Navy Commander “Coming Home” for Art Deco Weekend

Wednesday, 15 February 2012, 1:47 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Defence Force

15 February 2012

Navy Commander “Coming Home” for Art Deco Weekend

One of Hawke’s Bay's sons is coming home to Art Deco in Napier this weekend (18-19 February) at the helm of one of the Navy’s newest vessels.

Former Onekawa Primary School student, Lieutenant Kane Sutherland, is now the Commanding Officer of HMNZS PUKAKI, which arrives at the Port of Napier at 1000 on Thursday, 16 February.

Lieutenant Sutherland is excited about returning to the area where he grew up.

“It will be a proud moment to sail HMNZS PUKAKI in to the Port of Napier,” he says. “There are other crew members onboard from the area too, so we are pleased to be able to support the celebrations.”

The Maritime Component Commander, Commodore John Martin, the senior naval officer in attendance, says Art Deco weekend is a reminder of the Navy’s commitment to the Napier district and people of New Zealand.

“This is a time to not only celebrate the unique Napier skyline, but also to reflect on the event that gave Napier its Art Deco architecture. The devastation of 1931 is not forgotten and the support provided to the stricken city by the Royal New Zealand Navy is a proud part of our history.

“Recent experience reminds us now, more than ever, that the Navy is always ready to respond. It was this time last year that HMNZS CANTERBURY participated in Art Deco celebrations, only to find herself weeks later in a similar situation to that of HMS VERONICA, providing support to the Canterbury region following the devastating February Earthquake.”

In addition to HMNZS PUKAKI, the Navy Band will also be on prominent display, with public performances on Saturday and Sunday (details attached). This will include performances with all 26 band members parading through the streets.

WHAT: Navy Support to Art Deco (HMNZS PUKAKI, RNZN Band)
WHEN: Friday 17– Sunday 19 February 2012
WHERE: Napier

RNZN Public Events

Saturday 18 February
12:30 pm: Street Parade
01:45 pm: Medal Presentation
09:00 pm: Band Performance - Sound Shell

Sunday 19 February
12:30 pm: Veronica Bell Parade
04:30 pm: Church Parade
05:00 pm: Swing and Prayer Service

ENDS

Top Scoops Headlines

COMMENT > >

Selpius Bobii:Tragic Bloodshed in Waghete, Papua - Suspected Serious Human Rights Violations

Ever since West Papua was annexed into the Republic of Indonesia on 1 May 1963, it has been nothing other than a land smeared with blood and at every moment the blood of Papuans has been shed by the continuous killings. More>>

Leslie Bravery: Simon Schama – Ideology Versus Truth And Reason

In the third part of his BBC history documentary The Story of the Jews Simon Schama announced “I am a Zionist and quite unapologetic about it.” That honest but blunt admission advises us that when the subject of Israel/Palestine is under discussion, ... More>>

Ramzy Baroud: South Vs. North: Yemen Teeters Between Hope And Division

On Oct 12, tens of thousands of Yemenis took to the streets of Eden in the South of the country, mostly demanding secession from the north. The date is significant, for it marks the 1967 independence of South Yemen, ending several decades of British ... More>>

Binoy Kampmark: Ralph Miliband: The Illusion Of Radical Change

Radical conservative critiques often suffer from one crippling flaw: they are mirrors of their revolutionary heritage, apologies for their own deceptions. If you want someone who detests the Left, whom better than someone formerly of the card carrying, ... More>>

Hadyn Green: TPP: This Is A Fight Worth Joining

Trade negotiations are tense affairs. There are always interested parties trying to get your ear, long nights spent arguing small but technical points, and the invisible but ever present political pressure. So it was in Brunei late August where the latest ... More>>

Ramzy Baroud: Giap, Wallace, And The Never-Ending Battle For Freedom

'Nothing is more precious than freedom,” is quoted as being attributed to Vo Nguyen Giap, a Vietnamese General that led his country through two liberation wars. The first was against French colonialists, the second against the Americans. More>>

John Chuckman: The Poor People Of Egypt

How is it that the people of Egypt, after a successful revolution against the repressive 30-year government of President Mubarak, a revolution involving the hopes and fears of millions and a substantial loss of life, have ended up almost precisely where ... More>>

Harvey Wasserman: 14,000 Hiroshimas Still Swing In The Fukushima Air...

Japan’s pro-nuclear Prime Minister has finally asked for global help at Fukushima. It probably hasn’t hurt that more than 100,000 people have signed petitionscalling for a global takeover; more than 8,000 have viewed a new YouTube on it. More>>