NZ medical team on route to Aceh

Corporal Roddy Arriagada and the Ohakea air movements team load a C-130 Hercules with medical supplies.

A New Zealand defence force medical team today set off to help deliver relief to survivors of the tsunami in Indonesia.

An Air Force C-130 Hercules left RNZAF Base Ohakea at 10am with 13 members of the medical team on board. Another 17 are flying to the region on civil aircraft.

The 30-strong team will form part of an ANZAC effort in Aceh, contributing urgent medical assistance.

After deploying the medical team, the Hercules will remain in the region to help with aid work.

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, and Defence Minister Mark Burton today farewelled the team.

Aceh suffered around 80,000 deaths in the Boxing Day tsunami.

- HERALD STAFF