Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: University of Auckland

Friday, July 31, 2026

When a new drug shows a 30 to 60 percent cure rate in laboratory models of cancer, there’s cause for excitement.

A New Zealand team has carried out early experiments on a new cancer drug that displays that level of promise.

The research is led by University of Auckland Associate Professors Jeff Smaill and Adam Patterson from the Department of Cancer Sciences, and Malaghan Institute Professor Ian Hermans.

“It’s early days, but we’re seeing long-term eradication of cancer in lab experiments using this new drug,” says Smaill.

“It’s exciting to see that once the cancer is cured, if we try to reintroduce the same type of cancer, it won’t establish a second time.

“So this treatment looks promising in terms of preventing relapse.”

The drug gives a unique boost to the body’s immune defences, mobilising them inside tumours to help fight cancer, says Patterson.

While the new treatment is currently being targeted at lung cancer, it could be used to increase the chances of surviving many types of cancer, Patterson says.

To further develop the drug, the team has just launched a new company, Stave Therapeutics, which has attracted investment from Unruly Partners.

The scientists hope to optimise the drug’s potential, before launching world-first clinical trials with cancer patients within the next two years.

Over the past 15 years, immunotherapy drugs have been created that help treat about 20 different cancers. However, they are only effective long-term for about 20 to 25 percent of lung cancer patients and for about 5 to 15 percent of patients with other major types of cancer.

Smaill says the team is “like a dog with a bone”, relentlessly looking for ways to develop treatments that are more effective for more patients.

Their innovative approach involves turning ‘cold tumours’, which few immune cells have infiltrated, into ‘hot tumours’, which are inflamed by armies of immune cells attacking the cancer, says Hermans.

“We’ve been working on a way to stimulate immune cells in the tumour, even if there are very few of them.

“We want to get them to release the signalling molecules that make a tumour hotter, more inflamed, that attract immune cell penetration into the tumour,” says Hermans.

Trials in laboratory models that don’t respond to existing immunotherapy drugs have been promising, says Patterson.

They show the new drug stimulates the body’s immune defences and increases the number of T cells entering the tumour to fight cancer cells.

Stronger immune responses are activated when the new compound is used in combination with existing immunotherapy drugs that stop cancers turning off the body’s immune defences, says Patterson.

“We think converting tumours from cold to hot is going to be the real way to get immunotherapy working better.

“If we can achieve this, we can make a big impact on treating a lot of different cancers,” Patterson says.

Over the past 30 years at the University’s Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Smaill and Patterson have created six new cancer drugs that have reached the stage of clinical trials.

Smaill worked with pharmaceutical company Pfizer to discover dacomitinib, a lung cancer treatment that gained global approval for patient use in 2018.

Two new drugs the pair have developed to treat a range of cancers are undergoing phase one clinical trials in Europe and China. They developed a third cancer drug, tarloxotinib, which has advanced to phase two clinical trials in the United States, Australia, Canada and Hong Kong.

In 2021, funding from Maurice Wilkins Centre helped launch their latest research, followed by a $1.2 million Health Research Council grant. Last year the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment granted more than $5 million over three years for the project. Cancer Society Auckland Northland has also provided significant funding supporting Smaill and Patterson’s research.

Over the next 18 months, Stave Therapeutics plans to test hundreds of compounds to optimise the treatment’s potency and reduce potential side effects.

“It’s still early days, but we’re pretty amped up about this one,” says Smaill.

“When you’re designing new molecules the universe has never seen before and you’re controlling the chemical structure to make things happen in ways you can predict, it’s a real buzz.

“There’s always a rush when you go: We’ve doubled the potency, or we’ve increased the selectivity, or we’re seeing a 60 percent cure rate in our lab experiments.”

Source: Loopy Tunes

Christchurch-based children’s music stars Loopy Tunes sister duo have returned with an inspiring new waiata, ‘Kia Kaha Kōrero Mai’ released today, encouraging whānau and educators to embrace te reo Māori.

