4. Question No. 4—DefenceDAN ROSEWARNE (Labour) to the Minister of DefenceQuestion No. 4—Defence4. DAN ROSEWARNE (Labour) to the Minister of Defence: What contributions has the New Zealand Defence Force made to the response to Cyclone Gabrielle?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Defence): The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is uniquely capable of responding quickly to large civil emergencies. They're trained to operate in tough conditions and a variety of environments. They are disciplined well coordinated and have vehicles ships and aircraft as well as personnel trained to operate in difficult situations and quickly deploy to a disaster site. Currently the New Zealand Defence Force has more than 800 personnel deployed as part of Operation Awhina in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle. The New Zealand Defence Force has been providing logistics land and air transport search and rescue capabilities and reconnaissance and functions to assist the local and national civil defence effort. Dan Rosewarne: What contribution has the NZDF made on the East Coast?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The HMNZS Manawanui has been in Te Tai Rāwhiti coastal region. The ship has dropped off stores and provided support to communities currently isolated because of damage to roads and bridges. This has included transporting an emergency coordination centre generator and 440 litres of diesel in Tokomaru and Tolaga Bay. Last Friday a C-130 Hercules arrived in Gisborne with a water treatment plant to help restore water facilities and also assisted with supplying medical supplies including 80 oxygen bottles and electrical supply parts to assist in the reconnection of power. NH90 helicopters have also flown in vital water pump parts to help overcome the damage caused to pipes in the region.Dan Rosewarne: What contribution has the NZDF made in the Hawke's Bay?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: In the Hawke's Bay NH90 helicopters have delivered food fuel generators hygiene packs and vet and medical supplies to Tūtira Puketītiri Rissington Te Hāroto Marae and Waipapa Marae. These NH90s also supported health clinic teams to check on residents in isolated communities. Using NH90 helicopters NZDF personnel evacuated around 250 people in Hawke's Bay from around the Puketapu area as well as transporting other people from Gisborne to Wairoa and Napier. The HMNZS Canterbury arrived in Napier on Tuesday evening. It delivered a range of stores to support the response including five Bailey bridges utility vehicles generators gas bottles and emergency packs from Ngāi Tahu. NZDF staff have also conducted vehicle recoveries and ford crossing and bridge assessments in Dartmoor.Dan Rosewarne: What else are the NZDF doing to support the response to Cyclone Gabrielle?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: NZDF has carried out several land and air reconnaissance support operations to prove how accessible roads are across affected regions. Multiple NZDF teams remain in affected areas providing support to numerous Government agencies. The NZDF remains on standby for solid waste clean-up and disposal and New Zealand army high-mobility excavator equipment continues to assist NZDF movement throughout the affected areas to support delivery of aid to the community. The NZDF will also be supported by our international partners shortly with two Royal Australian Air Force planes arriving yesterday with 33 Royal Australian Air Force personnel to provide tasking support. We're also currently considering offers of support from Singapore and the French armed forces in New Caledonia to help support the response.