A New Zealand naval commander says military personnel from New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea have helped make Rabaul in East New Britain a safer place.
In a two week long operation more than 150 personnel have helped to safely dispose of a range of World War Two ordnance including unexploded bombs, shells, mortars, grenades and torpedoes.
The operation also involved the local community which helped locate the ordnance, while an awareness campaign on the dangers the old munitions pose was also conducted.
The commanding officer of HMNZS Wellington, Martin Doolan, says the support from the local community was a key factor in the success of the operation.