Water supplies are are being sent to the Pacific nation of Tokelau, where drinking water is running out.
Tokelau and nearby Tuvalu have declared states of emergency because of an extended drought, and water and desalination equipment has already been sent to Tuvalu.
A Hercules left Ohakea on Thursday for American Samoa, where containers will be filled with drinking water by a United States coastguard vessel with an onboard desalination plant, then taken on the 36-hour journey to Tokelau.
The three atolls there are under the state of emergency because a severe La Nina weather pattern means there has been little rain.