A team of New Zealand Defence doctors, dentists and nurses has provided medical and dental services to the people in Niuatoputapu as part of the United States-led humanitarian and disaster relief exercise, known as 'Pacific Partnership 2011'.

About 20 of the defence medical experts, including dentists arrived in the northern outer island of Tonga onboard the ship HMNZS Canterbury and carried out first aid courses, clinics and health hygiene course onshore from April 11-18.

Another team of nine defence dentists carried out preventive dentistry and dental exams of over 200 patients including 150 school children. Local parents, teachers and students also learned preventive dental and medical care and were also given toothbrushes.

Niuatoputapu has a population of 800 people with only one dental therapist, Lusia Salt, who said it was great to have the support of the defence force dentists.

"It is more than a huge help to me and families here", she said.

The Officer in Command of the dental section Major Tiffany Logan said it was important to teach and promote dental health for the school children.

"Our goal is to leave a lot of knowledge that enables the people here to prevent further avoidable health issues", she said.

Other work conducted by the New Zealanders at Niuatoputapu included installing water tanks and upgrading school facilities at Hihifo and Falehau.

The development work carried out in Tonga as part of the Pacific Partnership received funding of $250,000 from NZAID.

Deputy New Zealand High Commissioner in Nuku'alofa Dominic Walton-France said on April 21, that the HMNZS Canterbury had concluded its mission to Tonga, and would go to Vanuatu to provide similar assistance under the US led Pacific mission.