This documentary pays tribute to the New Zealand peacekeepers stationed in East Timor (also known as Timor-Leste) from 1999 to 2002. Presented by Ewen “Westie” Gilmour and Andrew “Radar” Lumsden, the film follows the peacekeepers through their mission from their first days in East Timor right through to the impact of their presence in the Cova Lima district and Suai. The film shows the events leading to the distraught East Timorese fleeing their country and the role Aotearoa New Zealand played in bringing security to the people of the Cova Lima district near the border with Western Timor.
During this time, more than 6000 Navy, Army and Air Force personnel from the New Zealand Defence Forces were deployed to East Timor, with six Army and eleven Air Force rotations, as part of an international coalition force. Alongside the New Zealand battalion were Fijian, Irish, Nepalese and Singaporean Armed Forces personnel, who served to provide security for the people of East Timor on the path to the country becoming an independent nation and the 191st member of the United Nations. The troops consumed 93,600 loaves of bread, 1,170,000 eggs, 51,480 chickens, 78,000 pottles of yogurt and 156 tonnes of potatoes and 60,000 tonnes of flour was used for cooking.
During the conflict, five New Zealand lives were lost - Warrant Officer (WO2) Tony Walser, Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Billy White, Private (Pte) Leonard Manning, Private (Pte) Boyd Atkins and Private (Pte) Dean Johnston. On 10 February 2003, an East Timor Homecoming Parade marched through central Wellington to pay tribute to the New Zealand peacekeepers.
Interviewees: General Peter Cosgrove, Ewen Gilmour, Andrew “Radar” Lumsden, Xanana Gusmao, Kevin Burnett, Colonel Martin Drainsfield, Mike King, Squadron Leader Mike Lefebvre, Squadron Leader Russell Mardon, Colonel Bowen, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Neale, Air Marshall Bruce Ferguson, Lieutenant Colonel Dean Brigent.