The New Zealand Air Force can be called on at any time to drop supplies into war zones or after disaster strikes, when landing and unloading are impossible.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force has delivered donated water tanks to the Chatham Islands.
A C-130 Hercules delivered ten 1000-litre tanks on Thursday.
The tanks, which have been donated by
Paul and Donna Kerridge, are to be used to supplement water supplies at Saint Barnabas Shelter and a community garden.
They will also be used by whanau who do not have sufficient fresh water facilities to enable them to live on their land.
Squadron Leader Matt Rieper said the delivery was part of No. 40 Squadron s flying programme to maintain crew currencies. We have to keep our aircrews current in a range of flying skills so it was great to be able to use one of these flights to go to the Chathams and deliver these water tanks, he said.