Multi-national Chopper and Naval force assisting in Kaikoura Earthquake evacuation

Choppers from 4 Nations assist with evacuation at Kaikoura

More snaps of the multinational military co-operation in evacuating affected people from Kaikoura after the 7.4 earthquake left the popular sea side resort holiday isolated and several thousand trapped.

Australia, Canada, the US and NZ military forces have been deployed to assist with the evacuation of visitors and injured, and resupply the residents. Water supplies were running low in particular, and inclement weather made access from both air and land almost impossible.

Photos from the NZ Defence Force (not mine, shared on their facebook page) show commanders of the vessels arriving, supplies being dropped. A feast for the eyes of naval helicopter observers and aircraft nuts.

I find it interesting to see that protesters were protesting at a military convention in Auckland while their own military and also foreign military were required to save the lives and help in the evacuation of quake affected New Zealanders.

We all rely on the military when things turn to custard. Yup, there is justification on spending money on military hardware. Its not about making war, but also keeping the peace and deterring those who may see us as a push-over. And doing the hard yakka and saving when the chips are down.

Without hawks there will be peace for the doves to coo in.
Who will you turn to when the going gets tough?
Seems memories are very short in peace-time.

Earthquakes and RNZAF Choppers put to good use

Earthquakes in NZ: Air force choppers see use, and international Naval aid steam in

An earthquake measuring 7.5 on the richter scale rocked NZ's North and South islands, causing slips in the hills surrounding Kaikoura, thrusting the sea-bed up, and isolating the township. 

Visitors and locals alike were trapped in the town. Locals resorted to serving the abundant crayfish of the area to hungry people. 

NZ deployed their NH90 military helicopters, and the USS Sampson (DG102, a guided missle destroyer) has sailed down from Auckland to assist with it's two on-board choppers:

 The USS Sampson was scheduled to arrive in Auckland to celebrate the Navy's 75th birthday but will now respond to the disaster in Kaikoura. The historic visit from American warship is the first in 33 years since the ANZUS security alliance break-up due to NZ's stance on nuclear powered and armed vessels.

NZ Prime Minister John Key arriving in Kaikoura

Australia is also sending a ship to Kaikoura, HMAS Darwin which has a Seahawk helicopter to support the evacuation effort.

The HMNZS Wellington is off Kaikoura to survey the sea bed, The HMNZS Canterbury is also on its way to Kaikoura and docked at at 9am. The HMNZS Te Kaha and the a frigate the HMNZS Endeavour will assist with quake recovery as well.

NZ's largest ship, the HMNZS Canterbury is in Kaikoura assisting

HMAS Darwin in Sydney