KEY POINTS:
A group of New Zealand soldiers will leave for the Solomon Islands tomorrow for a four-month deployment in the troubled region.
The 43-strong contingent, which includes 30 territorial force personnel, will replace New Zealand soldiers who have been serving with the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (Ramsi) for the past four months.
Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Rear Admiral Jack Steer, said the contingent would perform regular patrols, assist Ramsi police in downtown Honiara, and help with external security at Rove Prison.
The contingent, which is largely drawn from the territorial force regiments based in Auckland and Tauranga, undertook five weeks intensive pre-deployment training to prepare them for any situation they may face.
The soldiers currently serving in the Solomon Islands will return to New Zealand on April 4.
New Zealand Defence Force personnel have contributed to security and stability in the Solomon Islands since July 2003. They assist the Ramsi mission at the request of the Solomon Islands government.
Commander Steer said: "The territorial force members of the contingent are particularly suited to this kind of mission. The majority of their time in the military is spent in infantry training, but they also bring a wide variety of skills from their civilian employment, skills they can use to provide further assistance to the people of the Solomon Islands."
- NZPA
