New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Media Release
Thursday 13 July, 2006

Two Farewells and a Welcome for Naval Ships

HMNZ Ships Te Kaha and Endeavour sail for a five month deployment to the South Pacific, Asia and Australia next week.

The deployment centres on a series of regular exercise activities, principally in relation to the Five Power Defence Agreement, to which the RNZN has annual commitments to contribute fleet units.

Te Kaha and Endeavour will also conduct shorter duration interactions with a variety of military partners during the deployment. In the first six weeks, the ships will work with other military forces at sea over three periods. The first interaction will occur between HMNZS Endeavour and French patrol frigate FNS Vendemiaire (who recently visited Auckland), sharing a two day passage off the coast of New Caledonia.

“We welcome these opportunities to interact with other nations,” says Maritime Component Commander, Commodore David Anson. “It is important to our Navy. This provides excellent periods to not only hone core skills but to share skills, knowledge and experience. The crews of Te Kaha and Endeavour will capably represent our Navy, and remain responsive to lessons from others.

“The benefits of regular interaction pay off when our forces are able to integrate quickly and confidently as the need arises, be it in the wake of a natural disaster or as a response to a more complex threat to security.”

Te Kaha and Endeavour will represent New Zealand in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Vietnam during their deployment, as well as in more frequently visited locations such as Singapore and Australia.

HMNZS Endeavour departs at 10.00am Monday 17 July. HMNZS Te Kaha departs at 10.00 am Wednesday 19 July. The ships will operate and passage together for the majority of the deployment.

Completing a 5 ½ month deployment, sister ship HMNZS Te Mana will be welcomed by families, friends and comrades when she returns to Auckland on Friday 21 July.

After fulfilling ceremonial duties on Waitangi Day, Te Mana departed New Zealand waters to provide training support to Te Kaha off the East Coast of Australia. She participated in an FPDA exercise, before following a route which included three visits to the Indian sub-continent, where Te Mana worked alongside the Indian Navy.

ENDS

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