NT 129 January - Royal New Zealand Navy

CLIMBING 

HIGH: 

- CHAMPIONS OF 

THE FLEET! 

- ANNUAL 

SPORTS 

AWARDS! 

SENIOR 

SAILORS' 

SYMPOSIUM 

IPV MILESTONES 

MEDITERRANEAN 

GUN BOATS 

WORLD WAR ONE 

COMMEMORATIONS 

WWW.NAVY.MIL.NZ 

NT129JANUARY08 

1

CONTENTS 

YOURS AYE 

ISSN 1173-8332 

Published to entertain, inform and inspire serving 

members of the RNZN. 

Navy Today is the official newsletter for personnel 

and friends of the Royal New Zealand Navy, 

produced by the Defence Public Relations Unit, 

Wellington, Navy Today is now in its twelfth year 

of publication. 

Views expressed in Navy Today are not necessarily 

those of the RNZN or the NZDF. 

Contributions are welcomed. Submit copy of 

letters for publication in Microsoft Word, on 

diskette or emailed. Articles about 300 words, 

digital photos at least 200dpi. 

Reprinting of items is encouraged if Navy Today 

is acknowledged. 

Copy deadlines for NT 5pm as follows: 

NT 130 March issue: 15 February 

NT 131 April issue: 10 March 

Navy Today Editorial Advisers: 

RA D Ledson, CN 

CDR Maxine Lawes 

Editor: 

Richard Jackson 

Defence Public Relations Unit 

HQ NZ Defence Force 

Private Bag, Wellington, New Zealand 

Tel: (04) 496 0293 Fax: (04) 496 0290 

Email: richard.jackson@nzdf.mil.nz 

Production: 

Design and artwork: DESIGNBOX LTD 

P: (04) 478 4653 

Printer: APN Print NZ Ltd 

P: (04) 472 3659 

Enquiries to: 

Defence Public Relations Unit 

P: (04) 496 0292 F: (04) 496 0290 

LTCDR Barbara Cassin (Auckland) 

P: (09) 445 5002 F: (09) 445 5014 

Director Defence Public Relations 

P: (04) 496 0299 F: (04) 496 0290 

Recruiting Officer Auckland: 

P: (09) 445 5783 

Email: navyjobs@ihug.co.nz 

TODAY 

Changing Address? 

To join or leave our mailing list, please contact: 

Sifa Folekene 

DPRU Administration Officer 

HQNZDF 2-12 Aitken St 

Wellington 

Ph: 04-496-0270 

Email: sifa.folekene@nzdf.mil.nz 

A publication of 

DEFENCE 

PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT 

AMT 2 Cameron Brown (from 

Taupo) climbs the rock wall 

set up as one the Champion 

of the Fleet challenges during 

the Navy’s sports day last 

December. Cameron is currently 

a student at the Trade Training 

School at Narrow Neck. 

PHOTO: SGT Chris Hillock RNZAF; Naval Photo Unit 

12 

04 New Year Honours 

06 Changes at the Top 

08 Project Protector 

11 State Funeral 

15 Russian Sailing Ship 

16 Lights, Camera, Action! 

18 On the Road in Afghanistan 

20 Commemorating Passchendaele 

23 A Personnel View: ACN(P) 

24 Our People 

25 HMNZS MANAWANUI 

30 HMNZS CANTERBURY 

31 HMNZS TE MANA 

32 HMNZS TE KAHA 

34 HMNZS RESOLUTION 

35 Around the Fleet 

40 Family and Friends 

44 Sportsperson of the Year Awards 

46 Main Notice Board 

47 Ship Portrait 

JANUARY COVER 

CONTENTS 

FEATURES: 

SENIOR SAILORS' 

SYMPOSIUM 

The RNZN hosted a Senior 

Sailors’ Symposium to bring 

together Warrant Officers and 

Master Chief Petty Officers from 

various navies. The theme for the 

symposium was ‘Senior Sailors 

Making a Difference’ – looking 

at leadership by senior sailors at 

the top level of their Service. 

INSIDE: 

MC 07-0559-11 

MEDITERRANEAN 

GUN BOATS 

Our Navy inherits a proud 

tradition of inshore operations 

by Kiwis in small ships during 

WWII. Our oral historian in the 

South Island, Tim De Castro tells 

of Cantabrian ‘Pat’ Clark-Hall’s 

experiences in MTBs in the 

Mediterranean, 1944-45. 

36 44 

CHAMPION OF 

THE FLEET 

The Champion of the Navy 

Tabloid Sports Competition was 

held for all in the Navy at the 

Ngataringa Sports Fields on 12 

December 2007. The theme for 

the event was “The Movies.” 

The day included a tabloid 

competition, a lunchtime BBQ, 

and afternoon entertainment. 

RADM DAVID LEDSON CHIEF OF NAVY 

YOURS AYE 

ON SATURDAY, just over a fortnight ago, I was having a 

conversation in the lounge at Auckland Airport about this 

column. The chat reminded me that I had until the following 

Friday to get my words to the Editor – so pressure started 

building. On the flight back to Wellington, and at home, I 

had generated some ideas - I try, whenever possible, to 

write about things that are related to our Core Values of 

Courage, Comradeship and Commitment. 

By Sunday night, though, things had changed. During the 

early hours that Sunday morning I was woken by a ringing 

cellphone and advised that Ordinary Seaman Michael Williams 

had been killed in a traffic accident in Auckland early 

on Saturday evening. 

So – on the Friday that my piece for Navy Today was due, 

I was in Nelson at Michael’s funeral. This was the fourth 

funeral/tangi for a young Sailor that I have been to since I 

became CN. It had echoes of all the others – tears, bewilderment, 

some fond laughter and memories. It was a very 

emotional experience for everyone there. In the Church, as I 

saw the grief of school friends and of the young Sailors who 

had come from Auckland, I was hit especially hard by the 

impact of Michael’s death on his parents. 

It forcefully reminded me of something I had been told 

many years ago – but had let drift to the back of my mind. 

One of our Sailors, an Able Seaman in my Division back 

then, had drowned off the Devonport Ferry Wharf. As his Divisional 

Officer I was told to go to his tangi in Tauranga. Prior 

to taking his body to the cemetery his father came up to me 

and said that in joining the Navy, his son now had two families 

– and as his Divisional Officer I had, in a sense, been his 

father. Consequently, he wanted me to walk at the head of 

the procession from the marae to the cemetery alongside 

the priests – and to speak at the burial. 

This concept of the Navy as family – especially for young 

Sailors – is one that we must be sensitive to. Many parents, 

in a way, ‘entrust’ their children to the Navy – and in doing 

that they also entrust us with their welfare and to give effect 

to the aspirations they have for their children. We are guardians 

of the ‘parental dreams’. 

In many cases when a young person joins the Navy it 

means that they move some distance away from home and 

family – and the vigilance of their parents. Many parents, 

too, are keenly aware that it is a significant first step as the 

bond joining child with parent starts its inevitable ‘stretch’. 

As I have watched the stricken reaction of parents who 

have lost a child, I have seen the recognition that the future 

for them has changed forever. I have been very aware that 

this sense of family applies not only to them – but also very 

much to the Navy. I have become more conscious that an 

important component in enabling young people to join the 

Navy, is the willingness of parents to entrust them - and their 

dreams and hopes – to the Navy family. 

This is a very important responsibility that we take on. It is 

a reality that the more precious the gift, the greater the burden 

of care. From a parents’ perspective, nothing is more 

precious to them than their child. 

And these are the reasons that our Core Values of Commitment 

and Comradeship shape our behaviour inside the 

Navy to each other - and outside the Navy the Core Values 

shape our behaviour to all the parents whose children wear 

the uniform of Sailors. 

REWARD OFFERED FOR 

STOLEN DECORATIONS 

The NZ Police have offered a reward for information leading to 

the recovery of the medal sets that were stolen from Waiouru 

Army Museum in December. The stolen medal sets include nine 

VCs and two George Crosses and were stolen from the Army 

Museum in the morning of 2 December 2007. 

The reward of NZ$300,000 is the largest offered in New 

Zealand history. $200,000 has been generously pledged by 

Lord Ashcroft (UK - the owner of the largest collection of Victoria 

Crosses) and the balance of $100,000 has been offered by a 

NZ businessman who wished to remain anonymous. 

Chief of Army MGEN Lou Gardiner said the generosity of the 

offer was greatly appreciated: “I hope that the reward provides 

an incentive to those that may have some new information 

regarding the theft to come forward and assist the Police with 

their investigation.” 

Police Commissioner Howard Broad stated, "The theft strikes 

at the heart of New Zealand's proud military history and those 

who fought for this country. I sincerely hope this announcement 

will reinvigorate the investigation and motivate someone to 

come forward." 

The NZ Police have a hotline: 0800 VALOUR. 

2 NT129JANUARY08 WWW.NAVY.MIL.NZ 


NT129JANUARY08 3

HONOURS AND AWARDS 

NAVAL PERSONNEL RECOGNISED IN 

NEW YEAR HONOURS 

TO BE AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER OF THE NEW 

ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT (MNZM) 

ABCSS Rene Hamuera Rangi 

Royal New Zealand Navy 

Able Combat Systems Specialist Rangi served in Afghanistan from 

October 2006 to April 2007 as a driver with Headquarters, International 

Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul. Although a juniorranked 

sailor with limited driving experience in a military situation, he 

quickly developed into a highly competent driver, with a strong and 

positive influence on his work environment. He drove with skill and 

courtesy – the latter being a challenge in Kabul’s snarled vehicular 

chaos – always providing his passengers safe and reliable transportation, 

remaining polite and co-operative with local motorists. He 

was acutely aware of the high threat environment in which he worked 

and he spent significant hours studying maps, routes, and satellite 

imagery. He sought resources and training to improve situational 

awareness and mission planning and conduct. His skills and leadership 

were displayed to best effect during the visit by the Minister of 

Defence to Kabul in April 2007, when he contributed significantly to 

planning the visit, as well as being lead driver. He very proactively 

CDR Richard Lance Cook RNZN 

trained new drivers, contributing to their rapidly gaining the ability 

to drive without a co-driver. A naturally gifted diplomat, his efforts, 

although unofficial, personal and spontaneous, exemplified the best 

face that ISAF strives to present to the Afghan public. 

TO RECEIVE THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE DECORATION (DSD): 

CDR Cook held the appointment 

of Chief Staff Officer Operations 

at Headquarters Joint Forces 

New Zealand (HQ JFNZ) during 

2006, a position normally filled 

by a Colonel-equivalent officer. 

This period was characterised 

by a busy operational tempo that 

required the Operations Branch 

within HQ JFNZ to dedicate an 

inordinate amount of time to 

support operationally deployed 

forces, all in the face of staff shortages within the branch. 

His commitment to the effort was immeasurable. His leadership 

ensured that HQ JFNZ provided appropriately responsive 

support to deployed missions. This was achieved by working 

consistently long hours, both during the normal working week 

and at weekends maintaining contact with the various missions 

– compounded by an array of time-zone differences. He was 

always at pains however to ensure that he was inconvenienced 

by the time-zone differences, rather than mission personnel. He 

displayed considerable capacity, as well as meticulous planning 

and organisational skills to effectively respond to the numerous 

daily operational demands. 

WOMT(L) David Murray Chisnall RNZN 

WO Chisnall, in his role as Base 

Emergency Services Officer, initiated 

several projects that resulted 

in significant improvements to the 

ability of HMNZS PHILOMEL and 

the Naval Base to respond to emergency 

situations. This includes a 

shared services approach to oil 

spill contingency plans which will 

increase the Navy’s capability to 

respond to oil spills and reduce the 

risk of environmental damage. This work was put to good effect 

when a dockyard crane accidentally fell into the sea and all required 

emergency services were co-ordinated smoothly. 

He has worked with the New Zealand Fire Service to produce 

a Tactical Fire Response Plan, which will provide for a quick and 

accurate appreciation of a fire anywhere on the Base. This will 

allow for an effective management of fires in secure areas, protect 

assets and safeguard people living and working on Base. He was 

also a key member of a team that reviewed safety procedures 

after four New Zealand Customs personnel were injured during 

fire-fighting training. This review found previously unidentified 

training hazards and equipment limitations. His recommendations 

to remedy these have resulted in a much safer training 

environment. 

RNZN SAILOR OF THE YEAR 2007 

The Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson, 

announced that the Navy’s Sailor of the Year 

2007 is Leading Marine Technician (Propulsion) 

Christopher Henricksen of HMNZS TE 

KAHA. 

LMT(P)Chris Henricksen won the 2007 year 

Award because he displays performance and 

leadership qualities of a level well beyond his years 

as a Junior Rating. He has a proven willingness 

to take charge of situations, exercise initiative, 

and to lead personnel. He can be relied upon to 

‘do the right thing’ and to apply good judgement 

in situations, providing a model of leadership for 

others to emulate within the RNZN. 

A Selection Board chaired by the Warrant Officer of the Navy, WOSA Roberts and comprising 

Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers from across the Navy considered 10 nominations 

for the Navy’s Sailor of the Year. 

After reviewing the Selection Board’s recommendation, RA Ledson commented that ‘Every 

one of the Sailors nominated was a very strong candidate. They each clearly have served 

as role models of professionalism and personal dedication to the Navy. The performance 

and the contributions each has made, particularly in terms of demonstrating their commitment 

to our Core Values, made the final selection very difficult,’ he said. 

MARITIME COMPONENT COMMANDER’S CITATION: 

LTCDR Deane Ingram RNZN 

LTCDR Ingram commenced his duties 

at HQ JFNZ as JSO2 Operational 

Plans, Maritime (J53M) in June 2006. 

As the Maritime Operations Planner for 

the MCC, LTCDR Ingram was the lead 

planner in formulating and executing 

several major activities, notably: 

• OP LIMA (the deployment of NZDF 

personnel to Lebanon), 

• OP RATA II (the relief in place of 

NZDF personnel in the Solomon 

Islands) 

• OP GALLIPOLI 07 (involving CN as the senior NZDF representative), 

• OP AWHINA (NZDF response to the Northland floods in July 07); and 

• OP ARIKI, Task Group TIKI 3 (the forthcoming RNZN contribution to OEF). 

His planning abilities have also been utilised in driving forward the RNZN’s relationship with 

the Multi-Agency partners. In particular, LTCDR Ingram made an outstanding contribution 

to development of the Multi-Agency Network (MAN) which was showcased to our partners 

last year. His continued dedication includes on-going education and liaison with other Government 

Agencies in preparing them for the arrival of the Project Protector fleet. 

LTCDR Ingram has been tenacious in his endeavours and displayed strong leadership and 

sound professional knowledge for operations and contingency planning within HQ JFNZ, 

as well as showing a consistent willingness to assist others. 

CHIEF OF DEFENCE FORCE 

COMMENDATION: 

LTCDR Steve Horrell RNZN 

LTCDR Horrell, posted to the Doctrine 

Section of HQ JFNZ, highlighted the requirement 

for an electronic version of the 

HQ JFNZ staff planning process to be introduced 

as a result of operational deployments 

to Timor Leste, the Solomon Islands 

and Tonga. He developed a prototype 

database which was tested and evaluated 

at the NZDF Command and Staff College. 

