New Zealand has agreed to keep an infantry battalion on East Timor through May 2002 as part of the UN peacekeeping forces. In return, the UN promised to pay New Zealand more money. New Zealand has only two battalions of infantry, both of which have done tours on East Timor and both of which will be going back. The 3rd New Zealand battalion, currently on East Timor, is in fact the 16th Artillery Battalion temporarily reassigned to the infantry role, with about 100 reserve infantry troops added to bring it up to strength. Because of the strain of rotations, both of the infantry battalions will be taking a hundred or so reservists with them on their second tours.--Stephen V Cole