New Zealand Defence Force personnel have sent Christmas messages as they spend the holidays far away from their loved ones.
From as far flung as Egypt and South Sudan to South Korea and Antarctica, active duty NZDF troops are spending the day without their whānau – some for the first time.
“Yeah, it is actually my first Christmas away from the family,” Major Matthew Horn, who’s stationed in South Sudan, told 1News.
There are currently 140 NZDF personnel spread across the world on 12 different missions.
For the team at Scott’s Base, Christmas décor is fuelling the festive spirit.
“We’ve decorated our bar and our dining hall with Christmas trees and decorations and everything,” flight sergeant Rebekah Richardson said.
“But our big event is the Christmas dinner and our chefs have been planning it for about a month now, so it’s going to be pretty epic.”
As for what’s on the menu, Richardson said they were “just not asking so that it is a surprise”. Horn said their Christmas spread would include Bengali and Nepalese food.
“I’m pretty sure the Fijians will put on a big roast with roast veggies and stuff,” he added.
For flight lieutenant Aaron Trevean, who’s stationed in South Korea, it could involve “a Kiwi barbecue on the snow”.
For decades, the Returned and Services Association (RSA) has sent care packages to those serving overseas, and this year is no different.
“We haven’t opened them yet. We’re going to wait ’til Christmas Day to start this surprise,” Richardson said.
Horn admitted to ruining his surprise early.
“We weren’t supposed to open them, but I opened my one and got a pretty cool Christmas card from a young girl named Victoria,” he said.