Visiting ADF instructors took a version 

back, where it still supports all ADF Joint 

Warfare training courses. 

Since then, LTCDR Horrell continued 

a spiral development process, culminating 

in the delivery of the Collaborative 

Headquarters Integrated Mission Planning 

System (CHIMPS), which now supports 

all operational planning within HQ JFNZ. 

This application is judged to be superior 

to the equivalent Canadian and Australian 

systems. LTCDR Horrell has turned around 

a significant operational deficiency into a 

tangible and practical solution. CHIMPS 

has not only improved the effectiveness of 

operational planning within HQ JFNZ, but 

it has also brought credit upon the NZDF 

at an international level. 

4 NT129JANUARY08 




CN hands the Sword which is 

the symbol of the office of DCN, 

to CDRE Bruce Pepperell 

MC 07-0530-57 

LEADERSHIP 

MC 07-0530-73 

CHANGES AT THE TOP 

A 

MC 07-0530-76 

B 

ON 30 NOVEMBER 2007 a ceremony 

was held at the Devonport 

rade Commander and the parade featured 

an Admiral’s Guard (LT L Taylor 

MC 07-0528-45 

MC 07-0530-78 

Naval Base to mark the change of 

RNZN with an armed platoon of 19) 

command of: 

and eight platoons: 4 from PHILOMEL, 

• The Deputy Chief of Navy: 

one each from TE KAHA and TE MANA 

CDRE A J Parr MVO, ADC, RNZN 

and two combined platoons - one rep- 

relinquished command to CDRE 

resenting ENDEAVOUR, CANTERBURY 

Bruce Pepperell MBE, RNZN. 

and RESOLUTION, and another com- 

• The Maritime Component Com- 

prised of WAKAKURA, KAHU, the ODT 

mander: 

and the Maritime Operations Evaluation 

CDRE D V Anson RNZN relinquished 

Team. The Maori Cultural Group was 

command to CDRE A J Parr MVO, 

ADC, RNZN 

made up of personnel from TE KAHA, 

TE MANA and PHILOMEL. 

D 

• The Commanding Officer HMNZS 

PHILOMEL: 

CAPT C A Holmes RNZN relinquished 

command to CAPT D J R 

Among the guests attending were: Dr 

Wayne Mapp MP and Ms Ann Hartley 

MP, Mayor Andrew Williams and Deputy 

Mayor Julia Parfitt of North Shore City 

MC 07-0528-01 

WN 07-0020-03 

F 

McDougall MNZM, RNZN. 

The Navy’s Change of Command Ceremony 

is traditionally formal, designed 

to strengthen the authority of the personnel 

taking command. 

The ceremony was in the form of Divisions 

and took place on the Gambia 

Square Parade Ground. 

LTCDR L French RNZN was the Pa- 

Council. Senior NZDF officers were R A 

Ledson, CN, R A Steer, VCDF, MGEN 

Jones, COMJFNZ and AIRCDRE Newlands, 

DCAF. 

After the ceremony, the Chief of Navy 

hosted a luncheon at his quarters, 

DCN hosted a luncheon in PHILOMEL 

and MCC hosted his luncheon afloat in 

ENDEAVOUR. 

C 

E 

A: CDRE Bruce Pepperell, the new DCN, 

addresses the parade. B: CN hands the sword 

which is the symbol of MCC's office, to CDRE 

Tony Parr. C: CAPT Dean McDougall (l), the 

new CO of PHILOMEL, shakes hands with 

CAPT Clive Holmes. D: CDRE Parr shakes 

hands with CDRE David Anson, the outgoing 

MCC. E: The Admiral’s Guard marches on 

under command of LT Luke Taylor. F: On 5 

December, as the first snow of the season fell 

in Washington DC, CDRE Anson (r) took over 

from CDRE Pat Williams as Head of the NZ 

Defence Liasion Staff at the NZ Embassy. 




Lady O’Regan and others look over 

HAWEA after the ship was named 

MC 07-0558-41 

MC 07-0558-06 

PROJECT PROTECTOR 

MC 07-0558-35 

LEFT: The VIP Party (l to r) Hon Shane Jones MP, 

RA David Ledson, Sir Tipene O’Regan, Sandra 

Lady O’Regan (the ship’s Lady Sponsor) & LTGEN 

Jerry Mateparae, CDF. ABOVE: Chaplain Lem 

LATE LAST YEAR A NUMBER OF MILESTONES FOR THE PROJECT PROTECTOR 

Pearse RNZN. 

SHIPS WERE PASSED. OUR SECOND IPV HAWEA WAS LAUNCHED AND NAMED 

IN WHANGAREI, AND THE KEEL LAID FOR THE FOURTH OF THE CLASS, 

TAUPO. MEANWHILE ROTOITI UNDERTOOK ITS CONTRACTOR SEA TRIALS. 

IPV MILESTONES 

1 February this year for a period of Whole 

Ship Training, to be followed by a selection 

of courses and ship/class-specific training 

sessions. HAWEA Ship’s Company will 

venture to sea in ROTOITI to familiarise 

themselves with equipment and procedures 

before HAWEA is delivered to the 

RNZN. We are all working together with 

CN’S VIEW 

The Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson said, “The naming ceremony 

for the new Inshore Patrol Vessel HAWEA is yet another significant milestone 

in Project Protector. HAWEA is the second of the four Inshore Patrol Vessels 

to be launched and the third ship of the name to serve in the RNZN. 

“The first was a Loch-Class frigate that, among other things, saw opera- 

HAWEA [IPV 2] 

BY LT GRANT JUDSON RNZN 

[CO DESIGNATE] 

THE YEAR 2007 finished on a high for the 

Naval Patrol Force with the launching, then 

the Naming ceremony of our second IPV, 

HAWEA. The new IPV was eased down 

the slipway into Whangarei harbour on 

Wednesday 12 December 2007 through 

drizzle and rain. Because of the constraints 

of the marine railway launching site and the 

tide times, each IPV is launched without 

ceremony, but once afloat is given a formal 

naming ceremony. HAWEA’s naming ceremony 

was on Saturday 15 December. 

The naming ceremony for HAWEA was 

managed by Tenix, and it was clearly evident 

that the team of people involved in the 

build are immensely proud of their product. 

A large number of Tenix staff and contractors 

were present, with their families, to 

witness the naming of another one of their 

pieces of work. 

The naming ceremony was attended by 

CDF, CN, MCC and Shane Jones MP, Sir 

Tipene O’Regan, and – most importantly 

- Sandra Lady O’Regan, HAWEA’s Lady 

Sponsor. As Lady O’Regan approached the 

ribbon she spoke the momentous words ‘I 

name this ship HAWEA and may God bless 

her and all those who sail in her’. As Lady 

O’Regan cut the ribbon, all eyes turned to 

HAWEA to see the bottle of champagne 

shatter over the newly-named ship’s bow. 

Nothing but the best for HAWEA - a bottle 

of Nautilas NV Brut Cuvee from the Nautilas 

Estate of Marlborough. 

On completion of the Naming ceremony 

the Lady Sponsor and CDF were escorted 

on a tour of both HAWEA and ROTOITI 

by CN and myself. They were suitably impressed 

with the new capability that these 

ships will bring to the RNZN and the NZDF. 

Lady O’Regan indicated that she was most 

certainly looking forward to a trip to sea in 

her new ship! 

It has been a long journey through the 

build process for our (future) Ship’s Company 

who are standing by HAWEA. It is 

not until the ship’s lines are observed on 

the water that it all seems worth the wait. 

The building of HAWEA commenced in 

December 2006 and it is a complex project 

for the shipbuilders in Whangarei. 

ROTOITI now lies alongside the same 

wharf in an almost-finished state, while 

PUKAKI can be seen taking shape just 

inside the Tenix gates. HAWEA’s entire 

Ships Company met for the first time on 

Future command team (l to r) 

WOMT(P) Joseph Harema, SLT 

Damian Gibbs and LT Grant Judson. 

MC 07-0558-09 

Tenix towards a smooth and successful 

introduction into service. 

It is a patient waiting game for the Ships 

Company’s of ROTOITI and HAWEA as 

Tenix meets the challenges of building this 

new class of ships; however, HAWEA’s 

Naming ceremony highlighted the fact 

that these vessels are now not that far 

away. [HAWEA is scheduled to be officially 

handed over to the Navy in mid-2008.] 

TAUPO [IPV 4] 

BY WO STEVE BRADLEY 

[PROJECT DIRECTOR’S REPRESENTATIVE] 

The Keel-Laying Ceremony of the final one 

of our IPVs took place at 1015 on Friday 

14 December. Keel-Laying ceremonies date 

back hundreds of years, with a Talisman 

inserted into the keel of a vessel at the start 

of the build to protect the shipbuilders and 

future seafarers from bad luck. This tradition 

takes many forms among modern shipbuilders 

- at Tenix Group the Talisman is a 

coin placed under the keel of the vessel. 

For TAUPO the coin is a special addition 

NZ silver five dollar coin which will 

be retrieved at launch and presented to 

the ship’s company at a later date. On 14 

December, Tenix Tradesman Brian West 

tional service in Korea. The second was the Lake-Class patrol vessel that 

carried out some of the important multi-agency tasks on which the latest 

HAWEA will be focussed - including activities in support of the Ministry 

of Fisheries, the Department of Conservation and the Customs Department.” 

HAWEA is affiliated to the Westport/Greymouth region and will be under 

the command of LT Grant Judson (from Tauranga). The Executive Officer 

will be SLT Damian Gibbs (from Whangarei). 

and I placed the coin into a special cavity structure modules welded together). With 

carved into the wooden dock block. Brian TAUPO’s keel-laying, the consolidation of 

then drove home the Steel Wedge Block the final vessel of Project Protector was 

which will help support the vessel until it formally set in motion. 

is launched. 

Mr Taylor thanked the entire workforce, 

Brian is one of the founder employees at including all sub-contractors for their efforts 

Tenix NZ, and he has been involved with and teamwork which have contributed to 

the construction of all ten ANZAC frigates the good position Tenix was in as 2007 

and now all four IPVs, as well as with assembling 

drew to a close. 

(in Whangarei) the steel super- 

Representing the NZ Ministry of Defence 

structures of both Offshore Patrol Vessels at the ceremony was CDRE (Rtd) Gary 

OTAGO and WELLINGTON (now being Collier, the Project Director, who echoed 

fitted out in Williamstown). 

Mr Taylor’s comments and went further to 

Representing Tenix NZ, Mr Alistair Taylor say that it is important to reflect on Tenix’s 

spoke of the remarkable achievements and the many subcontractors’ hard work, 

during recent weeks at Whangarei, where dedication and commitment. He takes 

IPV1 (ROTOITI) was completing sea trials, pride in the very fine and capable vessels 

IPV2 (HAWEA) was successfully launched that they have all had a hand in creating. 

on 12 December and IPV3 (PUKAKI) had 

All four IPVs are in various stages of 

been fully consolidated (hull and super- 

completion and he said all were expected 




PROJECT PROTECTOR 

OBITUARY 

WO Steve Bradley and 

Brian West (of Tenix) 

place the Talisman to go 

under the keel of TAUPO 

Photo: Tenix 

to have been delivered by September this 

year. Gary Collier went onto say that from 

an overall project perspective, there were 

now five ships of the whole seven ship 

Project in the water. 

All are fine vessels, Gary Collier commented, 

and he was particularly impressed 

with the performance of ROTOITI during 

sea trials. The capability that the Protector 

vessels will give to New Zealand is 

significant and everyone who has been 

involved in their build, including the MoD 

Project team and the Navy personnel who 

have ably supported the Project, should all 

be justifiably proud of their efforts and for 

meeting the many challenges over the last 

year. Gary thanked them for their contribution 

to these important national assets and 

wished them and their families a safe and 

happy Christmas. 

SIR EDMUND PERCIVAL HILLARY KG, 

ONZ, KBE, passed away in Auckland on 

11 January 2008. Sir Edmund, who in 

1953 with Sherpa Tensing Norgay was the 

first to climb Mt Everest, and who led the 

NZ Support Party for the Commonwealth 

Trans Antarctic Expedition in 1957/58, lay 

in State at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity 

during Monday, 21 January. 

On 22 January his State Funeral was 

held at St Mary’s in Holy Trinity; R A Steer, 

Vice Chief of Defence Force, represented 

the NZDF, while service men and women 

from the three Services were on duty in 

various roles for the funeral. A Vigil was 

mounted around Sir Edmund’s casket 

as he lay in State in the Cathedral, then 

a tri-Service bearers party of Warrant 

Officers, preceded by the New Zealand 

MC 08-0035-02 

THE OPVs 

At the keel laying of TAUPO, Gary Collier, 

the Project Director, stated that: 

The first OPV, OTAGO, which was 

launched on November last year, is 

due to commence sea trials in February 

2008 with delivery scheduled for 

March. 

The second OPV, WELLINGTON, was 

launched in October and is due to be 

delivered in July. 

MC 07-0558-12 

Herald of Arms Extraordinary and the Insignia 

Bearers bore his casket from the 

Cathedral into St Mary’s church for the 

service. The funeral service was broadcast 

nationwide. 

THE STATE FUNERAL OF 

SIR EDMUND PERCIVAL HILLARY, KG, ONZ, KBE 

The NZDF Bearers 

take Sir Edmund 

Hillary’s casket into 

St Mary’s church 

NO 6 SQUADRON VETERAN 

Twenty four year-old Ed Hillary enlisted 

TECH SPECS 

The four IPV’s will conduct maritime 

surveillance in support of civil agencies 

in the littoral area of our coasts 

and EEZ. The IPVs are are a Tenix 

design and entirely New Zealand 

made. They are scheduled for delivery 

during 2008. 

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 

[IMAGE TOP] PUKAKI (IPV 3) PUKAKI is in a well advanced state on the 

consolidation bay at Tenix Shipbuilding NZ Ltd. 

[LOWER IMAGE] ROTOITI (IPV 1) at right, seen with HAWEA. In early 

December ROTOITI successfully completed her contractor’s sea trials in the 

Whangarei Harbour areas. She was launched in late July 2007 and was named 

in a ceremony at the Tenix Shipyard in Whangarei, on 4 August. [See NT 128 

December 07] 

ABOVE: Sir Edmund Hillary (second from l) with 

CAPT Kirkwood, CO of the ENDEAVOUR, CHAP 

Roy McKenzie and CDR Hale, CO of PUKAKI, on 

board ENDEAVOUR at 67ºS in the Ross Sea, before 

ENDEAVOUR headed into the pack ice to take 

the NZ Support Party to the Antarctic in December 

1956. RIGHT: The NZDF Insignia Bearers, (l to r) 

FGOFF Kate Mills, 2LT Steven Fisher, FGOFF Peter 

Jackson, PLTOFF Todd Meredith & ENS Tom Cook 

who carries Sir Ed’s tukutuku. 

