NZDF changes Southern Katipo 20 training exercise plans
The New Zealand Defence Forces (NZDF) confirmed on 29 May that its Southern Katipo 20 training exercise has been scaled back as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
It had been scheduled to take place in September and October 2020 in Coromandel and Bay of Plenty. However, the NZDF will now hold several smaller exercises from late 2020 until March 2021 instead of one single large-scale exercise involving all three services.
RAdm Jim Gilmour, Commander of Joint Forces New Zealand, said: ‘Unfortunately disruptions to individual and collective training due to restrictions put in place in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic mean the exercise cannot go ahead in its current form.’
Approximately 1,400 personnel were set to be deployed throughout Southern Katipo 20.
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