Aid flight for Cook Islands delayed

Photo: JASON OXENHAM Photo: JASON OXENHAM Photo: JASON OXENHAM

HERCULES: Set for the Cook Islands.

DELAYED PLANE: Ready for take off in the afternoon.

AID FOR RAROTONGA: bundled on to the plane.

« Previous« PreviousNext »Next »

An air force Cyclone Pat aid flight to Rarotonga delayed when the aid did not turn up is expected to take off about 4pm.

A Hercules was to fly to the Cook Islands at 10am but was left sitting on the tarmac at Whenuapai while aid was being bought and certified.

But the International Response Group sourced aid is now being loaded on to the plane and the air force says the plane should fly out this afternoon.

The Cook Islands Government asked the New Zealand Air Force to transport emergency relief supplies after the region was hit by Cyclone Pat on February 11.

The air force will fly up 8.5 tonnes of aid that includes food, water purification tablets, blankets, shelter, chainsaws and ladders.

"It will be aid to not only provide immediate relief, but also to help with the clean up," says 40 Squadron Leader Andy Scott.

He said the delay was not unusual "given that the task did not come through until yesterday afternoon".

Earlier reports that the delay was related to the New Zealand Red Cross were incorrect.

- © Fairfax NZ News