MC 08-0035-10 

in the RNZAF in February 1944. After 

training at Blenheim, New Plymouth 

and Ohakea, he qualified as a navigator 

and in April 1945 he was posted 

to No. 6 (Flying Boat) Squadron at 

Halavo Bay, Florida Island (near Guadalcanal) 

in the Solomons. In September 

1945, after convalescing from an 

accident, he was posted to Santo, 

New Hebrides, to serve with No.5 (Flying 

Boat) Squadron. Both squadrons 

operated Catalina flying boats. Their 

main task was to carry out searches 

for enemy ships and submarines or for 

Air-Sea Rescues. These flights could 

last as long as 12 hours, covering 

1000 miles of open sea; the skill of 

the navigator was vital. Sergeant Hillary 

returned to NZ for demobilisation 

in November 1945. 




LEADERSHIP 

THE ROLE OF NEW 

ZEALAND’S SENIOR 

SAILORS 

As hosts, Senior Sailors from the RNZN 

made a number of presentations: 

THE PERSONNEL 

DEVELOPMENT BOARD 

THE RNZN HOSTED A SENIOR SAILORS’ 

SYMPOSIUM IN AUCKLAND LAST NOVEMBER, 

TO BRING TOGETHER WARRANT OFFICERS AND 

MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS 

NAVIES TO DISCUSS COMMON ISSUES. NAVY 

TODAY’S EDITOR ATTENDED THE SYMPOSIUM… 

THE SENIOR SAILORS’ 

SYMPOSIUM 

AUCKLAND 14 – 15 NOVEMBER 2007 

MC 07-0503-62 

THE THEME for the symposium was ‘Senior Sailors Making a Difference’ 

– looking at leadership at the strategic level and the demands 

on senior sailors at the top level of their Service. Overall, 13 navies 

and the US Coast Guard were represented, with senior sailors from 

as far a field as Chile, Turkey and France [see sidebar]. 

The symposium was opened by WO Neil Roberts, Warrant Officer 

of the RNZN. After a warm welcome to the delegates, he explained 

how the RNZN has created an environment and the tools for Senior 

Sailors to contribute to improving organisational performance. WO 

Roberts noted that the Chief of Navy’s personal support was a key 

to the Symposium becoming a reality. 

R A Ledson, CN, introduced the Symposium, explaining that it is 

easy to expect senior leaders to contribute, but personnel need to 

know that their contribution will be welcomed, and, they need to be 

given the skills to make a contribution. It is important, he said, that 

organisations don’t create expectations and aspirations if there is no 

intention of delivering on them. CN encouraged the delegates to acknowledge 

the confidence that their Chief of Navy has placed in them 

to attend the Symposium, and Individually and as a group, to make 

full use of this opportunity. CN concluded by saying that if navies are 

to be a force for good around the world, it is most important that we 

trust each other and he encouraged delegates to use the time of this 

symposium to help build that trust. 

KEYNOTE ADDRESS 

The keynote address was provided by Dr Geoff Lorigan, of the Institute 

for Strategic Leadership in Auckland. Dr Lorigan acknowledged 

that the Symposium was an important conference bringing personnel 

from around the world together and he was honoured to be invited 

as a speaker. He noted that that the delegates are a key link between 

their Chiefs of Navy and the sailors at sea, and as such the Senior 

Sailors need to be able to talk in two languages – that of the Chief of 

Navy and that of the sailors. 

Dr Lorigan described the three levels of leadership and the need to 

use a different leadership style at each level. He described the transition 

between career steps and the keys to promotion at each level. 

• 1st career step – Supervisor - Technical leadership; 

• 2nd career step – Middle Manager – Team leadership; and 

• 3rd career step – Strategic leadership. 

He discussed the differing levels of success or achievement within 

each career step and the potential destructive forces that can arise. 

He stated that there is always a potential for being derailed at different 

career steps and that leadership at the strategic level requires a new 

MC 07-0503-09 

set of behaviours as well as general management 

knowledge and skills. 

Dr Lorigan’s presentation was concluded 

with group workshops giving short presentations 

on leadership. 

THE RESULT 

SWO Aloysius Cheong, Chief Warrant Officer 

of the Republic of Singapore Navy, said 

after the symposium that, “The Senior Sailors 

Symposium was a resounding success 

because of the great job in organizing this 

inaugural event. 

“The professionalism shown by [the RNZN 

team] was commendable and admirable. 

[There were] so many diverse culture in the 

THE COUNTRIES 

REPRESENTED 

• AUSTRALIA 

• CANADA 

• CHILE 

• FRANCE 

• INDIA 

• INDONESIA 

• JAPAN 

• MALAYSIA 

• NEW ZEALAND 

• PAPUA NEW GUINEA 

• SINGAPORE 

• TURKEY 

• UNITED STATES 

(BOTH US COAST GUARD & USN) 

Observers included senior ratings 

from the RNZN, and personnel 

from the NZ Army, RNZAF, NZ 

Defence College and HQNZDF. 

one place and your team handled this well 

and I am very sure every participant left with 

a good feeling of having been well looked 

after and engaged. 

“The fact that so many countries stated 

that they find value in continuing this initiative 

is I believe due in a large part to the 

professional manner that this symposium 

was organized. 

“You created an environment where it was 

easy to interact, network and develop friendships. 

On behalf of the Singapore team [may 

I] extend our deepest appreciation and admiration 

to your team for putting up such a 

good show.” 

WO Dean Bloor explained his position as the 

Command Warrant Officer, HMNZS PHILO- 

MEL. He briefed the history, development 

and implementation of the Personnel Development 

Board (PDB) into the RNZN in 2003. 

Key components of the PDB are the structure 

in each command, the role of mentoring for 

newly-promoted Senior Ratings, the Senior 

Rating’s Notebook, reward and recognition 

and the information catalyst process. 

Within each command, there are PDB representatives 

for each department to support 

PDB initiatives, attend monthly meetings and 

report issues and ideas from sailors within 

their departments. They also vote for the 

Sailor and Civilian of the Quarter, regular recognition 

which was introduced to recognise 

superior performance from Junior Sailors and 

civilians. A Sailor of the Year award has also 

been established. 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The visting Senior Sailors await their powhiri; CN in conversation with 

MCPON Joe Campa US Navy and MCPO Charles Bowen,USCG; The Symposium participants assemble 

on the stairway in the Auckland Hilton hotel, WO Neil Roberts (WON) is at front centre; Master Chief Petty 

Officer of the Turkish Navy, MCPO Necmettin Kocak, with Liz Simmonds-Ratema of the Navy’s Cultural 

Group in Te Taua Moana Marae. 

MC 07-0506-02 




LEADERSHIP 

INTERNATIONAL 

Through the mentoring programme the PDB 

identifies suitable mentors for newly promoted 

Petty Officers, aiming to successfully induct 

personnel into the roles of a PO. 

The Senior Rating’s Notebook has two 

purposes; firstly to correct errant behaviour 

and secondly to provide recognition for good 

behaviour at a lower level. The Notebooks do 

not replace the disciplinary system, but serve 

to cover minor transgressions or particular 

successes. 

The notebook sysyem is sen to be working 

effectively as an aid to Senior rating’s leadership, 

and currently some effort is underway 

to measure the effect on retention. 

THE SAILORS’ LEADERSHIP TEAM 

WO Michelle Hunt gave an insight into the 

Sailors Leadership Team (SLT). She explained 

the make up the SLT and how it fits within our 

Navy’s high level organisational chart. Members 

are Senior Sailors but working teams 

encompass all ranks and include civilian 

personnel. The SLT has undertaken several 

projects thus far: 

• Naval housing policies 

• a bullying and harassment education programme 

• recognition of our Navy’s Heroes (buildings 

and specific areas are now being named after 

prominent naval personnel, to assist our 

young sailors to understand and appreciate 

their heritage) 

• the wellbeing of sailors - fitness and nutrition, 

and creating a culture amongst sailors 

that promotes the importance of maintaining 

good health. 

• a project to identify any possible issues relating 

to gender 

and alcohol and substance abuse. 

OPERATIONS: A CULTURAL 

PERSPECTIVE 

WO Mark Pirikahu presented on cultural matters 

relevant to our Navy’s operations. In his 

role as the Maori Cultural Advisor WO Pirikahu 

provides specialist advice to CN. In recognition 

of the unique cultural composition and 

dynamics within contemporary NZ society, 

the RNZN has adopted elements of Maori 

culture and practices in combination with long 

standing naval traditions and protocols. 

With the global nature of military operations 

there is an increasing need to understand 

indigenous cultures, as well as develop cultural 

skills to operate successfully in different 

environments. 

He provided his operational perspective 

from his deployment to the Solomon Islands 

in 2003 as part of the International Peace 

Monitoring Team (IPMT) and his recent attendance 

at a Five Power Defence Agreement 

(FPDA) Forum held in Singapore, where he 

was introduced to the theory of ‘cultural intelligence’ 

and the realisation that an intimate 

understanding of the different aspects of 

indigenous cultures are required to operate 

successfully in different operational environments. 

SPECIAL VISITOR: 

THE RUSSIAN 

SAILING SHIP 

PALLADA 

The PALLADA departs Auckland 

under sail, passing CANTERBURY 

and TE KAHA at the naval base 

Photo: Mike Millet/Airflow Ltd 

A NAVAL 

EXCELLENCE 

JOURNEY 

On the second day of the conference, Mr Peter 

Sund, a former Warrant Officer in the RNZN, 

described his journey from being a WO in the 

Navy to civilian life as a business owner. He applied 

Naval Excellence (ie business excellence) 

principles to his new business, processes, 

measurement, management and leadership and 

how he integrated these skills into the civilian 

workplace. 

Mr Sund owns a 150-seat seafood and steak 

restaurant, along with a Mexican bar & cafe. He 

currently employs a staff of 55. When starting 

out, Mr Sund knew that if he wanted to be the 

best in his business, he had to be different. He 

engaged in a business coach to act as a mentor 

for his business, as practiced in the Navy (where 

senior sailors mentor junior sailors coming 

through the ranks). 

He was pleased to find that the business world 

was implementing exactly the same strategies 

he had learnt in the Navy: measuring results, 

effectively managing staff and implementing 

good work processes. Everything was measured 

– food, alcohol, wastage, bar hours, 

kitchen hours, admin hours, people through the 

door, complaints, marketing – 

everything! 

Peter Sund outlined the 

key leadership principles for 

success: employing the right 

people, having the right tools, 

training, developing and setting 

clear goals and expectations. 

He underlined that it is 

Peter Sund (back row, l) & 

Steven Sund with (front, l to 

r) Parmjit Sund, Kirsty Allen, 

Prime Minister Helen Clark, 

Mayor Sir Barry Curtis & 

Santosh Sund after winning 

the award for Innovation 

and Strategy in the Westpac 

Business Excellence 

Awards, last year. 

important to provide clear direction and priorities 

to his employees, but then to let them “get 

on with the job”. He found that remuneration, 

while important, is not the key driver to ensuring 

happiness in employees, but that 

recognition is more important. 

Recognition for the whole business 

came recently, when they 

were nominated in the prestigious 

Westpac Manukau Business Excellence 

Awards as a category finalist 

for Customer Service, Employer of 

Choice and, Innovation and Strategy. 

They won the award for Innovation and Strategy, 

which was for Peter Sund clear recognition of 

the value of applying the naval (business) excellence 

principles. 

THE RUSSIAN full-rigged ship PALLADA 

visited Auckland 28-31 December, during a 

world tour to commemorate the 190th anniversary 

of the voyage by Russian explorers F 

F Belinsgauzen and M P Lazarev. The voyage 

also marks the 50th anniversary of Russian 

exploration in the Antarctic. 

The training ship has 121 cadets (accommodated 

in 12 cabins each with 10-12 cadets) 

from eight marine institutions in Russia. Five 

of the cadets were only 16 years old while the 

others are aged between 17-19 years old. 

In addition the ship’s company comprises 17 

officers and 35 seamen. PALLADA is owned 

by the Far Eastern State Technical University 

of Fisheries (Dalrybvtuz) in Vladivostok and 

supported by the Government of the Russian 

Federation. 

The square rigged ship can hoist 26 sails 

totaling 2771 m² and has reached 18.7 knots 

under sail – recorded in the Guinness World 

Records as the fastest tall ship. The main 

mast is almost 50 m above the waterline. 

The ship’s Master, Captain Nikolay Zorchenko, 

says he was very happy with the success 

of PALLADA in commemorating the 

historical Russian explorers. “We have visited 

other places like Manila in the Philippines, 

and Port Moresby [in PNG] because Russian 

sailors visited both of these countries 

in the 18th and 19th centuries. There are 

islands in Fiji that are named [by our Russian 

seamen] like Simonov’s Island, Mikhailova 

Island, Vostok Island and Alexander’s Island. 

We went to Australia because one of the first 

Australian ports received the Russian sloop 

NEVA in 1807.” 

Captain Zorchenko explained that the 

round-the-world tour is an opportunity for 

cadets to learn first hand about exploration, 

navigation and engineering. “The main purpose 

of the training ship is to teach young 

cadets about being able-bodied seamen in 

either of the different divisions like engineering 

and navigation. Cadets will also learn to be 

independent and responsible because being 

far away from home, they learn to do things 

for themselves like washing and ironing their 

clothes.” 

PALLADA left Vladivostok on 2 November 

2007 for a nine month, 32,800 mile, voyage of 

navigation and marine training, including visits 

to 17 countries, all of which hold a significant 

moment in Russian exploration history. 

Fiji was the ship’s destination after leaving 

Auckland. 

TECH SPECS 

SAIL TRAINING SHIP 

PALLADA 

PALLADA is the fifth ship of 

the Dar Mlodziezy-class built 

in Gdansk, Poland during the 

1980s. PALLADA is painted with 

the traditional black hull and white 

strip with gunports, resembling the 

sailing frigates of the 18th century. 

She is named for the Greek 

goddess Pallas Athena. 

Sister ships: MIR (Russia) 

KHERSONES & NADEZHDA 

(Ukraine) and DAR MLODZIEZY 

(Poland) 

Full-rigged ship 

Homeport: Vladivostok 

Sparred length: 356’ 4” (105.5m) 

Beam: 45’ 9” (14m) 

Draft: 22’ 4” (6m) 

Hull: Steel 

Engine: 1500 hp diesel, 1 shaft 


WWW.NAVY.MIL.NZ WWW.NAVY.MIL.NZ NT129JANUARY08 15

MC 07-0396-03 

NAVY RECRUITING 

“LIGHTS, 

CAMERA, 

ACTION!” 

MC 07-0396-96 

MC 07-0396-96 

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: LT Duncan Mackenzie puts his acting skills to the test while 

being filmed for the new Navy recruiting advert in CANTERBURY; Still images from 'Protect and 

Serve' and 'I love you Mum'; The film crew with CANTERBURY's boarding party during the 

filming last August. The recruiting ad can be viewed on the Navy Intranet. 

