New Zealand Defence Force Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa Media Release

Wednesday 31 January, 2007

End of an era for former navy Steam Driven Frigate

Two years after her decommissioning, the Navy's last LEANDER Class Frigate, the former HMNZS CANTERBURY, will be signed over to her new owners on Friday 2 February.

The signing of the Sale Agreement will take place at Te Taua Moana Marae between the Crown and the Bay of Islands Canterbury Charitable Trust at 11:00am on Friday, 2 February 2007. His Excellency the Governor General of New Zealand, the Honourable Anand Satyanand, PCNZM will also attend and witness the signing of the Agreement.

Spokesman for the Bay of Island Charitable Trust, Mr Richard Witihera says, "This is a major development for the Bay of Islands and the tribe. This will create economic benefits for all, as well as acknowledge the achievements of this great warship when it finally rests at the base of our Sacred Mountain Rakumangamanga.

"The mountain is one of the pillars of the Sacred House of Ngapuhi and a pivotal point of the Polynesian triangle that stretches from our motherland Hawaaki (Hawaii) to Rapanui (Easter Island). The decision of our elders to rest the ex-Canterbury in our tribal area was not taken lightly. We see it as a unique partnership made with our Hapu."

Background The former HMNZS CANTERBURY was launched by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne (the Princess Royal) on 6 May 1970 and was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy on 22 October 1971, and retired from active service on 31 March 2005. The former HMNZS CANTERBURY was the last of the Leander-class frigates commissioned into service in the Royal New Zealand Navy and her decommissioning in 2005 marked the end of the steam turbine era. The former HMNZS CANTERBURY completed a Farewell Tour to her homeport areas of Timaru, Akaroa and Lyttelton, prior to arriving back to the Devonport Naval Base on Thursday 24 March flying a 122 metre decommissioning pennant.

Particulars of the former HMNZS CANTERBURY

Length: 113.4 m Draught: 5.6 m Displacement: 3,182 tonnes Machinery: Two steam turbines driving twin shafts Speed: 30 knots Complement: 240 (Officers and Ratings)

Pennant Number: F421

ENDS

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