The duo, sisters Siu Williams-Lemi and Leah Williams-Partington (Ngāpuhi, Tonga) invites whānau and educators to kōrero Māori with an interactive way of learning Māori vowel sounds to keep the language alive and thriving.

Siu Williams-Lemi, who wrote the waiata, says ‘Kia Kaha Kōrero Mai’ is about normalising te reo Māori in every household around Aotearoa – starting with our youngest tamariki – by encouraging listeners to learn karakia, waiata and kōrero Māori.

“It’s a fun, catchy, earworm of a waiata that will help anyone raising or teaching young Kiwi kids to give te reo Māori a go,” she says.

The duo’s passion for sharing te reo Māori and reo rua waiata began fifteen years ago, with weekly bilingual language classes they provided for their community. Those classes continue today, a testament to the sisters’ ongoing commitment to giving back.

Leah Williams-Partington says the waiata is exactly what Loopy Tunes represents.

“Our kaupapa has always been to share our waiata and improve access to te reo Māori for the next generation. We encourage both Māori and Tangata Tiriti to get involved. Te reo Māori is a language for everyone,” she says.

Across their career, Loopy Tunes has created a range of language learning resources, including more than 180 waiata across 10 different Pacific languages, and a Rainbow Book Collection of bilingual picture books.

‘Kia Kaha Kōrero Mai’ is made with the support of NZ On Air and is available now on all major streaming platforms.

Stream Kia Kaha Kōrero Mai: https://music.drm.co.nz/kiakaha-koreromai

Source: Consumer NZ

31 July 2026

Consumer NZ is warning that gaps in Aotearoa’s product safety system are leaving shoppers exposed, after finding a toy banned in the United Kingdom can still be bought here through online marketplaces.

A number of “Squeezy Dumplings” were recalled in the UK in June after testing found benzene in the outer layer. Benzene can irritate the skin and, where exposure is significant, cause a burning feeling throughout the digestive tract.

The recalled toy is an imitation of the popular “Squishy Dumpling”, originally made by UK company RMS. While several similar toys are available in New Zealand, including at The Warehouse and Kmart, Consumer NZ did not find the recalled version in those stores.

However, the organisation successfully ordered what it believes to be a banned “Squeezy Dumplings” toy from AliExpress in July, after the UK product safety recall. Head of Research and Advocacy Gemma Rasmussen says the availability of potentially dangerous toys through online marketplaces exposes a fundamental weakness in how product safety is managed in New Zealand.

“Shoppers shouldn’t have to wonder whether a toy is safe. Yet for many products sold online, there has been no independent testing before they reach New Zealand homes. Our product safety laws have not been significantly updated in decades, while our in-store and online marketplaces have changed dramatically.

“We have strong concerns that the toy we ordered contains benzene, but we do not know for sure because chemical testing is prohibitively expensive.”

Shoppers may assume there is a level of independent testing before products wind up on shelves or in online baskets, but the reality is that manufacturers themselves are often allowed to decide whether products comply with safety requirements.

New Zealand has a product safety standard for children’s toys enforced by the Commerce Commission which does take action periodically. The system is far from watertight and there remains a risk that unsafe products cross our borders every day.

“That system only works if manufacturers are doing the right thing and problems are identified quickly,” Rasmussen says. “Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.”

Consumer NZ says recent local incidents have raised broader questions about the reliability of supplier safety assurances. Earlier this month, research by Auckland University of Technology confirmed asbestos was present in some children’s play sand sold in New Zealand and that airborne fibres could be released during normal play. The safety regime used by New Zealand and Australian regulators is often heavily reliant on risk assessments commissioned by product suppliers, rather than independently verified testing.

“Whether it’s asbestos in play sand or benzene in a toy, these cases demonstrate why we cannot rely solely on manufacturers’ own safety claims. We need our government to introduce a product safety system in Aotearoa that reflects the risks we currently face in our marketplaces,” says Rasmussen.