THIS MONTH, LTCDR MIKE 

HESTER PROVIDES AN INSIGHT 

INTO THE NAVY’S NEW STRATEGIC 

RECRUITING ADVERTISEMENT 

AND ITS ROLE IN OUR 

RECRUITING STRATEGIES. 

THE NAVY recently launched its new 

strategic recruiting television commercial – 

Protect and Serve II. Is it the answer to all 

recruiting challenges? No, but it is part of 

the bigger solution. In today’s fragmented 

(and very expensive) media landscape, it 

is vital that recruitment messages contain 

the right messages and they are delivered 

through the right channels to the right 

people at the right time. 

We know that potential recruits are attracted 

to a career in the Navy through 

a variety of sources. Navy currently uses 

three main channels for its recruitment advertising 

– online, press and television. Until 

recently, Navy had two advertisements in 

its television commercial family, known as 

‘Protect and Serve’ and ‘Love you Mum’. 

‘PROTECT AND SERVE’ 

‘Protect and Serve’ is a strategic recruiting 

television commercial. It is used in the 

formative stage of each advertising cam- 

paign and is aimed at potential recruits and 

the key influencers group (parents, grandparents, 

teachers and career advisors). It 

is used to emphasise the role Navy plays 

– and has always played – in the security 

and welfare of New Zealand and its allies. 

It is important to deliver this message to 

ensure New Zealanders’ perceptions of 

the Navy and its role are positive and that 

it is considered a viable and relevant career 

choice. 

The Hyde Group team (l to r) Frank 

Cartwright, Larry Hyde & Carin Gillies, 

with CN and LTCDR Mike Hester 

‘LOVE YOU MUM’ 

‘Love You Mum’ is a tactical television 

commercial (referred to in the advertising 

world as a ‘Call to Action’) that targets 

Navy’s potential recruits. It is designed to 

reinforce the message that the Navy is a 

technologically advanced and innovative 

organisation where the right people with the 

right values get a chance to contribute, and 

they work hard and have fun whilst doing 

so. It has a 30 second version and two 15 

MC 07-0482-05 

second versions. It features on television in 

the latter stages of advertising campaigns, 

predominantly in advertising slots within 

programs that are watched by Navy’s target 

audience (18 – 24 year olds). It is a fastpaced, 

action-packed insight into life in the 

Navy and is intended to inspire viewers to 

‘act now’ in picking up the phone and applying 

to join. 

WHY THE NEED FOR PROTECT 

AND SERVE II? 

Some recent studies have suggested that 

the Protect and Serve television commercial 

resonated well with the key influencers 

group in the 50+ age groups. However, 

those studies also identified that the Protect 

and Serve television commercial did 

not seem to appeal with the same degree 

of success to the newer generation of parents/caregivers 

in the 30 – 50 age bracket. 

It was therefore recognised that Navy needed 

an additional recruitment message to 

target this group to ensure Navy is viewed 

as a viable and relevant career choice. 

Protect and Serve II is the result of 12 

months work by Recruiting and Navy’s 

Advertising Agency, Hyde Group. A total 

of eight concepts were originally developed 

by Hyde based on Navy’s creative brief. 

Following evaluation and research testing, 

a final concept, titled Fast Forward, was 

selected for production. 

The production phase involved finalising 

the script, identifying some ‘stars’, and then 

preparing for the shoot itself. An audition 

session was held in PHILOMEL last August 

and over 60 personnel volunteered (or were 

volunteered) to ‘star’ in Protect and Serve 

II. The advertising agency selected a large 

number of these personnel to fill the various 

roles in the advertisement. 

The next step was to find a suitable filming 

location. The commissioning and arrival 

home of CANTERBURY provided a great 

opportunity to profile the ship, its capability 

and its crew. Additionally, it provided a really 

effective platform for the film crews for their 

operations. After considerable planning and 

consultation, the shoot was conducted in 

CANTERBURY on 29 – 30 August. The 

ship was very accommodating and the success 

of the shoot was predominantly due to 

the ship’s company’s enthusiasm, tolerance 

and commitment for the project. 

Once the advertisement was ‘in the can’, 

it moved into post production where it was 

fully assembled alongside the Feelers’ track 

‘As Good As It Gets’, and then polished up 

ready for screening. 

The television commercial was officially 

launched by CN at a lunch in CANTER- 

BURY’s hangar, attended by CAN’s Ship’s 

Company, those personnel that volunteered 

to ‘star’ in the commercial, and many other 

personnel who had assisted recruiting 

throughout the year. It first screened on 4 

November 2007 on TV1 and was on air for 

a three week period. Initial reactions have 

been really positive and it will now be fully 

integrated into our advertising campaigns 

for 2008. 

‘Protect and Serve II’ was a large creative 

project and took some 12 months 

from inception to completion. The finished 

product will be a real asset in promoting 

Navy careers and is now an integral part 

of our advertising. Look for it soon on a 

TV near you! 

THE STRATEGY 

Recruiting plays its part in achieving the 

Navy’s Strategic Goal 1 – to have every 

position manned with the right person 

by 2011. The Navy has revalidated its 

Recruitment Marketing Strategy for the next 

three years, to include as goals: 

• improve our Marketing Campaigns 

• improve our Employment Branding 

The new strategic recruiting advertisement 

‘Protect and Serve II’ is part of our series of 

advertisements. 




RNZN PEACEKEEPERS 

they leaned into the mountain slopes, collecting 

surface coal and tossing the lumps 

over their shoulders into large sack-type 

packs. 

The contrast between nature’s beauty 

and the harsh reality of this scene of human 

endeavour – as we watched them 

etching out a life in this part of the world 

- left us momentarily suspended in sobering 

thought. 

In the village, the locals gathered, this 

was the first time NZPRT had been up into 

their valley. Upon seeing their ‘son from the 

ON THE ROAD IN 

AFGHANISTAn: 

KIWI PATROL TEAM 

BY MAJOR SYD DEWES 

OUR PATROL includes WOSCS Shane 

Dixon. In mid-December we were operating 

from the village of Dahane Darya Chasht. 

We chanced upon a young Afghan National 

Army (ANA) NCO, excited about taking 

leave back in his home village. His trek 

had started east of Kabul with a series of 

mini-van rides across Afghanistan. In a way 

familiar to many a Kiwi soldier, our ANA man 

could not get a ride all the way home. But if 

no vehicle was going his way he would walk 

and that’s how he reached Dahane Darya 

Chasht through snow and over some 30 kilometres 

of rough Afghanistan countryside 

(and, let me tell you, it’s rough!) 

We learnt this whilst sharing our choi (tea) 

with the NCO, who told stories of his village, 

its nearby coal mine and how the mountains 

were black despite snow. And home was 

another four hour walk. Our Patrol agreed, 

‘Any soldier who has walked this man’s 

walk, deserves a lift!’ 

That coal mine - it’s a site of potential 

economic development and we needed a 

guide to show us the way. We loaded our 

wares and invited our new ANA friend to 

join us. We gave him a few moments to 

buy some last minute family treats then he 

climbed aboard, his bags lashed to the rear 

of our vehicle. 

River crossings bring on a mixture of fear 

and excitement - you hear your own heart 

ONE 

beating and your mouth is as dry as a 

camel’s in a sandstorm. You drive into the 

water and see it washing over the engine 

bonnet - you want to be at the far bank 

sooner than it takes to call Thunderbirds 

at International Rescue. 

The track wound its way up the rockstrewn 

mountain river bed – you quickly 

develop a style: body roll-and-brace; brace- 

LEFT: Some of Kiwi Patrol 1 with the ANA soldier 

and a friend; (l to r) GNR Terence Bailey, Interpreter 

Mohsen and SGT Nathaniel Olson.ABOVE: The 

coal mountains at Marghi 

and-roll, to survive a bucking Toyota 4 x 

4 that would make Barry Crump proud. 

Eventually after negotiating the river bed 

and a mountain track up a snow-laden 

valley we arrived at the entrance of a wide 

amphitheatre – the view was spectacular. 

A snow-blanketed valley enveloped 

by sun-splashed sheer craggy mountain 

peaks ahead, with smooth snow-capped 

ridges to one side and the black-topped 

coal mountains on the other, all under an 

umbrella of clear blue sky. The air was 

crisp, fresh and still. 

We drove on in the general direction of 

the coal mountains. With narrowing eyes 

we could make out movement on the black 

tops - men slowly picking their way across 

the mountain face, pausing, balanced as 

WO Shane Dixon is the 

2IC of Kiwi Patrol 1 

Army’ with us, the silence was broken by 

calls of recognition, followed rapidly by a 

surge of humanity dispensing man-hugs, 

back-slapping, and handshakes all round. 

Delivering this moment of joy to a remote 

corner of Afghanistan, and seeing such 

happy faces against a background of toil 

made the time and effort to get there so 

worthwhile. Our ANA friend was carried 

away by excited family and friends – with 

a look back to us his eyes conveyed his 

personal message of thanks. 

AFGHANISTAN - 

THE INTERNATIONAL 

COMMITMENT 

AS AT JANUARY 2008, THERE 

WERE 15,000 US TROOPS 

IN THE NATO ISAF FORCE 

AND ABOUT 11,000 OTHERS 

UNDER SEPARATE AMERICAN 

COMMAND. OTHER NATIONS 

HAD DEPLOYED 15,000 

TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN. 

ACH Ally Cocker 

WN 07-0184-01 

The PRT Catering team with their locally 

employed civilians (l to r): SSGT Grant Nisbet, 

Aziz (in black beanie) & Mohammad (in blue dust 

coat), LCPL Sarah Hannam, ACH Ally Cocker, 

Sakina & ACH Rowena Kaa. Absent: Ali Jan 

BEHIND THE STOVE 

BY SSGT GRANT NISBET 

It’s 0500 on any day in Afghanistan, our Chefs do their 40 metre dash to work with 4 layers of 

clothing on, braving the -13°C chilly morning air. The NZ PRT will also have other people up and 

active: manning communications, the Command Post and on security details. 

The catering staff on our deployment are: four NZDF chefs (myself, LCPL Sarah Hannam, ACH 

Ally Cocker & ACH Rowena Kaa), as well as four Locally Employed Civilians who have been 

working within the PRT kitchen since the beginning. The kitchen itself is very functional: 3 gas 

stoves, 2 fryers, 2 mixers and several refrigerators and freezers. 

Our daily routine in the PRT starts with breakfast and cut lunch items for those personnel going 

out of camp for the day. Once breakfast is completed then the early shift Chef will continue 

with completing the preparation for lunch whilst the bakery shift Chef will complete the finishing 

touches on the comprehensive morning tea and prepare the dinner sweets. 

Lunch and dinner are very similar to what you get on a regular camp or base however it is more 

of a smorgasbord than a dictatorship of ‘one choice only’. Many come back for 2nds, 3rds and 4ths 

- a testament, we presume, to us producing good food (and not just habitual-eating disorders!). 

The Mess, ‘Haddock Hall’, remains open 24 hours so that those duty personnel working though 

the night have access to coffee, tea and snack making facilities Although some personnel seem 

to be eating almost constantly, there appear to be no obvious signs of increasing belt sizes - in 

fact just the opposite, possibly attributed to the altitude and the body’s requirement for more 

sustenance than normal. 

Our PRT theme nights have also been very successful with the Mess literally buzzing during 

these occasions: including Mexican, Thanks Giving and Curry themes thus far, with the mess 

suitably attired for each occasion. Up until 15 December we had also celebrated 25 birthdays 

with a raucous chorus and a cake for each. And, we have hosted approximately 300 visitors for 

meals. We had of course a white Christmas, with big celebrations! 

The infrastructure of the Mess building itself has over time been gradually improved to cope 

with the extreme heat of the summer and the cold that we are now enduring over winter. One of 

the most ingenious modifications (thanks to the 9th rotation) is a vent from the kitchen into the 

gas bottle storage room to prevent them from freezing over during winter…this is already paying 

dividends for us, as is the tracer wire that we have wrapped around the plumbing to prevent our 

fresh and waste water from freezing in the pipes. 

Now, after 4 months of deployment, everything is ticking over smoothly. Morale is high, which 

we would like to attribute in part to the provision of our hearty meals. 




INTERNATIONAL 

THIS YEAR, 2008, IS NINETY YEARS ON FROM THE FINAL YEAR OF ‘THE GREAT WAR’. DURING 1918 THE FORTUNES OF 

THE ALLIES AND OUR ENEMIES WERE TO SHIFT DRAMATICALLY, AS STALEMATE ON THE WESTERN FRONT FINALLY WAS 

BROKEN. IN COMING ISSUES NAVY TODAY WILL COMMEMORATE THE NAVY’S ROLE IN DEFEATING THE U-BOATS AND 

ENABLING VICTORY. BUT THE DARKEST DAYS OF THE WAR WERE ENDURED IN 1917, WHEN THE BRITISH AND EMPIRE 

ARMIES WERE MIRED IN THE MUD OF FLANDERS, CULMINATING IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR PASSCHENDAELE. DURING LAST 

YEAR OUR NAVAL PERSONNEL SHARED IN THE NZDF’S REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE TRAGIC CAMPAIGNS. 

COMMEMORATING 

WORLD WAR ONE 

PhotoS: Army Museum 

Tyne Cot Cemetery, 

4 October 2007 

adversity, Glyn’s book depicts the story that 

is the Battle of Passchendaele. I begun to 

understand the enormity of what had occurred, 

and how it come to pass. While 

there is always a tendency to use hindsight 

and today’s expectations to blame the 

military leaders of the day for the blunder, 

looking at the images and reading the accounts 

of the devastation that led up to the 

attack of 12 October 1917, it is easier to 

comprehend why the dramatic push was 

considered necessary. 

The 90th commemorations of the Battle 

of Passchendaele provided those who 

knew the story with the opportunity to tell 

it. The commemorations held at the New 

Zealand Memorial at S’Graventafel and at 

Tyne Cot Cemetery on 4 and 12 October 

2007 were fitting occasions for this to occur. 

The early morning mist on the 4th, and 

the darkness of the Dawn Service on the 

12th, created a solemn atmosphere across 

the land as if a reminder of the events of 90 

years pervious. 

Each of the seven services conducted 

during our commemorations told the story 

of the destruction of war, the enormous 

sacrifice New Zealand made as a young 

nation, and the tales of courage and commitment 

that the New Zealanders continually 

demonstrated on the battlefield. 

The Battle of Passchenedaele is one of 

the events in our short history that forged 

the foundation for who we are today as 

a nation. New Zealand’s commitment to 

Allied campaign in WWI is well-known 

throughout the small townships of Flanders 

and the people of the region continue to be 

grateful for the contribution New Zealand 

made. As the years grow in number, we 

should all take the time to read the lessons 

of our history to help us understand who we 

are and avoid the mistakes of the past. 

For me, the 90th commemorations provided 

this opportunity and accordingly, I am 

grateful to have been involved in telling the 

story to so many. 

