FILE PHOTONew Zealand Defence Force has refused to tell south Aucklanders what to expect during a two-day military exercise taking place during the Alert Level 4 coronavirus lockdown. NZDF said the exercise, starting on Thursday April 16 in Papakura and south Auckland, would involve Army soldiers and Air Force helicopters. Chris McKeen/Chris Skelton An RNZAF P-3K2 dropped five Mark 82 anti-submarine munitions at its range near South Head, northwest of Auckland, in a 2016 training exercise. "The effects and restrictions of COVID-19 have meant that much of the Defence Force training activities have been reduced significantly in line with Government direction," it said. In May last year, a two-week Army exercise was suspended after an SAS trooper died following a training accident in Auckland.

Source: Stuff April 14, 2020 23:06 UTC