N.Z. police experts for Vanuatu

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 10

N.Z. police experts for Vanuatu

‘PA Wellington i Police Headquarters are (gathering a team of police I experts for a tour of duty in (Vanuatu, formerly the New (Hebrides. I Four police officers will be sent to the Pacific trouble spot, which emerged as an independent nation when the condominium of Britain and France came to an end last July', an informed source has told the Press Association. The team will comprise a chief inspector, inspector, senior-sergeant, and sergeant. It is believed the team will take its orders from an Australian police commissioner stationed at Port Vila and working in close co-ope-ration with the Vanuatu : Government headed by the Prime Minister (The Rev. Walter Lihi). An official announcement about New Zealand police involvement is expected to :

be made by the Government in two to three weeks. It is thought the New Zealanders will be used mainly in an advisory capacity. Applications for duty in Vanuatu have been sought through internal police communications. A high standard of police service in New Zealand has been demanded. Sources say a number of applications have been received. A request for police assistance from New Zealand was put to the Minister of State (Mr Thomson) by Mr l.ini during independence celebrations at Port Vila last JulySoon after that the .New] Zealand Government sent a police officer to Vanuatu to I assess the situation. The decision to go ahead: with further assistance was! apparently based on this officer’s report, which has not yet been made public.