ABOVE: SGT Chris Hillock RNZAF meets Prime 

Minister Helen Clark. Having two great uncles 

who fought in WWI made SGT Chris Hillock’s role 

in the commemorations of the 90th anniversary 

of Passchendaele even more personal. “Two of 

my great uncles were killed, one fighting in France 

and one in Gallipoli during the First World War. I 

was honoured to be part of these ceremonies and 

to have the chance to connect to my family this 

way,” Chris said. SGT Hillock has been in charge 

of the Navy Photographic Unit at DNB for 3 years. 

REFLECTIONS ON PASSCHENDAELE 

BY LTCDR CHRIS FLECK RNZN 12 October 1917 being recorded as one 

of New Zealand’s darkest days. More New 

WHEN THE CALL for an advanced Liaison Zealanders were killed in the early hours of 

Officer to support Op Remembrance was that day than has occurred on any other 

made in late August, I reflected on a previous 

visit to Belgium. Amongst my memo- 

and two thousand wounded, that day at 

day since. With over a thousand Kiwis killed 

ries of fine beer and chocolates, I recalled Passchendaele is recognised as our worst 

visiting the NZ Memorial at Messines Ridge, military disaster. However, unlike Gallipoli, 

the township of Ieper and driving through the story of Passchendaele remained relatively 

unknown to most New Zealanders. 

the narrow country lanes of Flanders. While 

I was aware the Ieper (Ypres) Salient had Until my name was drawn out of the hat, I 

been a prominent battleground of WWI, I was one of them. 

had not fully appreciated that those fertile Three weeks later, the flight half way 

lands contained so much of New Zealand’s around the world gave me the opportunity 

to put this right, I read Glyn Harper’s 

blood, sweat and tears. 

The story of the Battle of Passchendaele ‘Massacre At Passchendaele’. A disturbing 

is one of NZ’s little-known stories, despite account of human sacrifice in the face of 

WN 07-0020-09 

BLACK & WHITE IMAGES LEFT TO RIGHT: 

Steel ribs from a German pillbox on the shelltorn 

battlefield; NZ Gunners struggle to move a 

field gun in the mud; A duck-board track behind 

the front lines. LEFT: LTCDR Chris Fleck with 

the PM, and CDF during the commemorations. 

ABOVE: NZ singer Haley Westenra took part in 

the events. 

WN 07-0020-06 

THE BATTLE 

The Third Battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele, 

was fought by British, ANZAC and 

Canadian soldiers against the German Army 

from July - October 1917. The aim of the battle 

was capture Passchendaele Ridge and break 

through the German defences, then drive north 

to the Belgian coast and capture the German 

submarine bases there. After three months 

of fierce fighting the rubble of the small town 

was finally taken by the Canadian forces, but 

the Allies had suffered almost half a million 

casualties, and the Germans almost a quarter 

of a million. 

Allied soldiers who lost their lives at Passchendaele 

are commemorated at the Menin Gate 

Memorial in Ypres, the Tyne Cot Memorial to the 

Missing and at the Tyne Cot and neighbouring 





21

GALLEY SLIDE 

Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries. Tyne five soldiers have been identified and their family 

Cot is the largest Commonwealth War Graves members attended the ceremony. 

Commission cemetery in the world with nearly “For all, Passchendaele is a byword for courage 

12,000 graves, including 519 New Zealanders, in adversity,” said Prime Minister Helen Clark. “It 

322 of them unidentified. 

speaks of people bravely doing their duty as their 

New Zealanders and the people of Belgium comrades around them were being cut down, of 

came together during 4 – 12 October at a series desperate efforts to advance under a merciless 

of memorial services to mark New Zealand’s part hail of machine gun bullets, of stretcher bearers 

in the Battle of Passchendaele, exactly 90 years struggling to extricate the wounded lying in the 

ago. One of the many services was held at Nine quagmire.” 

Elms Cemetery, where former All Black captain “The Battle of Passchendaele was one of 

Dave Gallaher is buried. 

the bloodiest of World War I,” said LTGEN 

Over a thousand people attended the Anzac Mateparae. “October 12 1917 is the most disastrous 

day in our military history. The name Pass- 

ceremony at Tyne Cot Cemetery. After the Anzac 

Service, the ADF held a very moving and solemn chendaele conjures up images of stinking mud, 

ceremony at Polygon Wood where five Australian shell holes filled with water, a desolate wasteland. 

soldiers whose remains were found near Westhoek 

only this year, were re-interred. Two of the fought here provides an example to us 

The courage under fire exhibited by the men who 

all.” 

ABOVE: A shell burst during the battle. 

BELOW: A dressing station on Messines Ridge. 

THE BATTLE OF MESSINES - 90TH ANNIVERSARY 

BY POWT PHIL BISHOP 

BEING PART of Exercise Long Look 2007 

presented an opportunity last June to participate 

in the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of 

Messines Ridges, in Belgium. The ceremony 

was organised by NZDS London and was meticulously 

planned and executed. The RNZN 

contingent was made up of LTCDR McRae, 

LT Pevreal, LT Arndt, and myself as part of the 

21-strong NZDF contingent, who all boarded 

the Eurostar train. 

Mesen (referred to in WWI by its name in 

French “Messines”) has a special relationship 

with NZ, and in particular with Featherston. It 

LT Rhys Pevreal assists 

the Hon Annette King 

unveiling the plaque in 

Mesen (Messines) 

was the scene of a successful attack by New 

Zealand troops; the people of Mesen have 

never forgotten this as they were liberated 

from the Germans (for a short time - Mesen fell 

again into German hands in March 1918). 

The relationship between Featherston and 

Mesen started in 1975, to recognise the historic 

link between the two towns. Many of the 

young Kiwis who came to fight in Belgium 

set out from the Featherston Military Camp, 

where they had had their training. During the 

War, 4,711 New Zealanders lost their lives in 

Belgium. 

The II ANZAC Corps was assigned the task 

of capturing Messines Ridge. The attack was 

launched after the detonation of 19 giant 

mines under the German trenches – the sound 

reportedly being heard in London (some of the 

mine craters are still visible). Over 2,000 guns 

were used. A medium or heavy gun was allocated 

to every 40 metres of front. 144,000 

tons of shells were available - in the initial 

bombardment over 1,000,000 rounds were 

fired. On 7 June 1917, the New Zealanders 

captured the village of Messines, flanked on 

one side by the Australians (together forming 

the ANZAC Corps) and on the other by British 

and Irish troops. 

The first Wreath Laying Service for our Contingent 

was conducted at the NZ Memorial. 

The main service was at the Messines Ridge 

Cemetery. A karanga was performed by Puna 

Heremaria and Precious Clark, providing a 

unique NZ touch. Locals were not to be outdone, 

however, and the band and guard were 

ably provided by the Belgian forces. 

The wreath laying was augmented by Dame 

Kiri Te Kanawa’s ‘Po Atu Rau’ where VIPs, local 

dignitaries, and children laid poppies. 

At the conclusion of the service, we marched 

off to the music of Po Kare Kare Ana and proceeded 

on foot to a third and final service at 

Mesen church for the unveiling of a plaque to 

honor L/Cpl Frickleton, VC. As the sound of 

the church bells rang, the Unveiling Ceremony 

commenced. LTCOL John Boswell provided 

the historical background to Frickleton’s action 

that earned him the VC, before the Hon 

Annette King, Minister for State Services, 

unveiled the plaque. 

The trip was an enlightening experience in 

history, and I am glad to have been there. 

PhotoS: Army Museum 

A PERSONNEL VIEW 

FROM ACN (P) 

BY CAPT ROSS SMITH MNZM, RNZN 

THIS COLUMN has been introduced to 

provide one means of communicating personnel 

or Human Resource (HR) issues of 

a topical nature to members of the Navy. 

The idea is to keep people abreast of current 

personnel policy developments and, 

in some cases, to provide guidance on 

where to go for further information on certain 

matters. The column is not intended to 

cut across any information flows that exist 

within command chains and our Divisional 

system, but rather to give readers a flavour 

of current issues of note in the personnel 

arena in Navy. 

One of the substantial issues that was 

identified in Project MATAKITE was the issue 

of communication. The message we 

received was that people want summarised 

information provided in face-to-face briefings. 

Based on this feedback, myself, CDR 

Andrew Patterson (Director Naval Personnel 

Policy) and CDR Lester Piggott (Director 

Naval Strategic Personnel Planning) conducted 

a series of briefings at DNB, HQ 

JFNZ and Naval Staff. 

These briefings covered a range of issues 

including superannuation and developments 

in a couple of important NZDF 

HR projects: the Remuneration Strategy 

Project and, the work currently being conducted 

around the Housing and Accom- 

MC 08-0030-13 

MC 08-0031-59 

modation Assistance (HAA) Review. The 

briefings gave attendees the opportunity 

to ask questions and stimulate discussion. 

Approximately 450 personnel attended 

these briefings and the informal feedback 

was that it was a worthwhile thing to do 

and should be repeated. As a result, it is 

intended to conduct a similar series of briefings 

in July and December 2008. Dates, 

timings and venues will be promulgated 

closer to the time. 

As you are aware the main challenges 

currently facing the Navy, and indeed the 

NZDF, are recruitment and retention. These 

issues are well recognised by the Executive 

Leadership Team and to this end the primary 

focus for senior leaders during 2008 

will be to prioritise and accelerate the work 

being conducted in the NZDF HR Management 

Change Programme. The three most 

significant projects are: 

• the Military Remuneration Strategy Review, 

• the HAA Review and 

• the Superannuation Review. 

Increased horse-power is being provided 

to these projects by the appointment of the 

retiring VCDF, AVM David Bamfield, to the 

position of Executive Programme Manager 

who will report directly to CDF on these 

specific work streams. 

Two views of Fleet Divisons, 18 January. (LEFT) 

the Governor General’s inspection; (ABOVE) one 

of the PHILOMEL platoons marches past. 

MARINE TECHNICIAN 

RETENTION SCHEME 

Within the Navy, our most significant recent 

initiative has been the creation of the Marine 

Technician Retention Scheme (MTRS). Full 

details are in Navy Order 55/2007 but you 

may be interested to know that: 

• the take up rate amongst those eligible for 

the scheme was 67% overall, 

• with 59% of Leading Hands signing up, 

• and 73% of PO/CPOs. 

The MTRS has provided a significant 

indication of intention amongst the MTs for 

planning purposes and will aid the redevelopment 

of the Fleet Plan which is currently 

underway. Our challenge now is to use the 

window of opportunity that the MTRS should 

provide to examine personnel structures 

Navy-wide to see if they can be tailored to 

our post-Protector fleet, and to the future 

recruitment and retention environment. To 

that end I have initiated a project which will 

review Branch and Trade structures over 

the next two years or so. This project has 

potentially far-reaching implications and I 

will update you on its progress from time to 

time in this column. 

In closing I will take the opportunity to welcome 

CAPT Kevin Keat back to the Navy 

personnel business with his appointment as 

CFPT and to wish his predecessor, CAPT 

Wayne Mackey, well, in his new position in 

Development Branch HQ NZDF. CAPT Keat 

has a strong background in HR having previously 

completed appointments as ACN (P) 

at Naval Staff and J1 at HQ JFNZ. 




23 

23

OUR PEOPLE 

A. PHILOMEL’S EVENTS TEAM were 

awarded the Naval Support Command 

Efficiency Trophy; Pam Pearson (l) and 

Maureen Grigg (c) accepted the trophy from 

the Governor General. 

B. THE NAVY SEAMSTRESSES, Mercia Van 

Den Bosch and Robyn Taylor received The 

Naval Support Command Customer Service 

Trophy at Fleet Divisions. 

C. PROUD DAD CPOPTI Malcolm Alker 

introduces baby Kauri Alker to (l to r), Ben 

Barker, Steve Price - Captain NZ Warriors, 

Sam Barker, CPOPTI Pete Hodge, Glen Butler 

& WOMAA Skinney McKinney 

D. CONGRATULATIONS. LT Jon Clow 

RNZN (seen with his partner LTCDR Kelly 

McRae) won the Boniwell Trophy at HMS 

COLLINGWOOD as dux of his PWO Course. 

‘LT Clow performed consistently well 

throughout his PWO Course, finishing as 

Top Student for PWO 151.’ The trophy was 

inaugurated by Mrs Boniwell in memory of 

her late husband, LTCDR Martin Boniwell RN, 

former head of the RN PWO section. 

D 

A 

B 

C 

E. THE BEARER PARTY for Sir Edmund 

Hilliary’s casket [see page 11] were (l to r): 

WOCH Colin Carkeek, WO2 Jason Rapana, 

WOWT Norman Leaming, WO Naihi Norman, 

LTCDR Laurie French, drummer CPOMUS 

Mike Tan, WO David Lark, WOCSS John 

Grootjans, WO2 Bob Trundle & WORS Darren 

Crosby. 

F. NGAPONA FAREWELL. The RNZNVR 

Guard during the final parade at HMNZS 

NGAPONA’s St Mary’s Bay base. The next 

issue of NT will describe NGAPONA’s move 

across the harbour into the dockyard. 

F 

G & K. THE MAORI CULTURAL GROUP 

during the Change of Command ceremonies 

for DCN, MCC and the CO of PHILOMEL on 

30 November see p 6]. G. (L to r) front row: 

LCSS Matiu Kena LCSS Shane Westbrook, 

LSCS Tana Pungatara; back row: CPOCSS 

Karauria Ruru, GSH Val Alder, Mrs Paula 

Rudolph & OCSS Kahu-Reremoa Hoko. 

K. (L to r) front row: Mrs Paula Rudolph, 

OCO Taua Taiatini, Ms Mary-Anne Green; 

back row: ACH Riki Gunn & CPODR Mark 

Simpkins. 

H. OPERATIONS: TIMOR LESTE. (l to r) MAJ 

C Preece (OC Kiwi Coy), Santa (aka LT Barry 

Holmes RNZN) & CHAP Peter Olds RNZN 

heading out to deliver gifts to the NZ soldiers 

of Kiwi Coy, last December. 

H 

E 

G 

I. OPERATIONS: LEBANON. CPODI Lance 

Graham & LDR Raupatu Ormsby prepare to 

dispose of a 155mm Smoke Projectile. The 

NZ team returned from the Lebanon earlier 

this month. 

J. NAVY’S TRAP SHOOTING TEAM: (l to 

r) WOMT(L) Kramer Pierce, OT(WE) Damien 

Meredith, Mr Murray Steedman of FEC and 

kneeling, PTE James Mabin NZ Army, who 

made up the squad. They were the first RNZN 

team in the competition for over a decade 

and WO Pierce won the C Grade Triples with 

his ‘trusty old pump action Mossberg 590.’ 

WOMT(L) Pierce is also the POC for the RNZN 

Pistol Club. Contact him on DIXS or phone at 

PHILOMEL x 7365. 

I 

J 

K 




NAVY FLEET RECRUITING 

PROGRESS 

D I V I N G & M C M F O R C E 

DIVING & MCM FORCE 

MANAWANUI HAD A CHANGE FROM OUR USUAL TASKS OF MINE COUNTER 

MEASURES SURVEYS, SUPPORT TO THE OPERATIONAL DIVING TEAM, AND 

TRAINING, WHEN THE SHIP UNDERTOOK SOME MULTI-AGENCY TASKS LATE 

LAST YEAR AT THE CHATHAM ISLANDS, FOR DOC AND MFISH. 

