZ ARMY HELPS REPAIR COMMUNITY HALLS AND WATER TANKS IN TONGA

Captain Blake said they also installed three rain water tanks and a pump was placed to distribute the water to three taps, so the community has clean drinking water.

At Ha’atafu Community Hall the spouting was redone, interior and exterior lighting replaced and an old meter board removed and replaced. A concrete water tank was demolished and two new rain water tanks installed, also with a pump to supply three community taps.

Captain Blake said they learned that some of the less mobile residents of Ha’atafu could not access the toilet block out the back of the building.

“We excavated and then cleared a path before laying a concrete slab. Lights were also installed outside the hall and this has made the toilet block accessible to all members of the community.”

Working alongside the HMAF personnel had been awesome as they participating in physical training together, attended social events, as well as supporting the HMAF rugby team during two of their matches, he said.

“We welcome working with more of our Pacific neighbours on future exercises.”

This is the second Tropic Twilight to take place in the past 12 months, with an Exercise Tropic Twilight taking place in Niue last July, involving New Zealand Army engineers and Royal New Zealand Navy hydrographers.