NZDF have recovered 50 unexploded World War II-vintage munitions, including a 250-pound bomb, as part of an operation to make communities in the Solomon Islands safe (NZDF).

Rangi Ehu: Defence Force clean up WWII bombs from Solomon Islands

Author: Michael Allan,
Publish Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2016, 7:49AM

Navy divers have only scratched the surface as they look to recover hundreds of unexploded bombs from World War Two near the Solomon Islands.

LISTEN ABOVE: Rangi Ehu, head diver with the HMNZS spoke to Mike Hosking about the mission

It's part of a joint mission involving defence force personnel from New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Canada.

The munitions are being found near the site of a US Army airstrip and ammunition base, and so far 50 have been recovered.

Chief Diver on board the HMNZS Manawanui is Rangi Ehu and he told Mike Hosking it's a huge task.

"There's a plethora of munitions left behind from the war but they're scattered throughout the Solomon Islands, so we're working in one area. We've got Australians in another area. There's just so much out there to get rid of."

Ehu said locals have seen hundreds of bombs.

"The best way that we're finding is just talking to the locals and getting information from them. They're pretty much taking us to these areas and we're clearing them as we find them."