HMNZSMANAWANUI 

IN THE 

CHATHAM 

ISLANDS…. 

BY LTCDR MARK LONGSTAFF RNZN 

[COMMANDING OFFICER] 

WE SPENT A WEEK at DNB preparing for 

Op MULTUS - one of the tasks for DoC was 

to use the ship’s boats to observe and record 

colonies of the native Chatham Island 

Shag, which are dotted on cliffs around 

Chatham and Pitt Islands. Knowing that 

the sea state at the Chathams was likely 

to make launching and recovery difficult, 

time was set aside to develop a process 

that would ensure the Pacific RHIB could 

be launched by our Main Crane while in a 

seaway, with the boat kept under full control 

throughout the complete launch and 

recovery manoeuvre. This took a couple of 

MANAWANUI departing from 

Lyttelton on 26 November 

hours to achieve and document, but given 

the wild movements that a 2½ tonne boat 

can attain due to the ship’s movement and 

the pendulum effect, it was considered well 

worth the effort. 

In light of the frequent gales associated 

with the spring equinox and to ensure 

MANAWANUI had adequate time to reach 

the Chathams, we sailed on a Sunday, with 

a 35-40 knot westerly gale to boost us! 

Borne for the passage to cover the Operation 

in his periodical was Mr Keith Ingram, 

Editor of Professional Skipper magazine 

(himself ex-RNZN and also proud father of 

LTCDR Deane Ingram – see page 5). 

Navigation for the passage was conducted 

by MID Clayton Dando, using 

astro-navigation, as a requirement for him 

to attain the Advanced OOW Certificate. 

(In one earlier exit from Auckland, we had 

stationed the Navigator on the Bridge Top 

to conducting the exit using only the standard 

magnetic compass and a stop watch. 

Despite blustery winds and rain, this drill 

proved to be quite successful and confirmed 

that navigation can be successfully 

conducted if the ship’s electronic equipment 

were degraded.) 

During our passage, the wind increased 

in strength and backed to the southwest, 

gusting in excess of 50 knots and the swell 

climbed to over 5m from the southwest and 

square on our beam. We hove to with the 

swell fine on the starboard shoulder with the 

ship’s speed reduced to four knots. 

Fortunately the weather improved quickly 

and as the wind eased, the swell fell away 

such that a course directly towards the 

Islands at nine knots was achieved. The 

Navigator, using the rough log, assessed 

our many course and speed alterations 

and along with a couple of sun sights produced 

a new Estimated Position (EP). After 

another accurate fix from morning stars, 

PHOTO:BRYAN SHANKLAND 

the Navigator was then cheated from a visual 

landfall, due to a very heavy mist that 

cloaked the Islands, with visibility down to 

three miles. 

The substantial swell made Waitangi 

Wharf and the Bay untenable, therefore we 

sought shelter in Port Hutt, a long narrow 

inlet to the north of the Bay. MANAWANUI 

anchored for the night and our arrival attracted 

the attention of the locals. An 

enthusiastic group of eight were given a 

tour of the ship and offered helpful local 

knowledge regarding navigation around the 

Chathams. (Meanwhile fishing rods and diving 

gear appeared, which soon produced 

good results.) 

Over night the wind backed to the southwest, 

to make Waitangi Wharf accessible 

and allow the DoC stores to be embarked. 

Many hands made light work of loading 

the fencing material, including 200 posts 

and 40 bails of wire. To meet the ship 

were personnel from the DoC and MFish. 

An additional well-wisher was LTCDR Lee 

Clough, RNZN (Rtd), now a resident of the 

Islands. 

With four DoC and two MFish personnel 

embarked, MANAWANUI cleared the 

wharf bound for Pitt Island. The passage to 

Flower Pot, an open bay on the north coast 

of Pitt Island, took longer than expected 

due to the heavy swell, but by 1730 the 

ship had come to anchor approximately 

700 yards from the jetty and slipway. A 

motorised barge was co-opted to take the 

fencing material ashore. The use of the 

barge made landing the material quick and 

safe in the moderate swell and the task was 

completed in much easier fashion than if we 

had only the ship’s small boats to use. 

Along with the barge came a visit from 

nine children from Pitt Island Primary 

School and three adults, who were all very 

enthusiastic about a visit from the Navy (and 

our ice cream). 

Over the next three days we supported 

DoC and MFish in their operations utilising 

both the Red Knight, (our medium-sized 

RHIB) and the larger Pacific RHIB. The sea 

conditions proved rather boisterous and 

the boat handling and surfing skills of our 

coxwains were tested. At some locations, 

it was clear that operating boats would not 

be feasible due to the south-west swell. 

DOC 

• Observed nesting sites of the Chatham 

Island Shag on Rabbit Island, off the northern 

tip of Pitt Island. 

• Inspected the nesting areas of Round 

Island, the largest part of the Star Keys. 

• Tupuangi Bay - a further colony of shags 

were observed 

• Checked shag colonies on the cliffs off 

Cannister Cove off Pitt’s south east coast. It 

had been approximately 5 years since DoC 

ABOVE: The RHIB returning 

to MANAWANUI 

after taking DoC staff 

to inspect shag colonies 

at the Star Keys 

islands (background). 

LEFT: The RHIB being 

launched, note that 

it is strapped hard in 

against the boom to 

keep it stable whilst it is 

slewed outboard. 

staff were last in that area; while there, two 

colonies that they were unaware of were 

observed. 

• Observed a large shag colony on the cliffs 

of Cape Fournier (S E of Chatham Is and 

inaccessible from the shore). 

• The Pinnacles - but no nesting birds were 

seen. 

MFish 

• Inspected paua boats in Tupuanga Bay 

• Inspected.local fishing vessels at the exposed 

outcrop of the Star Keys. 

• A Crayboat was off South East Island was 




FLEET PROGRESS 

D I V I N G & M C M F O R C E 


paid a visit by the MFish Officers. 

• In the north, seven Paua boats were 

inspected, some with as much as one 

tonne of Paua harvested that day from 

free-diving. 

Of note undersized paua must be returned 

by the divers and placed on the 

rocks. If simply flicked overboard, they are 

vulnerable to attack from blue cod or other 

fish. This is part of the code of practice that 

MFish officers were checking. 

The routine we had devised and drilled 

for the RHIB definitely proved its worth, as 

each recovery was conducted with very few 

fretful moments. While at each anchorage, 

our ship’s company collected some paua 

by free diving while the fishermen onboard 

managed to catch a number of Blue Cod, 

of a size not seen on the ‘Mainland’ for 

many a year. 

With all tasks required by DoC and MFish 

completed (in fact more than they had 

hoped for), MANAWANUI headed back to 

Waitangi Wharf to return the parties ashore. 

Each party was presented with an inscribed 

MANAWANUI plaque in recognition of the 

ship’s visit and involvement in Operation 

MULTUS 01/07. 

MANAWANUI sailed from Waitangi on the 

evening of 20 October, bound for Devonport 

and facing forecast 5-7m SW swells; 

we berthed at DNB five days later. 

November/December were also busy 

months for MANAWANUI. They began with 

an EEZ Patrol of the East Coast of the North 

and South Islands to Lyttelton, where we 

undertook Mine Countermeasures (MCM) 

Operations. 

MCM operations were cancelled at short 

notice in order to support the Ministry of 

Fisheries investigate the activities of the 

Fishing Vessels MELILLA 201 and MELILLA 

203 (M203) which were suspected of incorrectly 

recording their catch. This required us 

to proceed into the Southern Ocean. Once 

finally home in December, we proceeded on 

Christmas leave. 

All in all, October – December were 

fantastic and challenging months which 

proved that well trained and professional 

sailors from all branches, with a ‘Can 

Do’ attitude and a versatile platform like 

MANAWANUI, the RNZN can effectively 

support other Government agencies and 

the public of New Zealand to maintain our 

borders, resources and national interests. 

TOP: DoC fence posts being unloaded; (l to r) 

POSCS Hardgrave, ASCS Holloway, LCO Mercier, 

MID Jamieson, LCH Bowden, AHSO Tunley, 

CPOSCS Mills. LEFT: OMT Abbe Carr being promoted 

to AMT by the CO, with WOMT Chamley, 

MEO, assisting. ABOVE: AET Jessica Singh receives 

her present from Santa. 

DIVING ON THE 

OLD CANTERBURY 

During the final week of October and the first week of November, 

MANAWANUI supported the Operational Diving Team 

for Exercise NAUTILUS 02/07, being continuation training both 

in Surface Supplied (SSBA) and Compressed Air Breathing 

Apparatus (CABA). 

Guided by our new Navigation Officer, SLT G Bicknell RNZN, 

we proceeded to Great Barrier Island to conduct diving operations. 

As the second week began, a signal from HQJFNZ 

instructed the ODT and MANAWANUI to proceed to the Bay 

of Islands to support the NZ Police inspect the wreck of the 

former frigate CANTERBURY [see NT 128 p 43]. 

We met the Police Dive Liaison Officer, Senior Sergeant 

Dave Adams at the Waitangi (Bay of Islands) wharf. From 

there we headed out to the dive site at Deep Water Cove, and 

conducted a tricky, three point moor in a brisk 40 knot south 

easterly, close to the sunken frigate’s port side. Mooring close 

enabled the ODT to use MANAWANUI’s SSBA equipment to 

remain underwater for a reasonable duration, then recompress 

back onboard in the ship’s recompression chamber. CABA 

was also used to complete checking the starboard side and 

by 1600 that afternoon it was confirmed that all charges had 

been detonated. 

Next morning we moored even closer to the wreck to continue 

SSBA dive training and clearly mark the wreck with buoys. 

Unfortunately half way through the first dive the forward anchor 

dragged and the ship started to drift over the top of the wreck. 

The divers were quickly recovered and using the port aft anchor, 

combined with the bow thruster, MANAWANUI was manoeuvred 

clear of the wreck, fortunately without the anchor wires, spread 

out a few hundred metres, being caught. On recovering the 

starboard forward anchor it was found that a large rock had 

At Fleet Divisions on 18 January, MANAWANUI was 

awarded the CDR W L J Smith Trophy for Support Force 

Excellence. LEFT: Local visitors from Port Hut, Chatham Is, 

had their photo taken with the CO on the bridge. 

Dive Wrecks on the 

Northland coast 

become embedded between the shank and the flukes. Obviously 

the anchor had caught on the rock when it was laid but 

was pulled out in a gust of wind. Attempts to remove the rock 

by streaming the anchor failed so the ship re-anchored using the 

port anchor then lowered the starboard anchor with its rock to 

the sea floor where the ODT utilised their underwater hydraulic 

jack hammer to break up the rock, thus providing worthwhile 

training for a number of hours. 

MAP: JGSF 

MC 08-0031-68 




NAVAL SUPPORT FORCE 

FLEET FLEET PROGRESS 

N A V A L S U P P O R T F O R C E 

DIVING N A V A& L CMCM O M B AFORCE 

T F O R C E 

MC 07-0263-05 

THE LOSS OF ABLE SEAMAN 

BYRON SOLOMON 

AFTER TE MANA’S 

SOUTHERN OCEAN PATROL 

LAST SEPTEMBER, MFISH 

HMNZSCANTERBURY 

REVIEW ORDERED OF ACQUISITION AND 

INTRODUCTION TO SERVICE 

On 20 December the Minister of Defence 

asked that the NZDF and the Ministry of Defence 

begin an independent review into the 

acquisition and introduction into service of 

HMNZS CANTERBURY. The NZDF and MoD 

support and endorse this review. 

Secretary of Defence John McKinnon, said: 

“The Chief of Defence Force and I welcome 

this review, and look forward to identifying 

and rectifying any areas of concern around 

CANTERBURY. The MoD and the NZDF have 

confidence in this ship and see it as an asset 

to New Zealand, and this review will ensure the 

New Zealand public share our confidence.” 

STATEMENT BY CN, 

RA DAVID LEDSON 

CANTERBURY arriving 

in Auckland 11 July; note 

the empty alcove where 

the RHIB is stowed 

It is expected the Terms of Reference and 

announcement on whom will do the review will 

be released in the next few weeks. 

The CDF, LTGEN Jerry Mateparae, said, 

“The results of the Court of Inquiry into the 

loss of the ship’s port RHIB indicate there are 

concerns with the ship which warrant further 

investigation. 

“However, I am confident that there are no 

issues with CANTERBURY that cannot be corrected. 

Safety of our personnel and equipment 

are our first priority and this review will provide 

greater certainty and confidence around the 

design and performance of CANTERBURY.” 

On 10 July 2007 the CANTERBURY lost her port 

RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) and damaged her 

starboard RHIB while crossing the Bay of Plenty 

in a severe storm. 

At the time the RHIB was lost, the ship’s log 

records the weather conditions as being a wind 

strength of 60 knots, gusting to 73, a swell of six 

metres (sea state six), and a completely overcast, 

“very dark night”. 

The loss and damage of the RHIBs was caused 

by large volumes of water entering the ship’s 

alcoves in which the boats were stowed. These 

ripped the port RHIB from its alcove and caused 

structural damage to the starboard RHIB. The water 

ingress occurred due to a combination of ship 

roll, the position of the alcoves relative to the waterline, 

the wave height and the wave direction. 

A Court of Inquiry was assembled to investigate 

the incident. The Court identified several immediate 

steps which can be taken to improve the securing 

arrangements for the RHIBs. However, these 

will not address the issue of the alcove flooding, 

which is a result of the ship’s design. The Ministry 

of Defence and the Contractor have been working 

on implementing changes to the ship to address 

the identified shortcomings. 

Other matters raised by the Court into the performance 

of the CANTERBURY will be addressed 

in the independent review of the acquisition and 

introduction into service of the ship, asked for by 

the Minister of Defence Phil Goff. 

A second inquiry, into the death of Able Seaman 

Byron Solomon on October 5 when an inflatable 

boat capsized alongside the CANTERBURY, is 

due to report later this year. Details are unlikely 

to be released until the Coroner has considered 

the accident. However, the Minister of Defence, 

Mr Goff, is reported as saying that he had been 

advised it was caused by the failure of a quick 

release shackle, which was now being replaced 

on all naval vessels. 

A senior Naval Officer met with the parents 

of the late Byron James Solomon on Thursday 

20 December to personally discuss the Court of 

Inquiry into an incident onboard CANTERBURY 

on 5 October 2007, in the vicinity of Spirit’s Bay 

off Northland. During routine sea boat recovery 

drills, the RHIB capsized and tragically Byron 

James Solomon, a Navy Able Hydrographic 

Systems Operator, was killed. 

The Solomon and Carkeek Family have 

released the following statement: 

“We are grateful to the Navy for keeping us 

in the loop and briefing us at every opportunity 

in all aspects surrounding Byron’s tragic death. 

