8 Nations Destroy 7,550kg of WWII Bombs in Papua New Guinea

Communities in Papua New Guinea can finally breathe easier after an eight-nation military team destroyed thousands of deadly World War II explosives that have lurked in their backyards for more than eight decades.

Operation Render Safe brought together explosive disposal experts from New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States to tackle a problem that has threatened local families since 1945. The team safely destroyed about 2,200 bombs and munitions weighing 7,550kg in the Gazelle, Kokopo, and Rabaul districts.

The six-person New Zealand Defence Force team worked in hot, humid jungle conditions to move seriously degraded bombs to specially dug pits for safe destruction. Smaller, more stable bombs traveled by vehicle, while teams of several people carried larger munitions using slings.

"It's a challenging task, in a hot and humid jungle environment and with seriously degraded munitions that have spent 80 years exposed to the weather and sea salt," said New Zealand Army Captain C, who led the Kiwi contingent. "But it's an important task to ensure the safety of communities in these areas."

The explosives were identified during previous missions but continued to pose serious risks to locals going about their daily lives. Weather and sea salt had degraded the weapons over eight decades, making them unpredictable and dangerous.

Before deployment, the multinational team trained together in Australia to ensure seamless cooperation in Papua New Guinea's challenging conditions. This preparation paid off, allowing explosive ordnance disposal experts from different military traditions to work as one cohesive unit.

The Ripple Effect

Operation Render Safe has been quietly protecting Pacific communities for more than 20 years, with New Zealand playing a consistent role. Kiwi explosive disposal teams have undertaken similar life-saving work in Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Nauru in recent years.

The success of this mission strengthens security partnerships across the Pacific region. Every operation builds deeper trust and understanding between nations, ensuring teams can deploy together quickly when communities need help.

New Zealand's explosive ordnance disposal service draws experts from the Navy, Army, and Air Force. At home, these same teams regularly support New Zealand Police by assessing and disposing of improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance.

Families in East New Britain province can now farm their land, send their children to play, and build their futures without fear of accidentally triggering an 80-year-old bomb. That's the kind of security that transforms communities and creates lasting peace.

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