Doco to cover NZ’s military deployment to Timor

A documentary marking a significant milestone of New Zealand’s involvement in Timor-Leste will have a strong connection to Eastern and Northern Southland. 

Back to Timor will mark the 25th anniversary of the deployment of more than 5000 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel to the island between September 1999 and November 2002. 

Yesterday, documentary co-ordinator Aaron Horrell, from Mandeville, and a group of 18 returned to the country. 

They will begin filming a documentary which is centred on 15 Timor veterans revisiting the places they operated in.

New Zealand’s deployment in Timor was the largest contribution of NZDF personnel since the Korean War.

Sir Wayne Shelford and Mike McRoberts will also take part, along with a cameraman and film producer.

Mr Horrell is a returned veteran himself, having been deployed to Timor in 2000 and 2002.

"I’m looking forward to going back," Mr Horrell said.

"The reason for going now is that it is halfway through the dry season which will allow us to get around a lot more of the place." 

During the nine-day-journey the group will travel to Dili to visit museums and significant sites to capture New Zealand’s involvement in the conflict, he said.

From there they will travel to Suai in the Cova-Lima province.

"This is where the largest commitment of NZDF personal operated in — from the lowlands where the [temperature] would get into the high 40s, to the highlands where it was hot during the day but got cold at nights, especially during the rainy season."

The idea of the project had been many years in making, he said. 

He had taken photos and film footage during his deployment more than 20 years ago. 

"I knew that some day it would be important to tell the story." 

The Gore and Districts Memorial RSA had sponsored three local Timor veterans to travel for the documentary, he said. 

There were a further 14 Timor veterans registered with the Gore and Districts Memorial RSA.

Mr Horrell said a trailer had been released for the documentary and could be viewed on Vimeo. 

"Southland has been the largest contributor towards helping us get the funding needed to make this journey happen.

"Community Trust South have been very supportive. 

"They saw the application was unique and the trust saw the value in making a documentary to commemorate the 20th anniversary of New Zealand’s involvement in Timor-Leste, especially as it applied to people from Southland who had been involved."   

It is planned to show Back to Timor about Anzac Day next year.

ben.andrews@alliedpress.co.nz