HMNZS Taupo Ready For Homeport Visit to Whangarei
Tuesday 27 October 2009
New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Media Advisory
Tuesday
27 October, 2009
The fourth of the new Inshore Patrol Vessels, HMNZS TAUPO, under the Command of Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Clarkson is preparing to conduct a very special first visit to her homeport region. HMNZS TAUPO will berth in Whangarei from Wednesday 28 October to Tuesday 3 November 2009.
During this historical visit HMNZS
TAUPO will be involved in a Ceremony of Welcome, the ship
will be open to the public, conduct a Charter Parade and
host a large number of organised tours, to name but a few of
the highlights planned. The Navy Band will perform in a
number of venues around the district during the homeport
visit.
The Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Tony Parr and
the Lady Sponsor of HMNZS TAUPO, Her Excellency Susan
Satyanand, will attend the formal Charter
Parade.
HMNZS TAUPO will be open to the public from
10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday 1 November. Lieutenant
Commander Jonathan Clarkson warmly invites the public of the
Whangarei region to tour their ship and to meet the members
of the crew.
Media Opportunities
* Wednesday 28
October - There are spaces onboard TAUPO to sail onboard
from Auckland (dep 10 am) to Whangarei (arr 3 pm)
*
Wednesday 28 October 1525 – 1530 – media interviews with
Commanding Officer onboard TAUPO
* There are five local
Northlanders serving onboard TAUPO
* Commanding Officer
Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Clarkson grew up in Kohukohu
and Okaihau
* Leading Marine Technician Joshua
Wedding – Kamo, Whangarei
* Able Marine Technician
Michael Belcher
* Ordinary Chef Myles Kaka, Raumanga,
Whangarei
* Warrant Officer Joe Harema, Rawene
Particulars of HMNZS TAUPO
Pennant Number:
P3570
Displacement: 340 tonnes
Length overall:
55 metres
Beam: 9 metres
Speed: 25 knots
Range:
3,000 nautical miles
Complement: Core ship's company:20
Government agencies: 4
Additional personnel:12
Total: 36
Commanding Officer – Lieutenant
Commander Jonathan Clarkson (Kohukohu/Okaihau)
Executive
Officer – Lieutenant Kiel Wakeham (Christchurch/Blenheim)
Programme
Wednesday 28 October
1000 --
HMNZS TAUPO sails from Devonport Naval Base
1000 -
1100 -- Navy Band Concert in Dargaville Town Hall for local
district schools
1230 - 1400 -- Navy Band Concert in
Dargaville Town Hall for RSA's and local Retirement Homes
and Residents.
1500 -- HMNZS TAUPO berths in
Whangarei (H Wharf Port Nikau)
1530 --
Powhiri/Welcome Ceremony – alongside H Wharf Port Nikau
1630 – 1730 -- Tour of TAUPO by members of Welcome
Ceremony
Thursday 29 October
0945 – 1045 --
Visit to TAUPO by local Police, MAF, Customs and Fire
personnel
1000 -- Navy Band performance at Pompallier
Catholic College
1100- 1200 -- Visit to TAUPO by
local Ports Authority and Coastguard personnel
1300
– 1515 -- Visit to TAUPO by local potential recruits
1530 – 1630 -- Visit to TAUPO by Ex-Naval Mens
Association, Veterans and RSA
1830 – 2000 -- Navy
Band Concert at Whangarei RSA
Friday 30 October
0815 – 1200 -- Charter Parade Rehearsal –
Whangarei Town Centre
1200 – 1330 -- Commanding
Officer TAUPO official luncheon for three Regional Mayors
1430 – 1630 -- Visit to TAUPO by St Francis Xavier
School
1830 - 2000 -- Navy Band Concert at Captain
Bougainville Theatre (Free Entry)
Saturday 31 October
1045 -- Guests arrive for Charter Parade –
Whangarei Town Centre (vicinity of Whangarei Public Library)
1115 -- Charter Parade Ceremony
1200 – 1220
-- Navy Band performance in Mall
1200 – 1330 --
Mayoral Reception in Whangarei District Council Chambers –
presentations and cutting of commissioning cake
Sunday
1 November
1000 – 1500 -- HMNZS TAUPO open day for
the public
Monday 2 November
Am -- TAUPO Ships
Company visit to St Francis Xavier School
1530 –
1630 -- Visit to TAUPO by local potential recruits
1645 – 1745 -- Visit to TAUPO by local cadets
Tuesday 3 November
1000 -- HMNZS TAUPO departs
Whangarei
ENDS