Navy Fleet to Visit Wellington – Review, Parade And Ceremony
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1979 the last fleet entry to Wellington. Two Leander (CANTERBURY and WAIKATO) and two type 12 frigates (TARANAKI and OTAGO) enter Wellington harbour.
Media
Advisory
22 September 2011
Navy Fleet
to Visit Wellington – Review, Parade And
Ceremony
In a once in a lifetime event, 11 ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy will visit Wellington to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Navy’s founding on 1 October 1941.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see almost all the ships of the Navy in one place at one time,” said Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Tony Parr.
“On 1 October 1941 King George VI gave approval for the title Royal New Zealand Navy to be used. From that date New Zealand’s Navy was a sovereign force, and since that time thousands of sailors have served the nation with courage, commitment and comradeship,” said Rear Admiral Parr.
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The modern Navy. ANZAC frigate HMNZS TE MANA and fleet replenishment tanker ENDEAVOUR. Both ships will be in Wellington on Thursday 29 September.
The fleet will concentrate in Cook Strait on Wednesday 28 September, and undertake a series of manoeuvres and exercises before entering harbour on Thursday the 29th. Navy ships usually operate independently in one and two’s, so bringing the fleet to Wellington is a rare opportunity to train together.
On arriving in Wellington the ships will berth in the inner harbour, and during the weekend will be open to the public. On Saturday 400 Navy personnel will parade down Lambton Quay following a ceremony at Parliament to change the Navy’s Queen’s Colour – a ceremonial flag that symbolises the Navy’s relationship with Her Majesty the Queen.
The celebration will conclude on Monday when the fleet will anchor in formation in the harbour and the ships will be reviewed by His Excellency, Lieutenant General, the Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, GNZM, QSO Governor-General of New Zealand. Following the review the fleet will disperse to operations and exercises in South East Asia, the Solomon Islands and around the New Zealand coast.
“New Zealanders can be proud of their Navy,” said Rear Admiral Parr. “Our ships and people are capable of operating around New Zealand’s coast, into the Pacific, down to the Southern Oceans, in South and East Asia, and as far afield as the Arabian Gulf. We can undertake tasks as varied as combat operations to fisheries patrols and everything in between.”
“We are proud of the work and service we provide for the government and people of New Zealand. I invite the public of the Wellington region to visit the ships, meet our sailors and experience a little of life and work in the Navy.”
ENDS
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Ships of the fleet. HMNZS ACHILLES, veteran of the Battle of the River Plate, 1945.
Ships participating
in the Review
Frigates | TE MANA - F111 TE KAHA - F77 |
Fleet Replenishment Vessel | ENDEAVOUR – A 11 |
Multi-Role Sealift Vessel | CANTERBURY – L421 |
Offshore Patrol Vessels | OTAGO – P148 WELLINGTON – P55 |
Inshore Patrol Vessels | PUKAKI
– P3568 ROTOITI – P 3569 TAUPO – P 3570 HAWEA – P 3571 |
Hydrographic Vessel | RESOLUTION – A 14 |
Note: Diving Support Vessel MANAWANUI will remain in Auckland during the review. |
Navy 70th Anniversary
Programme
Wednesday 28th September | Fleet concentration begins off Wellington. Fleet exercises and manoeuvres. |
Thursday 29th September | Frigates, Naval Support Force and Offshore
Patrol Vessels arrive in Wellington. 0945 - 21 Gun Salute to His Excellency the Governor General from HMNZS TE MANA |
Friday 30th September | Inshore Patrol Vessels arrive in Wellington. |
Saturday 1st October | 1000 – 1200, Changing of the Queen’s
Colour, Parliament Grounds. The public are invited to
attend. 1200 – 1230, Street Parade on Lambton Quay, Parliament to Civic Square. Four hundred sailors and the Navy band. 1200 – 1600, Ships open to visitors, Queen’s Wharf and Taranaki Street Terminal. The ships will open to the public at midday with the final guests embarking at 1500 pm. These self guided tours will be throughout various operational areas of the ships and may include ladders and narrow passageways. Flat, sturdy shoes are encouraged. Ships open to visitors: HMNZS Te
Kaha |
Sunday 2nd October | 1000 - Wreath Laying, National War
Memorial. 1100 – 1500, Ships Open to Visitors, Queen’s Wharf and Taranaki Street Terminal. The ships will be open to the public at 1100 am with the final guests embarking at 1500 pm. Ships open to visitors: HMNZS
Te Kaha |
Monday 3rd October | Fleet
proceeds to Anchor in Harbour, between Aotea Quay and Matiu
Somes Island. 1300 – 1500 Fleet Review, His Excellency the Governor-General and VIP’s embarked onboard HMNZS Resolution. 1700 - Ships begin to depart Wellington. |
Sunday 9th October | 1000 - Anniversary Church Service incorporating laying up of the old Queens Colour in the Naval Chapel of St Christopher’s, Devonport Naval Base. |
ENDS