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Troops due home today after peacekeeping efforts in Tonga

1.30pm Saturday December 2, 2006

New Zealand soldiers who went to Tonga to help authorities there restore order last month, arrive home today.

The 71 soldiers were sent to Tonga a fortnight ago after the Tongan Government asked for help when riots in the capital Nuku'alofa left eight people dead after youths torched many buildings, overturned cars and began looting.

They joined a similar number of Australia soldiers to work alongside Tonga defence force soldiers to restore calm.

Their first task was to restore order at the Fau'amotu Airport and allow commercial flights to resume.

They also undertook limited patrols on the streets of the capital Nuku'alofa, said the army.

A team of New Zealand police also went to Tonga to help investigate the looting and unrest which saw nearly 80 per cent of the commercial buildings in the capital damaged or destroyed.

The rioting youths were angry at the lack of political reforms in the semi-feudal society.

- NZPA