A New Zealand Defence Force Hercules has taken off for Europe on a deployment to distribute donated military aid for Ukraine.
The Defence Force Hercules at Whenuapai Air Base on Wednesday as it is readied to leave for Europe. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Bond
The C-130 Hercules carrying nine personnel took off from Whenuapai Air Base on Auckland on Wednesday morning.
The remaining 41 troops will go on commercial flights.
The deployment is New Zealand's biggest to Europe since the early 1990s and will be stationed there for two months.
Defence Minister Peeni Henare was at the air force base and said the Hercules would arrive in Europe in about five days after making stops along the way.
Defence Force staff would help with logistics, and neither staff nor the Hercules were intended to go into Ukraine, he said.
"We will continue to be responsive to the co-ordination led by the UK and the need to support Ukraine."
"We've made it clear in the mandate we've sought from Cabinet and government that we are to not enter into Ukraine. But of course, as the prime minister's already said, Cabinet will continue to monitor the situation and will remain agile enough to make decisions as required."
Henare said sending troops to help, albeit at arm's length, was a proportionate response from New Zealand to what is a blatant attack on a sovereign country.
"Our counterparts and our partners around the world [are] extremely positive for New Zealand's contribution... our contribution spans military, economic and humanitarian."
Commander Joint Forces Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour expected the military aid would be delivered via main supply routes into Western Ukraine.
"None of our people will be entering Ukraine, we'll be moving capabilities to wherever they're required provided that it is safe for us to do so," he said on Tuesday.
RNZAF Auckland base commander group captain Andy Scott said the staff deployed had a wide range of skills.
"Enough air crew to make up an entire second crew, so we can sustain a high rate of effort. We also take maintenance personnel on board that can help with any minor things that need doing and help with refuelling, logistics support teams and then we have the intelligence staff as well."
Although the military's Hercules aircraft fleet was ageing, Gilmour said he was confident the aircraft would be up to the task.
The five Air Force C-130s - all over 50 years old - will be retired in the next two years. At one point in 2019 not a single one was available because they all needed maintenance or upgrades.
Scott was confident the plane could be relied on.
"We've got every confidence that the C-130s are up to the job. As you know they're an older aircraft now - the aircraft going is a 1965 version. It's a little bit like Grandad's axe - there have been lots of things replaced over time which brings it right up to date with 2022 standards."
The government is sending $7.5 million to the United Kingdom to procure weapons and ammunition as part of its latest suite of supports.
Cabinet also agreed to extend New Zealand's financial contribution by an extra $13 million - including the weapon and ammunition funding.
The new measures bring New Zealand's total contribution to Ukraine to $30m and 67 people deployed.
