Treating troops in New Caledonia

Providing medical treatment to the 130-strong Ship's Company onboard HMNZS CANTERBURY while deployed in New Caledonia is very much business as usual for Ohope man, Able Medic (AMED) Matt Pirini.

Matt, a former Trident High School pupil, is one of three medics on-board HMNZS CANTERBURY, the Royal New Zealand Navy's amphibious support ship.


Leading Writer Chris Baldwin and Able Medic Matt Pirini (right) attending to a patient in the sickbay during a casualty exercise onboard HMNZS CANTERBURY during Exercise Croix du Sud.


Able Medic Matt Pirini working in HMNZS CANTERBURY's sick bay during Exercise Croix du Sud in New Caledonia.

The medical team is responsible for providing immediate medical support to the NZDF contingent participating in Exercise Croix du Sud.

It's the second multinational exercise this year for AMED Pirini, arriving in New Caledonia after spending six weeks in Hawaii for Exercise RIMPAC, the largest multinational exercise the NZDF will be a part of this year.

Matt says Exercise Croix du Sud gives him the ability to build relationships and compare notes with his counterparts in the Canadian Armed Forces, French Armed Forces and US Marines.

'These multinational exercises expose us to other military medics and their operating teams and capability.

'The French doctors on board during Exercise Croix du Sud have given us an added scope of practice, and shared their experiences of time spent in the field.”

Matt holds an Auckland University of Technology Diploma in Health Sciences and Diploma in Paramedicine, both funded by the NZDF.

He is also a member of the Navy's Alpine Club, and says that the NZDF challenges him both mentally and physically, citing his hobbies as hiking, snowboarding and surfing.

'The lifestyle and the ability to make a positive difference is what I enjoy most about my role.

'Great mates and being paid to travel the world is just the icing on the cake.”

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