Vanuatu engineers led the way when disaster struck, now their Kiwi mentor is honoured

When a powerful earthquake tore through Port Vila in December last year, the people digging through the rubble were not outside rescuers flown in from overseas.

They were local Vanuatu engineers and emergency responders, working through damaged homes, worried families and their own fear to help save lives.

Their efforts are now being recognised through a royal honour awarded to New Zealand Army Warrant Officer Class 2 Rob Allen, whose work alongside the Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) Engineer Squadron has helped strengthen the country's disaster response capability.

Nelson-born Allen was named a recipient of the New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD) in this year's King's Birthday Honours.

Twelve Pasifika were among 178 New Zealanders honoured in this year's King's Birthday Honours.

The award recognises Allen's leadership during two major emergencies in Port Vila, including the response to a deadly 7.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the capital on 17 December last year.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Rob Allen, whose work with Vanuatu’s Mobile Force engineers has been recognised in the New Zealand King’s Birthday Honours for strengthening local disaster response capability in Port Vila. Photo/NZDF

But Allen says the achievements belong to the people of Vanuatu.

“Like most soldiers I am not great at receiving awards," he said in a statement. "I feel grateful to be nominated, that someone took the time to do that."

Official assessments have reinforced Allen’s account of the response.

The Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) praised the VMF Engineer Squadron’s work during the earthquake response.

Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) engineers are part of an ongoing partnership with New Zealand, building local emergency capability. Photo/MFAT

It noted that local personnel consistently prioritised public safety and rescue operations “despite many managing personal damage and displaced families at home” following the severe tremors.

The VMF Command also acknowledged the joint operation in Port Vila, saying technical coordination and shared engineering expertise on the ground provided “invaluable support to our local first responders during a highly complex structural rescue environment.”

Since 2023, Allen has been part of the VMF Engineer Squadron, helping build local engineering and emergency response skills.

The approach reflects a growing focus across the Pacific on strengthening local teams so they can lead disaster responses themselves rather than waiting for outside assistance to arrive.

That capability was tested in July 2024 when a light aircraft crashed near Port Vila Airport.

Working under Allen's direction, VMF engineers quickly extended an access road through difficult terrain, allowing emergency crews to reach the crash site and evacuate all five injured passengers.

Vanuatu Mobile Force engineers carved a route through dense plantation to reach a crashed light aircraft in 2024, helping emergency services get to the scene quickly. Photo/NZDF

Months later came a much bigger challenge. The December earthquake killed 14 people and caused widespread destruction across Port Vila.

One of the worst-hit sites was the collapsed Billabong building, where Allen and VMF engineers joined search and rescue efforts alongside local first responders.

Over three days, teams worked in dangerous conditions to search the rubble, helping rescue survivors trapped inside and recovering the bodies of those who had died.

Allen said what stood out most was the commitment shown by the people around him.

“The crash and the earthquake highlighted the ability of people from all walks of life and professions to work together to help people in their time of need.”

Many of those involved in the rescue operation were dealing with the disaster themselves.

Search and rescue operations in Port Vila following the December earthquake, where local Vanuatu responders led life-saving efforts in extremely difficult conditions. Photo/Vanuatu Police Force

“The people working on the Billabong building site had all experienced the earthquake and had damaged houses and frightened families. They stayed and worked through the days and nights to extricate fellow people from the rubble.”

Away from emergency response work, Allen and the VMF engineers have also been helping rebuild community infrastructure.

Recent projects included completing a childcare classroom, a dormitory and a school classroom that had been damaged or left unfinished after previous disasters and funding shortages.

“The childcare classroom and dormitory were severely damaged in a cyclone and the school classroom was three-quarters completed and ran out of funding,” Allen explained.

For Allen, the honour reflects more than individual service. It highlights a partnership helping Pacific communities build the skills and resources they need before disaster strikes.

And when the emergency comes, the first response will not come from overseas. It will come from the communities themselves.

Listen to Rob Allen's full interview on RNZ Pacific below.