We understand there are some issues regarding 

the equipment used on the CANTERBURY 

and naturally enough the Navy is keen to 

complete further investigation so that they can 

establish whether or not they have the safest 

options available. This process is critical as 

conditions are dangerous enough as it is for 

our servicemen and women without the added 

concern of sub-standard equipment or design” 

said Bill Solomon [Byron’s father]. 

“We applaud Mr Goff’s comments that “safety 

must always be the first priority” and we await 

with interest the results of the review he has 

requested. It is our great hope that if any 

changes to current policies and procedures 

is recommended that they be implemented 

as soon as possible to prevent other families 

going through the same trauma we have since 

that dreadful day in October. The question of 

whether or not Byron’s death was avoidable 

will be answered with the fullness of time. For 

the moment however, as a family we look to 

each other and friends for support as we face 

the first Christmas without a much loved son 

and brother.” 

INVESTIGATOR GARY WRIGHT 

REPORTED FOR MFISH’S IN- 

HOUSE PUBLICATION BITE 

MAGAZINE. 

FISHERY 

OFFICERS 

IN THE 

SOUTHERN 

OCEAN 

BOARDING TRAWLERS in sleet and snow 

was all part of the job for five MFish staff 

working on board HMNZS TE MANA in the 

Southern Ocean in September. The operation 

was focused on the Southern Blue Whiting 

fishery, deep in New Zealand’s EEZ, near 

the Campbell Islands, 500 kilometres south 

of Bluff. Napier-based fisheries investigator 

Gary Wright was on board and recorded the 

highlights of this operation in sub-Antarctic 

waters. Two days out of port with all the gear 

tested and adjusted for southern ocean conditions, 

the MFish staff were looking forward 

to getting to work. 

“On the third day we came upon the fleet of 

seven foreign charter vessels which ranged in 

size from 70m to 104m and all of which were 

fishing within an eight square nautical mile 

area. The southern blue whiting fishery is an 

intensive spawn fishery. Large aggregations 

allow 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of fish to be 

caught in very localised areas over a couple 

of months. Inspecting such large vessels is 

not an easy task given their sheer scale, and 

inspections take on average three to four 

hours to complete. 

“During the first few days we managed to 

board five of the eight foreign charter vessels 

that were fishing Southern Blue Whiting 

and found some minor breaches of fisheries 

regulations. But due to an advancing depression 

and 60 knot winds we decided to seek 

calmer waters in the relative shelter of the 

Auckland Islands, where three Scampi trawl- 

HMNZSTEMANA 

ers were fishing. 

the Pukaki Rise, to the east, where we had 

“The Auckland Islands are renowned as a identified two trawlers fishing for ling and 

cold and desolate place and they didn’t disappoint. 

hake. Conditions on this day were the worst 

Short, sharp swells at four metres and which we had encountered with 5 - 7 metre 

40 knots of wind prevented boardings while swells and 30 knots of wind. Because of 

the Scampi vessels were fishing. Conveniently, the conditions, only one of the vessels was 

all three were found later in the day in Carnley inspected.” 

Harbour on the south-eastern side of Auckland 

Gary concluded “I found the trip a worthwhile 

Island. While being a little shocked to see and rewarding experience, largely due to the 

us, all were impressed that we had made it to expertise and commitment of the Captain and 

the Auckland Islands to see them. 

sailors of TE MANA and the professional and 

“We again steamed overnight towards tenacious attitude of the MFish staff.” 

PATROLLING REMOTE FISHING GROUNDS WILL INCREASINGLY BECOME A STANDARD 

PART OF MFISH COMPLIANCE BUSINESS WITH THE INTRODUCTION TO SERVICE OF THE 

PROJECT PROTECTOR FLEET SAYS MANAGER MARITIME OPERATIONS, GARY ORR. 

MFISH AND PROJECT PROTECTOR 

TE MANA’s RHIB alongside a 

foreign trawler off Campbell 

Island during September 

Gary Orr explains that until recently most of MFish’s patrolling has had to be land based. “Previously 

we have not had the opportunity to regularly go to sea for extended periods. The new patrol 

vessels will mean that some types of offending will more readily be detected using information 

generated by at-sea patrolling.” 

“With the upgraded RNZAF P-3 Orion aircraft providing information on vessel whereabouts 

and activity, the monitoring and surveillance work will be increasingly effective. This is going to 

make a big difference to the way we operate. The type of operation we completed in the Southern 

Ocean will be much more common. 

“In the past there has been the opportunity to offend in isolated places. We will shortly have 

the capability to regularly reach all parts of the coastline and remote parts of our EEZ, and we’ll 

be watching.” 

“The public can take a great deal confidence that there will be this extra protection for New 

Zealand’s valuable fisheries. Those playing by the rules should be greatly comforted. Those 

playing against the rules should watch out.” 





N A V A L C O M B A T F O R C E 


mc 08-0025-40 

mc 08-0025-40 

E 

A 

B 

mc 08-0025-41 

D 

photo: mike millet - airflow 

C 

mc 08-0025-46 

F 

HMNZSTEKAHA 

IT WAS a busy start to TE KAHA’s year, 

with: 

• Change of Command. The change 

of Commanding Officer took place on 

16 January; CDR Andy Grant (from Picton) 

relinquished command to CDR Mat 

Williams (from Levin). The Chief of Navy 

reviewed the ceremony. 

• Fleet Divisions, before His Excellency 

the Governor General, when TE 

KAHA was awarded the MONOWAI 

Trophy for Operational Excellence and 

the CHATHAM Rose Bowl as the most 

efficient Fleet unit overall. 

• A formal visit to Auckland City. TE 

KAHA berthed at Princes Wharf 24-27 

January, and exercised her Charter with 

a Parade on Waitemata Plaza. The Reviewing 

Officer for the Parade was His 

Worship the Mayor of Auckland, the 

Honourable John Banks. 

• Open Ship. TE KAHA was opened to 

the public on both Saturday and Sunday 

while alongside Princes Wharf during 

the Aquatica 08 Festival. The ship also 

hosted two recruiting stands – one for 

the RNZNVR and another for the Regular 

Force Recruiters. There was a lot of 

interest! 

• Guard Ship for the Auckland Anniversary 

Regatta. TE KAHA at anchor in 

Auckland Harbour, marked one end of the 

start line, and hosted the Governor General 

and other guests to lunch onboard. 

H 

I 

mc 08-0031-67 

G 

A. Outgoing CO, CDR Andy Grant was presented with a 

MCG tee shirt by TE KAHA’s Cultural Group. B. CDR Grant, 

with his wife LTCDR Emma Grant and their children Ella 

and Nicolette. C. CDR Mat Williams with his wife Claire 

and their children Shannon and Gemma. D. TE KAHA during 

the Auckland Anniversary Regatta. E. Her Excellency, 

Susan Satyanand fires the starting gun for the Anniversary 

Day Regatta with assistance from ASCS Sunni Parkin and 

CPOSCS Wayne Winiata. F. CAPT John Tucker (CFS) and 

LTCDR Wayne Andrew (XO) with guests during the Regatta 

Luncheon. G. Command team – (l to r) Navigating Officer 

LT Mike Peebles, XO LTCDR Wayne Andrew and CO CDR 

Mat Williams during TE KAHA’s brief passage from Devonport 

Naval Base to Auckland City. H: The Mayor of Auckland 

John Banks inspects TE KAHA’s Guard during the Charter 

Parade on 25 January. I: CDR Mat Williams accepts the 

MONOWAI Trophy for Operational Excellence from the Governor 

General at Fleet Divisions on 18 January. 





HN YA DV RA L O GCROAMPBH AI T C SFUORRVCEEY F O R C E 


FEBRUARY - MARCH 2008 

COMPILED BY LCSS(A) J L BROOKE, HQ JFNZ 

NOTE: THIS FORECAST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE 

FEBRUARY/MARCH 

NAVALCOMBATFORCE 

FEBRUARY/MARCH 

HMNZS KAHU [LT I BRADLEY RNZN] 

HMNZS TE MANA [CDR B A GERRITSEN RNZN] 

01 – 04 DNB 

04 – 08 Harbour Training 

08 – 11 DNB 

11 – 15 Op CRADOCK 

15 – 18 Sydney - FBE 

18 – 29 Fleet Concentration 

Period East 

01 – 03 Sydney - FBE 

03 – 09 DLOC Work up 

09 – 12 FBE - WUP Harbour phase 

12 – 20 OLOC WUP 

20 – 24 DNB 

24 – 29 AMP 

29 – 31 DNB 

01 – 04 DNB 

04 – 08 Ex NAUTILUS 

08 – 18 Defence Divers Cse support 

18 – 22 Op ORION 

22 – 25 DNB 

25 – 29 Diver training support 

01 – 03 DNB 

03 – 07 Harbour Training 

07 – 10 DNB 

10 – 14 OOW (Basic) 

14 – 17 Support to TE MANA WUP 

17 – 20 OOW (B) 

20 – 25 DNB 

25 – 28 OOW (B) 

28 – 31 DNB 

HMNZS TE KAHA [CDR M C WILLIAMS MNZM RNZN] 

OPERATIONAL DIVING TEAM [LTCDR D TURNER RNZN] 

HMNZSRESOLUTION 

01 – 25 DNB – Harbour training 

25 – 27 Ex MALZEA (TBC) 

27 – 29 Harbour training 

NAVALSUPPORTFORCE 

01 – 20 DNB - Harbour training 

21 – 31 DNB - Preps for 

Maintenance 

HMNZS ENDEAVOUR [CDR I J S ROUTLEDGE RNZN] 

01 – 04 DNB 

04 – 08 Ex NAUTILUS 

08 – 11 DNB 

11 – 15 IEDD REGIONAL 

TRAINING 

15 – 15 DNB - Harbour training 

25 – 29 At Sea (KAHU) – 

Diver training 

01 – 24 IEDD Team leaders Cse 

24 – 31 DNB 

OUR YEAR has kicked off quickly, with survey 

operations of the East Coast and port 

visits to Tauranga, Napier and Gisborne. 

At the end of last year we sent most of the 

ships company away on expeds: 

01 – 12 DSRA 

12 Undocking 

13 – 17 DSRA 

17 – 25 HATS 

25 – 29 Lloyds Survey 

01 – 08 Lloyds Survey 

08 – 17 DNB- Harbour training 

17 Safety and Readiness 

Check (Harbour) 

18– 20 SATS 

20 – 25 DNB 

25 – 31 SATS 

Eleven participated in a three day exped to 

Piha to learn how to swim in the surf, drive 

Inshore Rescue Boats (IRB) and a number 

of other activities. Thanks to Surf Lifesaving 

NZ and all our instructors for sharing their 

expertise and time with us. 

HMNZS CANTERBURY [CDR A M MILLAR MNZM RNZN] 

01 – 03 DNB 

03 – 07 Waitangi, Bay of Islands 

07 – 11 DNB 


18 – 25 Townsville 

25 – 29 EX SEA LION 

01 – 03 Townsville 


09 – 15 DNB - Deployment Preps 

25 – 31 Raoul Is Resupply HEGG 

After meeting the surf instructors, we 

were chucked in a rip and having a close 

encounter with some rocks. We were given 

an initial taste of IRB capabilities - got lots of 

air and some of us came close to flipping! 

Once we were back on dry land we went 

through drills for tube rescues,learning how 

to identify potential drowning victims, and 

clipping people into tubes. 

Two groups departed for Rotorua for white 

water rafting. They were kitted up in wetsuits, 

life jackets and hard hats and heavy 

amounts of Navy-issue paint-like sunscreen. 

The Grade 5 rapids rapids turned 

out to be mostly manageable, aside from a 

couple of flips. The scenery was amazing. 

Big thanks to our guides, Nick and Justine, 

who gave us an experience which will never 

be forgotten. 

RESOLUTION’s main focus was the Intermediate 

Maintenance Availability Period 

(IMAV). This of course also meant ‘a life 

more ordinary’ – including: 

• the Hydrographic Surveyors now have an 

improved Operations Room 

• the Senior Ratings a renewed recreation 

area 

CLOCKIWSE FROM TOP LEFT: An IRB 

catching ‘big air’ at Piha during RESOLUTION’s 

surf lifesaving exped; ASCS Jac Ripia; Rescue 

training at Piha; Drogs aground? RESOLUTION’s 

rafters running rapids near Rotorua. 

• plus plenty of opportunities for Damage 

Control exercises 

• physical exercise on dry land early on 

many mornings and, 

• the Champion of the Navy competition. 

Harbour Acceptance Trials and Sea Acceptance 

Trials took place before Christmas 

leave, and now we are back on the survey 

ground. 

HYDROGRAPHICSURVEYFORCE 

HMNZS RESOLUTION [CDR M R TUFFIN RNZN] 

01 – 04 Tauranga 

04 – 14 Survey Ops Bay of Plenty 

14 – 18 Napier 

18 – 28 Survey Ops 

28 – 29 Gisborne 

DIVING&MCMFORCE 

HMNZS MANAWANUI [LTCDR N M LONGSTAFF RNZN] 

01 – 04 DNB 

04 – 07 Sea training 

07 – 18 DNB - Maintenance preps 

18 Docking 

19 -29 DSRA 

01 – 03 Gisborne 

03 – 13 Survey ops 

13 – 23 DNB – Deployment preps 

24 – 28 EEZ Patrol & Passage 

28 – 31 Noumea 

01 - 28 DSRA 

28 – 31 HATS 

TOP: TE MANA in the Southern Ocean last September; note the RHIB 

alongside. BOTTOM: MANAWANUI at Waitangi wharf in the Chathams, 

last October. 




35 

35

INSHORE PATROL 

MTB 772 entering 

harbour; note the two 

torpedo tubes amidships, 

the 6pdr gun for’ard and 

the 0.5” machine guns 

either side of the bridge. 

Two armed trawlers are in 

the background. 

Navy Museum EZW 0024 

MAP: JGSF 

MEDITERRANEAN 

GUN BOATS 

OUR NAVY INHERITS A LONG TRADITION OF INSHORE OPERATIONS IN SMALL 

SHIPS, BY KIWIS IN BOTH WORLD WARS. TIM DE CASTRO (LT RNZNVR RT’D) 

OUR NAVY’S ORAL HISTORIAN IN THE SOUTH ISLAND, HAS BEEN GIVEN 

ACCESS TO THE LETTERS HOME BY ‘PAT’ CLARK-HALL, TELLING OF HIS 

EXPERIENCES IN MTBS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, 1944-45. 

PAT CLARK-HALL was born in 1920 – his 

father was an RN officer who had transferred 

to the new RAF. In 1933 the family 

emigrated to NZ and Pat went to school 

in Christchurch. After WWII broke out, Pat 

joined the RNZNVR under Scheme ‘B’, sailing 

for UK on the P&O liner STRATHALLAN 

in April 1942. First up was 3 months at HMS 

GANGES, the RN basic training establishment 

near Ipswich, where he was one of 

1,800 trainees. 