MBIE advice before buying a squishy toy:

• Inspect the product for strong chemical smells, leaking liquid or gel, tears, cracks, weak seams, or loose or detachable small parts that could choke a small child.
• Buy from reputable retailers and established brands.
• Ask the retailer for evidence or confirmation that the toy has been safety tested.
• Check the toy has clear age recommendations and safety instructions.

To avoid harm:

• Do not allow children to chew, bite, puncture, or cut open squishy toys.
• Never microwave, heat, freeze, or alter the toy.
• Remove and dispose of any toy that becomes torn, damaged, leaks, or develops a strong chemical smell.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and age recommendations.
• Supervise younger children during play.
• Keep damaged toys away from young children and pets.

MBIE product guide: https://www.productsafety.govt.nz/keeping-kids-safe/product-guides/viral-squishy-toys

About Consumer

Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.

Source: Save the Children

The number of children receiving treatment for the most dangerous form of malnutrition in Baidoa, south central Somalia, nearly tripled in six months, according to new figures from Save the Children’s stabilization centre in the region [1], warning over the country’s worsening drought and hunger crisis.

Health care workers at Save the Children's Baidoa stabilization centres treated 400 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition with other medical complications in June – nearly three times as many as the 143 admitted in January.

In total, the stabilization centre treated 1,405 children between January and June 2026, a 177% increase compared with the 507 children treated a year ago.

Poor rainfall, reduced harvests, livestock losses, reduced foreign aid, high food prices, and weaker household purchasing power is driving this worsening hunger crisis in Baidoa, said Save the Children.

The deterioration in hunger and malnutrition also comes as Somalia marks 15 years since a famine was declared 20 July 2011, killing over 250,000 people, about half of them children under five.

Admissions to the centre’s outpatient programme, which treats moderate acute malnutrition cases also saw a sharp 268% increase in the first four months of the year. However, stock-outs of ready-to-use therapeutic food and other essential supplies due to aid cuts and the conflict in the middle east has meant that families are no longer able to receive treatment and many have stopped going to the centre, Save the Children said, leading to a sharp decline in admissions from April onwards [2].

While faced with a worsening drought and hunger crisis, aid organizations are also grappling with steep funding shortfalls, with more than 300 nutrition facilities reportedly closed across Somalia this year [3], reducing access to treatment for vulnerable children and families. This has caused a dangerous decline in number of people receiving humanitarian assistance, with only 12% of people in need being reached [4].

In May, data from the global hunger monitor, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), showed that about half of children under 5 in Somalia are facing acute malnutrition with Burhakaba district in the Bay region of southwest Somalia classified to be facing the risk of famine through June 2026 – the first time such a classification has been announced in Somalia since the devastating drought of 2022.

As well as hunger, disease outbreaks are multiplying the risks for children in Somalia, with the outbreaks of measles, cholera and acute watery diarrhoea worsening malnutrition among children. The Federal Government of Somalia declared a drought emergency in November 2025, its first such declaration since the country narrowly averted famine in 2022, but resources are still outpacing needs.

Aisha-, 27, whose two-year-old daughter Ayan- was treated for severe acute malnutrition at the centre after the family was displaced by drought, said:

“We used to depon farming and livestock keeping. However, the drought affected our livelihoods and forced us to leave our home and move to Baidoa.

“My two-year-old daughter, Ayan-, became seriously ill. Her illness began with a fever and later developed into diarrhoea and sores in her mouth.

“When we first arrived, she was not eating anything. However, after receiving treatment, she began eating well. She even started asking for the food I was eating.”

Mustaf, a doctor at the Save the Children-supported stabilisation centre in Baidoa, said:

“This year, the number of children we are treating has doubled or even tripled compared with previous years, mainly because of the severe drought. Pastoralists have lost their livestock and farmers have suffered repeated crop failures.

“We depheavily on humanitarian assistance from organisations such as Save the Children. Should that assistance decrease, we will be unable to continue providing essential services. Medicines and equipment will run short, and many children whose lives could have been saved may not receive the treatment they need.”

