HMNZS Canterbury returns to NZ

Transcript

HMNZS Canterbury has arrived back in New Zealand after spending the last 5 weeks helping with relief and rebuild efforts in Vanuatu, following the destruction caused by Cyclone Pam.

The amphibious sealift vessel helped to get much-needed food and water and medical teams throughout the country, particularly the outer islands.

Indira Moala reports.

Cyclone Pam destroyed homes and infrastructure, leaving 11 dead and affecting the majority of the 252,800-strong population of Vanuatu.  The operations manager at the National Disaster Management Office says he's overwhelmed by the level of support received from the international community.  Peter Koriso says the aid provided by the Canterbury significantly helped speed up the process of relief support.

PETER KORISO: The Canterbury has done a great job. We appreciate the assistance for me in operations. I think they've really helped within our operations and they've helped us to speed up some of the processes. New Zealand's defence personnel has been doing a great job for us after the cyclone Tropical Pam.

Commanding Officer of the Canterbury Commander Simon Rooke says they did as much as they could in the limited time frame they were given.

SIMON ROOKE: It was fair to say that when we arrived the devastation was probably about what I expected. So we were focussed on providing the basic needs of water, shelter and then food delivery as well. So the highlight I guess for us would've been the fact that we managed to provide services and food to seven of the outlying islands. About 60,000 people I think, as far as the total population. And just the way that the army, navy, airforce and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade person that we had on board as well, all just came together to really get the job done.

Upon their departure, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu Joe Natuman personally thanked the New Zealand Defence Force for its relief work after Cyclone Pam.  But the Government's latest damage assessment has revealed an even greater need for assistance from the international community in the months ahead.  Mr Koriso says on top of Government support from partners around the world, they have been overwhelmed by independent relief sent over by small Ni-Vanuatu communities living overseas.

PETER KORISA: We're getting a lot of relief coming from Ni-Van's living abroad and also families and friends from Australia and all over the region. They are really keen and they're supporting us with this type of difficulty. And they have sent us quite a number of goods in kind - clothing and everything. So I think it is very significant at the moment. We're receiving a lot of assistance in that type of arrangement.

Alice Clements from the United Nations Children's Fund says relief supplies from as far afield as Denmark are continuing to flood in while residents are doing their best to rebuild their homes and plant new crops.