"Spies" hunted in central N.I.

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 294, 11 July 1989, Page 1

"Spies" hunted in central N.I.

"Spycatcher" crossed the North Island last week, from Taranaki to Hawke's Bay.

About 60 Army per-

sonnel from QA ~ Squadron took part in the exercise which saw them dropped of as far away as New Plymouth, with no' money and very little food, and a mission - to cross the North Island. What's more a group of soldiers making up a "Hunter Force" were out to catch them, and local police along the way were instructed to detain them if they saw them. Near the start of their

"escape and evasion" joumey they were captured and interrogated, then released. They made their way in groups of three to the start of the Matemateonga Track, walking to the Wanganui River where they formed up into groups of ten. From there they rafted down the Wanganui to Pipiriki in Lancer inflatable boats, then made their way to Waiouru up the Pipiriki Road. After a spot of abseiling at the Moawhango Dam they set off to get to Hast-

ings cross country, undetected, roughly following the Gentle Annie road. They were allowed to ask for rides

on the road, but had to remember that their hunters would be patrolling it, making Turnpage 2

Spies

From page 1 hitchhiking a risky business. Captain Terry Kinloch said they would have been very hungry by the end of the trip as they were given very little food. What food they had consisted of some live roosters which they had to figure out how to make edible.