Australia and New Zealand on key readiness exercise

Australian Defence Force personnel have deployed across the ditch to New Zealand for Exercise SOUTHERN KATIPO, a stability and security exercise using amphibious forces.

The bilateral exercise involved approximately 150 Australian personnel operating in the Marlborough, Nelson and Buller districts of the South Island, New Zealand from 17 Oct to 24 Nov 15.

Vice Admiral David Johnston, Chief of Joint Operations, said Defence was a key contributor to the New Zealand Defence Force’s largest exercise to validate their amphibious capabilities.

“More than 150 ADF personnel participated, including Army’s Ready Combat Team from the 7th Brigade in Brisbane and Royal Australian Air Force C-130J aircraft,” VADM Johnston said.

“The exercise demonstrated our combined ability to respond to a humanitarian assistance or security situation within the South West Pacific region.

“It also provided an opportunity to exercise the Anzac Ready Reaction Force.”

The exercise rehearsed the establishment of a Combined Joint Task Force in order to support the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to conduct Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) and conduct Stability and Support Operations.

Defence contributed specialist support personnel to assist the NZDF plan, safely conduct and supervise activities throughout the exercise.

Along with the Ready Reaction Company the Australian Army contributed force enablers which include a civil military cooperation team and participants of a NZ commanded combined joint task group.

Source:  Defence Media