Transcript
NATHAN MULI: It was a bit hard trying to get used to the climate itself, very cold, but after a couple of months' time I got used to it and yeah, it has been a home to me for the past seven months.
DOMINIC GODFREY: I gather you had a set-up for an ambush environment that you went through with one of the exercises, carrying quite large packs and so on in a winter environment. How was that for you?
NM: Yeah, it was one of the most challenging for me and it was during the winter when the snow was falling. It was my first time with that experience, and also it was very cold, down to negative two. It was just before coming to PNG during the winter.
DG: What is that setting you up for? How is that preparing you for life as an officer in the PNG Defence Force?
NM: Military in PNG, actually military all across the world, we don't usually operate in conditions that are suitable to us. Military, we operate in different types of terrain environment, and I'm very privileged to operate in a chilly cold condition which is part of being a military man. So it's a challenge but I have to face it, that's what I joined the army for.
DG: And I guess going back to PNG, being back in PNG now in the heat of the tropics, in the rain forest, into a different environment, that must be quite a challenge for you again acclimatising to that?
NM: Yes, but you know it's home and I have the advantage over the other Kiwi cadets so I have to push hard even though it's really hot up here in Papua New Guinea after being for so long in New Zealand. But then I've had different conditions, different terrain, different environment. That's what we are meant to operate so I just faced it full on.
DG: So how was it operating with different officer cadets, from different military services, from different countries? You've got another officer cadet there from Fiji, another from Tonga, and also Singapore and Australia. How has that been for you?
NM: That is one of the intentions of the defence forces in the western Pacific and the countries within the Pacific itself. So by working together we get to build that relationship, a long lasting relationship with us so we can work together in the future for example in humanitarian assistance and so on so it's good to know officer cadets from New Zealand. Australia, the other Pacific islands, and even Singapore as well.
DG: In terms of equipment, the combat equipment, IT equipment, communications equipment and so on, is this common in militaries across the south-west Pacific or are you using new equipment through working with the New Zealand military?
NM: Some of those equipment like radios, weapons capabilities, they're different. What we have in Papua New Guinea is different from what they have in New Zealand. So it's good to be training in a different country to know their capabilities as well.
DG: So how much longer have you got to go on the course and what have you yet to go ahead with?
NM: I have about two and a half months to go to graduation being around early December and we have one more exercise to go. So yeah, looking forward to that last exercise and hopefully graduate out from the Officer Cadet School of New Zealand.
