NZ soldiers help build a new road in PNG

The New Zealand Defence Force is helping the Papua New Guinea Defence Force to build a new 350 kilometre road linking Mount Hagen and Madang.

For the past month a 20 strong contingent of New Zealand army engineers and tradespeople has been mentoring PNG soldiers in road building techniques.

The gravel road, from the highlands to the north coast, will link over 100 remote mountain villages, cutting through dense forest and crossing the Bismarck mountain range.

Lieutenant Leroy Judge says the team has been teaching road building techniques, basic maintenance, and safety procedures.

He says the expertise of the New Zealand Army engineers is being used to provide technical assistance to the PNGDF to complete a project of national significance.