45 soldiers leave for NZ

 Forty-five soldiers from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force leave for New Zealand today to take part in the largest international training exercise to be held in that country.

Exercise Southern Katipo will take place until Nov 29, primarily around the South Island city of Timaru’s airport and port.

Over the exercise up to 1,800 soldiers, sailors and airmen from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, the US and New Caledonia will take part in the operation. They will bring their own aircraft and ships.

Vincent Waulau, one of the 10 soldiers from Bravo company based at Igam Barracks said in Port Moresby on Friday they would be joined by soldiers from Murray Barracks (five) and Wewak’s Moem Barracks (30).

“The training exercise will prepare us for overseas deployment for the United Nations,” he said.

“It will basically prepare us in terms of modern warfare operating systems used by developed countries.