Pacific

Military plane carries more aid for cyclone-hit island

11:53 am on 9 January 2004

A second New Zealand Air Force Hercules plane has left Whenuapai Airbase in Auckland for Niue.

The flight brings more medical and food supplies for the island, which is recovering from the destruction brought by Cyclone Heta.

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff says the ten skilled volunteer workers on board, include Telecom Engineers.

"Some of them'll be there, you know, probably, for a week or so, others may be able to get in and out much more quickly. But there'll be ongoing C-130 flights up between New Zealand and Niue, as we start the rebuilding process, and one of the things we've really got to do is to try and re-establish communications."