NZ peacekeepers return to Timor-Leste to make film

Twenty-five years ago: New Zealand troops preparing to board a UN helicopter to be airlifted into East Timor. Photo: Supplied / NZDF

Twenty-five years after deployment to East Timor, a group of New Zealand peacekeepers are returning to the country now known as Timor-Leste as part of a documentary.

Fifteen veterans travelled to Timor Leste on Friday accompanied by a documentary crew who are gathering material for an upcoming project.

• Read more: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/399188/20th-anniversary-of-nzdf-entering-timor-leste-to-restore-law-and-order 20th anniversary of NZDF entering Timor Leste to restore law and order]

Trip organiser Aaron Horrell said the group included the former section commander of Private Leonard Manning, who died in an ambush by pro-Indonesia militia in 2000.

Private Leonard Manning Photo: NZDF

He said that incident was New Zealand's first combat fatality since the Vietnam War, and brought home the risks the UN peacekeepers were facing.

Horrell said the group included former members of the army, navy, airforce and a police officer, who were all deployed to Timor Leste between 1999 and 2002.

The trip was funded by the funded by the Returned Services Association and Southland Community Trust.

The people travelling to Timor Leste were people who had had significant stories which were covered internationally during their deployment, Horrell said.

Former TV3 news presenter Mike McRoberts would narrate the documentary and travel with the group.

The group would be in Timor Leste from 19 to 28 July.

The group planned for the trip to end with McRoberts interviewing Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.