8 Oct 2015

New fuel depot for northern Cooks

11:51 am on 8 October 2015
Military engineers and tradesmen from China, New Zealand, Britain and the US spent six weeks on a range of infrastructure projects in the Cook Islands.

Military engineers and tradesmen from China, New Zealand, Britain and the US spent six weeks on a range of infrastructure projects in the Cook Islands. Photo: NZDF

A multinational task group led by the New Zealand Defence Force has handed over a new fuel depot to Cook Islands officials in a ceremony on Penrhyn.

The team made of military engineers and tradesmen from China, New Zealand, Britain and the US had spent six weeks on a range of infrastructure projects on Penrhyn and Manihiki.

The Tropic Twilight exercise had seen Chinese participation for the first time.

The new fuel depot on Penrhyn, handed over by the Tropic Twilight multinational task group.

The new fuel depot on Penrhyn, handed over by the Tropic Twilight multinational task group. Photo: NZDF

New Zealand's High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, Nick Hurley, says relocating and upgrading the Penrhyn fuel depot has helped avert a potential oil spill.

The handover ceremony was also attended by the Cook Islands deputy prime minister Teariki Heather.

The People’s Liberation Army of China has been involved in Tropic Twilight 2015.

The People’s Liberation Army of China has been involved in Tropic Twilight 2015. Photo: NZDF