Mohamud Mohamed Hassan, Save the Children's Country Director in Somalia, said:

“Fifteen years ago, the world watched Somalia's children die in a famine that early warnings failed to stop. Today those warnings are flashing again in the same regions, and the children reaching our centre in Baidoa are more severely ill than we have seen in years.

“The difference between a warning and a tragedy is whether the response arrives in time. In 2011 it did not. We cannot let Bay Region's children pay that price twice.”

“We know how to prevent this. What is missing is not knowledge but funding and speed. If assistance reaches Bay Region now, these children will recover and go home. If it comes late, we will be counting a cost we promised in 2011 never to repeat. The world now has to match that urgency.”

Save the Children is calling for an urgent and sustained scale-up of food security, nutrition, health and water and sanitation assistance in Bay region and other hotspots, and for the funding needed to reach children before Burhakaba crosses the line into famine.

Save the Children has worked in Somalia since 1951, delivering health, nutrition, education, child protection and emergency assistance for children and their families. The New Zealand Government currently supports Save the Children to deliver unconditional cash assistance and child protection prevention and response services to households in Somalia facing severe food insecurity through its Disaster Response Partnership.

NOTES:

[1] Baidoa admissions figures are drawn from Save the Children's own programme data, January to June 2026, compared with the same period in 2025.

[2] Cases to the outpatient programme: 1167 cases in April, 317 in May and 520 in June, caused by critical delays and stock-outs of ready-to-use therapeutic food and other essential supplies used in treatment.

[3] Save the Children, “When Aid Disappears, Childhood Disappears Too”, 28 April 2026.

[4] IPC Somalia Acute Food Insecurity and Acute Malnutrition Projection Update, April to June 2026, issued 14 May 2026: about half of children under five acutely malnourished; Burhakaba at risk of famine; humanitarian assistance reaching only 12 percent of people in IPC Phase 3 or above.

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

The PSA is standing by its ‘change the Government’ postcard campaign after issuing fresh advice to members – this follows Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche complaining the postcards breached political neutrality and should not be displayed in public service workplaces.

“We are not retreating from our position and reject Sir Brian’s characterisation of the postcards,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, PSA National Secretary Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

“Our legal advice is that they do not breach the obligations on public servants to be politically neutral and reflects the rights of public service workers to freedom of expression under the Bill of Rights.

“Our members have the same rights of political expression as any other New Zealander, and for many election cycles they have shared union material at work consistently with their duty to be politically neutral in how they do their jobs. That has not changed.”

The fresh advice sent to members confirms that the campaign will continue. Members can take postcards home to share with family and fri, and can share them with workmates, but should not leave or display them anywhere open to the public. Members are advised to keep doing their jobs impartially, not to use workplace resources for election activity, and, where practical, to cover or remove work lanyards or identifying items if atting rallies.

The PSA disputes the Commissioner’s view that the postcards amount to election advertising and is seeking further independent legal advice on the matter.

“It’s a bit rich for Sir Brian to lecture us on political neutrality when his own investigation into the Commission’s anti-strike Facebook adverts is well overdue, and has already cost tens of thousands of dollars,” Fitzsimons said.

“That review is due to report shortly. New Zealanders will be able to judge then for themselves whether it has delivered any real accountability.

“We welcome Sir Brian agreeing to meet with us to discuss this. We’re always ready for a genuine conversation, but political neutrality must be a standard the Commission holds itself to as well.

“And we stand by our campaign – we need to change the Government to one that properly values a public service and equips it to meet the many challenges New Zealanders face. This government has done nothing but run it down, cast thousands out of work, and eroded the services New Zealanders rely on.

“The Government plans 9000 more job cuts so we are sing a loud and clear message that enough is enough and come 7 November we urge voters to change the Government.”

Background on Facebook advertising issue:

19 December 2025 Explosive document dump days out from Christmas exposes Govt’s cynical attack on striking workers

1 December 2025 PSA welcomes external review of Public Service Commission strike adverts – PM now needs to intervene in health disputeThe Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

Source: Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage

New stories, videos and personal accounts about the Dawn Raids are now available online, giving New Zealanders new ways to engage with this important chapter in our history.

Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH) Senior Pacific Historian Rachel Yates says Dawn Raids material published on the NZ History website helps make this history easier to access and understand.

“Understanding Dawn Raids brings together a historical essay, newly digitised video clips from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, and other resources that help people understand the causes, impacts and legacy of the Dawn Raids.”

The platform includes a talanoa section that draws on the Pacific practice of open, respectful storytelling and conversation. Through these community voices, people such as the late To‘alepai Lui Tautolo share their lived experiences of racism, migration, work, family, and Pacific community life. This helps audiences understand the Dawn Raids not only as historical events, but as experiences whose impacts and legacy continue to be felt today.

“The timeline and talanoa content give people multiple ways to connect with this history through key events, community stories, project stories, and teacher guides that support learning and discussion.”

Alongside the Understanding Dawn Raids platform, Pacific community contributors are writing a series of biographies of Pacific pioneers for the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. The latest profile, published recently, focuses on Pacific activist and community leader Vui Steve Niumata.

“Work on new biographies will continue, and a new print history of the Dawn Raids is planned for 2027. These projects build on ongoing work to record and share Pacific histories,” says Yates.

Understanding Dawn Raids

Vui Steve Niumata biography

Dawn Raids Historical Account Package

Understanding Dawn Raids is part of a wider programme of work developed by Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage following the Government's 2021 Dawn Raids Apology. The programme is being delivered in partnership with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples and Pacific communities.

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

• Afghan refugees in Pakistan are living under constant fear of detention, loss of livelihood, and deportation
• The Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan's (IFRP's) impact on refugees' access to healthcare is concerning, as refugees are delaying or foregoing medical care out of fear of arrest
• MSF urges the Government of Pakistan to ensure refugees are not forcibly returned to Afghanistan under the IFRP and further urges countries hosting Afghan refugees to halt all involuntary returns to Afghanistan.

30 July 2026 – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders (MSF) urges the Government of Pakistan to ensure refugees are not forcibly returned to Afghanistan under the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) and to establish formal exemptions for individuals with international protection needs.

MSF is deeply concerned about the IFRP’s impact on refugees’ access to healthcare. Refugees told MSF teams they are delaying or foregoing medical care out of fear of arrest and to avoid documentation checks at health facilities. This has led to preventable health issues, including cases of malnutrition and pregnancy complications.

MSF spoke with Najib*, an Afghan refugee arrested during a police raid on his home, despite showing his Proof of Registration (PoR) card.

“My wife was three months pregnant when the police took me. When I was released and came home the next day, she was still out of her mind. She told me that she had started bleeding very heavily because of stress and deep sadness. My mind was filled with so many images: the picture of the arrest, the trauma, the mental anguish from the previous night—everything was racing through my brain. But, just to save my wife’s life, I acted despite the fear. I finally decided I had to go to the hospital, but I was terrified that they would arrest me again. I rushed her to the doctor, but we were too late. My wife had already had a miscarriage.”

The policy has undermined people’s ability to provide for their families, as people lose work and income amid fears of arrest and deportation. In early 2026, MSF ran mobile clinics for communities with no access to healthcare in Quetta, Balochistan, and identified a high burden of acute malnutrition among children seeking care, with 33.3% meeting the criteria for global acute malnutrition. Among those screened, 7.6 percent had severe acute malnutrition and 25.7 percent had moderate acute malnutrition. Nearly 90 percent of malnourished patients were Afghan refugees, most of them women and children.

The Government of Pakistan began implementing the IFRP in November 2023, initially targeting undocumented Afghan nationals and later extending to documented refugees holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) or Proof of Registration (PoR)—many of whom had lived in the country since 1979. In a July 10, 2026 directive, Pakistan authorities ordered the immediate arrest and accelerated deportation of all Afghan nationals without a valid visa.

“Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for over 45 years despite limited international support,” says den Hartogh. “Yet Afghan refugees live under constant fear of arrest, detention, eviction, loss of livelihood, and deportation. This makes it unlikely that many of the returns to Afghanistan are truly voluntary”. Over 2.5 million Afghans have returned to Afghanistan under the IFRP so far, many involuntarily, according to UNHCR. The UN recently identified over 70,000 Afghan refugees at imminent risk if returned. “It is critical that individuals with protection needs are not deported and that returns are voluntary, safe, and dignified,” says den Hartogh.

Between 2023 and 2026, roughly 6 million Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan, straining Afghanistan’s fragile healthcare system. The systematic erasure of women and girls from public life, sweeping U.S aid cuts and wider funding declines, an overstretched health system, and a deepening economic crisis compound the challenges returnees face to reintegrate.

MSF assessments of informal returnee settlements in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province in October 2025 and April 2026 found a lack of basic healthcare, inadequate shelter, undernutrition, and poor sanitation—increasing outbreak risk.

MSF urges countries hosting Afghan refugees to halt all involuntary returns to Afghanistan and ensure return processes do not undermine the protection and safety of refugees.

“We urge the Government of Pakistan to renew its long-standing solidarity with refugees and formally adopt mechanisms to identify and protect those at risk of harm upon return,” says Marko den Hartogh, MSF’s Head of Mission in Pakistan. “This must include women and girls, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, those needing urgent or long-term medical care, refugees awaiting resettlement, and others at heightened risk of marginalization, discrimination, or persecution.”

*Name changed to protect confidentiality and privacy

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au

Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua

30 July 2026

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua welcomes the elevation of Byron Pepper to the role of Deputy Chair of its Board. Mr Pepper was appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance for a term of four years, from 20 July 2026 to his current term end date of 30 June 2030.

Mr Pepper has been a Director of the RBNZ Board since 1 July 2022. He has served as Chair of the Financial Policy Committee since its establishment and previously chaired the Financial Stability Oversight Committee.

A highly experienced independent investment banking advisor and director, Mr Pepper has significant expertise in advising corporate and government clients, particularly in the financial services sector across New Zealand, Australia and internationally, with an investment banking career spanning over 25 years.

He holds a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Management Studies (Finance) from the University of Waikato.

“The appointment of Byron to Deputy Chair recognises his sustained contribution to RBNZ's governance, including his leadership in the establishment of the FPC and his oversight of the review of bank capital during 2025. I'm pleased to welcome him to the role and look forward to the continued value he will bring,” says RBNZ Chair Rodger Finlay.

Mr Pepper will remain as Chair of RBNZ's Financial Policy Committee.

More information:

• Our Board members
• Financial Policy Committee

Source: New Zealand Defence Force

30 July 2026

Eight New Zealand Army instructors have deployed to Timor-Leste where they will help build foundational soldier skills in an all-female Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL) platoon group.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) was invited by the F-FDTL to contribute eight personnel to help deliver training at Baucau Military Base.

The training course has been developed with Australia’s in-country Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) and will be delivered by instructors from the F-FDTL, Australia’s DCP and the NZDF.

Land Component Commander, Brigadier Jason Dyhrberg, says the invitation to provide NZ Army instructors was a great opportunity for the NZDF to maintain the strong connection that it has with Timor-Leste, and to help F-FDTL soldiers enhance their warfighting skills.

The eight personnel are all current instructors in New Zealand.

Senior contingent representative, Sergeant Tinelle Walker, says they are looking forward to sharing their knowledge and experience.

“Our main goal is to train and develop the individual foundation warfighting skills required of a section member within a platoon operating environment which will strengthen F-FDTL capability,” Sergeant Walker said.

This will include instructing the F-FDTL soldiers in weapon handling, section battle drills, radio telephone procedures, navigation, and other essential soldiering skills.

“The deployment provides an opportunity to work alongside partner nations, share knowledge, and further strengthen the relationship between New Zealand, Australia and Timor-Leste,” she said.

As none of the New Zealand team members have previously deployed to Timor-Leste, they were looking forward to representing the NZDF to a high standard, demonstrating the professionalism and values of the NZDF while also taking the opportunity to learn more about the country’s culture, traditions, and customs.