NZ approves Penrhyn relief flight

A RNZAF C-130 Hercules was set to return to the Cook Islands last night to make a relief flight to Penrhyn today.

The Hercules will deliver chainsaws, tarpaulins, construction material, emergency food supplies, fuel and telecommunication equipment.

Government requested the relief flight on Tuesday after tropical depression 11F caused damage to homes and buildings on Sunday night.

Penrhyn has been affected by bad weather for almost a month. Since Cyclone Nisha, the island has also been affected by Cyclones Oli, Pat and Rene.

Nicola Ngawati, acting head of mission at the NZ High Commission, said an assessment of available places for a government delegation on the plane would be carried out before it departs for Penrhyn.

Finance minister and Penrhyn MP Wilkie Rasmussen is hoping to be on the relief flight along with a team of officials to assess the damage on the island. He put the initial plan for a $20,000 government charter flight, which was to depart Tuesday, on hold following the request to the NZ government for assistance.

The Hercules is likely to overnight in Penrhyn before returning to pick up the 12-person NZ Defence Force field engineering team and their equipment in Aitutaki. The defence team has been based in Aitutaki since Monday last week to assist with relief efforts following Cyclone Pat.

The team includes electricians, a builder, heavy plant operators, a plumber and field engineers. These wide ranging skills have been used to assist the island administration restore power, provide drinking clean water, construct emergency shelters and make repairs to the schools and hospital.

The Hercules will also replenish emergency relief supplies on Rarotonga used in the response to Cyclone Pat.