New Zealand Defence Force personnel are helping improve water storage and sanitation in Tonga.

The group is part of a multinational task group led by New Zealand Defence Force personnel which is undertaking community projects as part of a humanitarian activity focused on disaster relief operations.

The multinational task force made up of soldiers from Australia, United States, New Zealand and China are focused on disaster relief work in Tonga. Photos: Supplied.

Exercise Tropic Twilight 2016, is a recurring activity conducted this year in Tonga's Ha'apai group of islands from July 7-29. New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is funding the projects being delivered as part of the New Zealand Aid Programme.

The humanitarian activity also involves military personnel from Tonga, the United States, China, France and Australia.

'The Ha'apai island group suffered greatly during Cyclone Ian in 2014. Two years on, there are still a number of projects that can be undertaken to bring relief to the local people,” said Lieutenant Colonel Josh Wineera, senior National Officer for the contingent.

Josh says 10,000-litre water storage tanks will be installed at churches, the fire station and city hall in Pangai, the administrative capital of the Ha'apai island group.

A toilet consisting of three cubicles for women and two for men will also be built near the Pangai Ferry Terminal, a high-traffic location.

'Both projects will be of tremendous benefit to the community. The water tanks will enable them to increase the amount of potable water they store to about 50,000 litres.

'The new public toilets will also improve sanitation as the toilets in the nearby fish market were damaged by the cyclone,” Josh says.

An environmental health team will carry out a mosquito eradication programme to reduce diseases such as dengue and zika. Small-scale dental training will also be provided.

'Tropic Twilight demonstrates New Zealand's continuing commitment in the Pacific region,” Major General Tim Gall, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand says.

'It is also a fresh opportunity to work with our Tongan and other international partners and strengthen those relationships that will help us work better in the future.”

About 60 New Zealand personnel, nearly half of whom are engineers and trades people from the New Zealand Army's 2^nd Engineer Regiment, will be working alongside military engineers from Tonga's Armed Forces, the People's Liberation Army of China and the United States Army.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Forces Armees de Nouvelle-Caledonie will also contribute key capabilities in support of Tropic Twilight. The New Zealand contingent includes medical, dental and logistics specialists.