This Easter Lieutenant Wesley Moir is among the thousands of foreign defence personnel doing humanitarian work in Fiji.
He was among the first from the New Zealand Defence Force to have arrived in the Country.
Lieutenant Wesley Moir is even working this Good Friday co-coordinating military assets and humanitarian aid.
In the 7 years of his career with the New Zealand Navy, this is the first time he has been deployed to do humanitarian work.
The last time he saw his partner and parents was on the 22nd of February, this Easter they are still separated.
“It’s certainly challenging it is my first time away from my family in NZ over an Easter period,so that’s why we joined up the job,been able to come here and help the people of Fiji in one of the worst affected areas such as the Northern Lau group for New Zealand.It’s been an absolute pleasure to work alongside our Fijian partners.”
Working alongside the RFMF the New Zealand Defence force continues to make a difference in the lives of those affected.
“On the ground our engineers have been able to provide local support, rebuilding medical centers,schools and community buildings which has helped to get the core of the community back in line,which has been key to restoring normality back to the Fijian people”
Working seven days a week and sometimes till 9 in the evening. Moir is thankful for one distraction.
“So its actually blown me away how much of a rugby culture there is in Fiji,so there’s been plenty of rugby coverage for the Fijian rugby teams,its been great to see the Fijian 7’s rugby team doing so well in the World Cup. I’ve been monitoring that closely and NZ’s 2 points behind so it’s a very good contest at the moment,which should make some good coverage for NZ & Fiji when it comes to the clinching point.”
On the 15th of March 9 tonnes of food were delivered to communities on Vanuabalavu and Yacata by the New Zealand Defence Force.
Part of this delivery also included 15 tonnes of construction materials.