Photos: RNZAF Cook Islands aid delivery

The RNZAF Hercules prepares to fly out of the Rarotonga airport.

Air Force C130 Hercules aircraft of No 40 Squadron. BACK ROW: Destry Tumataiki, Daniel Swanson, Gareth Russell, Rob Ririnui, James Lawrence, Rodrigo Arriagada, Sean Smith, Richard Cranston and Christopher Els. FRONT ROW: Matt Rieper, Pania Johnston, Emma Glaze, Kylie Upton and Trevor Wainwright.

Captain Gareth Russell uses a Google map to research the nature of the rarely used crushed coral airstrip on Penrhyn.

Loadmaster Sgt. Rodrigo Arriagada checks the propellers on the Hercules as they fly to Penrhyn.

Leading aircraftsman Daniel Swanson onboard the Hercules as it arrives on the remote Cook Island island of Penrhyn.

Crew members Kylie Upton and Trevor Wainwright during the six hour Hercules flight to Rarotonga.

Loadmaster Sgt Rodrigo Arriagada performing a regular check on the Hercules hydraulics as they fly to Penrhyn.

Captain Gareth Russell circles the island of Rarotonga aboard the RNZAF Hercules.

Captain Gareth Russell makes a fly over on the Hercules to check out the crushed coral airstrip.

Captain Gareth Russell and co-captain Matt Rieper land the Hercules on the crushed coral airstrip of Penrhyn.

Loadmaster Sgt Destry Tumataiki on the airstrip at Penrhyn.

Loadmaster Sgt Rodrigo Arriagada at the rear of the Hercules as they arrive on the crushed coral airstrip of the remote Cook Island of Penrhyn.

Sgt Destry Tumataiki and Sgt Rodrigo Arriagada off-load packages on the airstrip at Penrhyn.

Kaihui Kaihui, a Penrhyn local, collects some of the packages from the NZ Air Force aid delivery mission.

Locals collect aid packages on Penrhyn.

Local children Matwina Tutavake an Tulia Mamia watch the collection of aid packages on the remote Cook Island island of Penrhyn.

On the edge of the airstrip, the locals on the remote Cook Island of Penrhyn take away aid packages.

The remote Cook Island of Penrhyn after Cyclone Pat.

A local on the dominant mode of transport on the remote Cook Island island of Penrhyn.

The faces of the children on the remote Cook Island island of Penrhyn after Cyclone Pat.

Julie Affleck of the NZ High Commission returns from the remote Cook Island of Penrhyn on the NZ Air Force Hercules.

Co-pilot Flying officer Matt Rieper at the stick as the Hercules returns from the remote Cook Island of Penrhyn.