A Royal New Zealand Air Force NHIndustries NH90 takes off after dropping off New Zealand Defense Force soldiers in preparation to receive artillery as part of Exercise Kiwi Koru Nov. 14, 2014, outside of Whangamonona, New Zealand. Exercise Kiwi Koru is designed to enhance defense relations between the United States and New Zealand, advance interoperability between U.S. and New Zealand forces and increase the readiness of both militaries to respond to regional crises. Approximately 60 Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks and 40 Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force trained alongside approximately 600 New Zealand Defence Force soldiers from the 1st New Zealand Brigade.