Later Pat underwent Coastal Forces 

training at Fort William, Scotland. Convoy 

escort duties followed, before officer training 

at HMS KING ALFRED on the south 

coast of England. Out of 150 candidates 

Pat Clark-Hall passed out 12th. The top 

20 then attended a 3-week course at The 

Royal Naval College, Greenwich where he 

passed out top of his class. 

By November 1943 SLT Pat Clark-Hall 

RNZNVR had joined MTB 655 of the 56th 

MTB/MGB Flotilla on the east coast of 

Sardinia in the Mediterranean Sea; Pat was 

XO to a Canadian CO, LT Pickard RCNVR. 

Incidentally all of the Skippers in this quite 

famous flotilla were Canadian RCNVR officers 

- three of them had been schoolmates 

together. Their advanced base was moved 

to Bastia and it was from there in June 

1944 that they supported the invasion of 

the German-held island Elba - off the west 

EDITED BY TIM DE CASTRO 

Photo: Clark-Hall family 

SLT Pat Clark-Hall 

RNZNVR in 1943 

“ 

THE ENTIRE 

WORLD SEEMED 

TO BE MADE OF 

CRISS-CROSSING 

TRACER, WITH 

OCCASIONAL 

BIG BLACK 

PUFFS ABOVE 

OUR HEADS 

FOLLOWED BY 

THE RATTLE OF 

SHRAPNEL ON 

THE DECK. 

“ 

coast of Italy. 

Pat wrote home regularly; fortunately 

his letters home were kept and, after the 

war, he went back to them and added 

dates, names & places, which had in wartime 

been deleted by the censors. 

He wrote about the June landing: ‘[we] 

had front seats for the Elba party which 

was quite fun until they started throwing 

things into the stalls.’ [for ‘things’ read 88 or 

105mm shells]. His letter continues… ‘we 

patrolled the Piombino Channel between 

Elba and Italy.. the weather had closed 

down and we were faced with a choppy 

sea, heavy rain and low visibility, dark low 

clouds scudded rapidly across the sky … 

Doug [Lt Douglas Maitland RCNVR] was 

leading 4 boats… at 0100 we heard Doug’s 

voice “Hello Dogs, this is Wimpy, possible 

targets close inshore. Tommy [LT Tommy 

Ladner RCNVR] stand by to light. Will probably 

attack with torpedoes first”. On went 

tin hats, gunners twirled their turrets … the 

R/T cracked again “Hello Dogs, Flag 4” [fire 

torpedoes]. Pick (us) is just firing.’ 

‘Suddenly to starb’d we saw tracer being 

fired southward, the enemy had evidently 

picked us up on some sort of detector, 

but his bearings were not too accurate… 

[fast helm changes ensued] …the stream 

of tracer slowly swung towards us. “Illuminate! 

Illuminate!” [star shell] said Doug 

and very efficiently too as we saw dead 

ahead a destroyer on a reciprocal course 

bearing down on us at 600 yards. “Ready, 

Pudding - Pudding!!” [fire port torpedo]. By 

now we were getting the full treatment. The 

entire world seemed to be made of crisscrossing 

tracer, with occasional big black 

puffs above our heads followed by the rattle 

of shrapnel on the deck. …..the whole time 

we had the feeling that one of his big bricks 

was going to hit us…..how could they miss 

at that range….our fish should have hit by 

now (subsequently we decided that the 

target must have been within safety range) 

…Unknown to us on the bridge one of the 

methyl bromide cylinders in the engine 

room had been hit so stopping all engines 

and hence the guns. 

‘The crew were magnificent - put out 

lights, opened all hatches and vents and so 

were able to start up again within a couple 

of minutes. When we got mobile again we 

chased and fired Sugar [starb’d torpedo] 

at the 2nd Can [destroyer]. We went after 

him rather like a puppy on a bullock’s heels 

- we were not more than 100 yards on his 

quarter and he was fairly pumping out the 

stuff with a quadruple Oerlikon and a twin 

40mm. The other boats said that from a 

distance they thought we were closing to 

board. 

‘Cowley was magnificent and absolutely 

sprayed their after deck with one solid 

burst lasting a full minute and completely 

silencing all their after guns and old ‘bomb 

happy Jinks’ in spite of being hit on the 

right arm still managed to work the gun … 

we started quite an efficient fire amidships 

… I think those 2 or 3 minutes on [the enemy’s] 

tail were the most thrilling moments 

of my life.’ 

But MTB655’s troubles were just begin- 




INSHORE PATROL 

ning; they were hit too. ‘…a fire in the gun 

turret. I tripped over Davis who was on the 

deck thick with his clotted blood … the recognition 

lights weren’t working … we had 

been hit in one of the petrol tanks and there 

was about 400 gallons of petrol swilling 

about in the bilges and on fire… eight of the 

ship’s company were wounded… Geordie 

Scott came tearing up to the bridge “fire 

in the messdeck” ‘ 

They got the fire under control and MTB 

655 limped back to base. ‘Made quite a 

kerfuffle coming in, doctors and ambulances 

galore… The best part was when 

an American doctor asked us to come to 

the American Red Cross stall on the quay 

where some charming Red Cross nurses 

gave us coffee and doughnuts, which 

soaked and exhausted as we were, tasted 

like champagne and caviare. 

We buried Davis at sea next day.’ 

MTB 655 had been badly knocked about 

and was sent returned to Malta for a 3 

month refit. Sadly it was as the refit started 

that Pat learned that his younger brother 

Bob had been killed in a Catalina [flying 

boat] which crashed in North Africa. Pat 

didn’t want to ‘cool his heels’ in Malta for 

2 months so transferred, with the rest of 

the flotilla, to the Yugoslav coast - this time 

in MGB657. 

In another letter, from Komitza, a tiny harbour 

on the western end of Vis Island, Pat 

wrote of one night action in August 1944: 

‘...we were patrolling the Mljet channel 

[just nor’west of Dobrovnik] when … 657 

began to creep astern towards us. Doug 

[SO; Senior Officer] raised a megaphone 

“Hello Corny & Tommy. Can you hear me ?” 

… “Say fellas - I think we are in luck. There 

are 3 targets at range 3 miles just entering 

the channel & running down towards us. 

Come to action stations & get into cruising 

line to port. I shall wait as long as I can 

before attacking.” 

‘The unit’s position was ideal, we were 

close inshore in a shallow bay; so even if 

the convoy was hugging the coast it would 

have to pass outside of us. The convoy 

was approaching from our right & Doug’s 

plan was that we should wait until they had 

almost reached us - attacking them as we 

ran along on an opposite course. 

‘Five minutes later “Target clearly 8 or 9 

ships…” Here they are - 3 in sight, right 

ahead. My mind hammered ‘they’ll see 

us … we’re sitting ducks’ but all remained 

silent & the dim shapes became visible. 

At last Doug’s signal, “Here we go Dogs. 

Speed 8 knots, attacking on port bow. 

Tommy - light please. Range 500 yards”. 

‘My hand shook as I raised the loud hailer 

mike “All guns. 1st group of targets bearing 

Red 60. Open fire.” The first crash of 

broadsides always took me by surprise, 

even though I had ordered it… smoke 

drifted over the bridge, and the hot pungent 

smells of gunfire descended & penetrated 

to the back of my throat. It was dry enough 

already… The pom-pom shells were the 

easiest to follow. They flashed & sparkled 

against the hull of an F Lighter. Further to 

port 2 large schooners were receiving the 

full attention of our twin Oerlikons and the 

6 pounder… the latter especially made a 

satisfying sight.’ 

‘It took the enemy about 20 seconds to 

recover from our rude disturbance… then it 

was our turn to ‘duck’ …Corny was yelling 

“Shift target now Rover [me]” … we moved 

right to target a group of small craft. … 

although we were only crawling along at 

8 knots, we were past them in no time & 

suddenly came upon the last ship ... it was 

keeping poor station and paid the price of 

all stragglers … We pounded our broadsides 

into it … it took only a few seconds to 

transform it into an exploding inferno which 

quickly sank … I rang the “check fire” signal 

and a strange silence cloaked the bridge. “I 

think I felt a hit Rover. Check up will you?” 

I had a quick look around the upper deck, 

apparently no damage…’ 

But in the engine room was a different 

story: ‘A 40mm shell had holed the water 

intakes for the 2 starb’d motors. In short 

order the port inner was repaired and ready 

use lockers were replenished with ammunition. 

We’d had no gun stoppages so far, so 

the gunners were in high spirits.’ The flotilla 

reversed course. 

‘As we closed the enemy we realised 

that their gunfire had started an extensive 

bushfire on the Peljesac shore so they were 

now silhouetted against the blazing hillside. 

At 200 yards we sailed relentlessly and slowly 

past, pouring out a deadly hail of fire… we 

left 3 burning and lifeless hulks. The “big 

three” at the front were stronger meat. The 

two Schooners ahead looked large… “All 

guns. Our target is the middle one. Accuracy 

is going to count. Shoot low …” I found 

myself cheering. Watt at the 6 pounder had 

been crashing shells into the schooner’s hull 

and now he changed to the high poop-deck 

aft. A vivid flash was followed by the boom of 

an explosion. Ammunition spouted skywards 

like a set piece of fireworks… The flotilla this 

time well ahead of the last ship…Corny said 

“to give us time for re-loading.” 12 minutes 

later all boats were ready to move again.’ 

‘Once more Doug’s drawl on the R/T 

“Hello Dogs this is Wimpy. Two of these 

jokers are still holding course so we’ll wait 

inshore of them …” A 3rd action followed. 

MGB657 was now down to 1 engine. One 

schooner headed for the shore where she 

was attacked and set on fire. Any remaining 

MGB 663 underway; she mounts 

a 2pdr pom pom for’ard with twin 

20mm Oerlikons visible abaft 

the bridge and a 6 pdr in a large 

mounting aft. She appears to have 

radar mounted on the mast head. 

vessels were now stationary … and so mopping 

operations began. ‘We had now been 

in action for nearly 5 hours … We limped 

back to Komiza, with PO Bill Last nursing 

our 1 sound engine.’ 

‘In forwarding Doug’s report to C-in-C 

Coastal Forces our Captain made the following 

comment: “In light of Intelligence 

Reports it is thought that this action may be 

described as the shrewdest blow that the 

enemy has suffered on the Dalmatian coast, 

and may have speeded his evacuation of the 

islands.” Next day I got a signal to rejoin my 

boat [MTB655]’ 

Subsequently, Pat (by then a LT) served 

in two other MTBs - MTB651 on the Greek 

coast and then from January 1945 until 

May when the war ended in Europe, aboard 

MTB408, a new American-built Vosper on 

the Italian coast. 

After the war Pat Clark-Hall took up farming 

in North Canterbury. He married ‘Jimmy’ 

Barker and they had a family of 3. He died 

in 2006. 

Navy Museum 

THE 

DOG BOATS 

In WWII the original MTBs were 

short (70 or 80ft long) and fast, but 

less able to cope with bad weather. 

By 1943, the ‘long’ boats were 

service, the Fairmile D-class, commonly 

known as ‘Dog’ boats. Not as 

elegant as the shorter Vosper boats 

these proved to be very successful 

as either Motor Torpedo Boats or 

Motor Gun Boats. 

Almost all Coastal Forces operations 

were conducted at night. That 

meant little sleep for the crews as, 

on entering harbour, it was mandatory 

to re-ammunition, re-fuel [a 

slow process because of primitive 

gear] and re-stock the boats – as 

well as make good any damage 

sustained the previous night. After 

operational experience it was found 

that squadrons comprising both 

MTBs and MGBs worked most effectively. 

The ‘Dogs’ were 115ft long, displaced 

about 120 tons and were 

driven by four 1000hp Packard 

supercharged engines fueled by 

100 octane petrol (5,000 gallons of 

petrol in 10 separate fuel tanks). 

• Speed: 28 knots 

• Range: 450 miles at 20 knots. 

• Armament: 

MTB: 2 or 4 x 21” (533mm) 

torpedo tubes, a pom-pom, twin 

Oerlikons and machine guns on 

the bridge wings. 

MGB: 1 x 40mm pom-pom forward, 

twin Oerlikons and 1x 6 

pounder (57mm) gun aft, with 

0.5” (12.7mm) MGs on the bridge 

wings. 

• Complement: 3 officers and 

about 30 sailors. 

Further reading: Gunboat 658, 

by L C Reynolds, William Kimber, 

London,1955. Reprinted: London, 

New English Library, 1974 and: Cassell 

Military, 2002. 




FAMILY AND FRIENDS 

is not funded or subsidised by the NZDF, 

but the buildings that the centres are in, 

are owned by NZDF and maintained by the 

Joint Logistics Support Organisation. 

Further information regarding the Naval 

Child Care Centres: operating hours, meals, 

and waiting list priorities, can be found on 

the Navy’s Intranet/Internet sites (details 

Photo: Marc Peretic-Wilson. 

Navy’s international football referee, LTCDR Mike Hester, 

was appointed by NZ Football to referee the 1 December 

exhibition match between the Wellington Phoenix (NZ’s 

football franchise that competes in the Australian A-League 

competition) and the Los Angeles Galaxy (a US-based Major 

League Soccer team) at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. 

BY LTCDR EMMA GRANT RNZN 

below) or, if you would like to have a look 

around the two centres and learn more 

about the education and care programme 

you are welcome to visit either of the two 

centres (contact details below). 

If you would like to place your baby/child’s 

The LA Galaxy team included David Beckham (former 

England captain and Manchester United and Real Madrid 

player). LA Galaxy won the match 4-1 with David Beckham 

scoring a penalty in the final minutes of the game. The game 

was arguably New Zealand’s highest profile football match 

NAVAL CHILD CARE CENTRES 

NAVY FAMILIES have access, via a waiting 

list, to two early childhood centres: of belonging and in the knowledge that they 

mind, body, and spirit, secure in their sense 

• Tamariki House (under 2 years) and make a valued contribution to society. 

• Calliope House (over 2 years). 

But just as importantly, the children and 

Both Calliope House and Tamariki House staff form part of the Navy family and understand 

the unique demands that the 

follow the strict guidelines for quality preschool 

education and care. Both Centres Navy can place on family life - short-notice 

implement The New Zealand Curriculum postings and/or deployment of loved ones 

Framework, ‘Te Whariki’ (the mat) which overseas. Being situated on Calliope Rd, 

is woven from the principles, aims and Devonport, the centres are also very convenient 

for naval families. 

goals of the Framework. This curriculum 

is conducted by staff qualified or in training 

for a Diploma of Teaching (ECE). The istered by The Naval Community Childcare 

Both of these centres are run and admin- 

guidelines identify the following aspirations Centres Association which is an incorporated 

society for the benefit of Naval Families 

for children: 

To grow up as competent and confident and Defence Force employees working in 

learners and communicators, healthy in the Devonport Naval Base. The Association 

name onto the waiting list, please contact 

the Naval Community Childcare Centres 

Association Secretary – Linda Retimana 

(Calliope House): 

• Calliope House (2 – 5 years) 

65 Calliope Road, Devonport 

P: 445 2608 

E: navycc@xtra.co.nz 

Supervisor: Gail Spradbury 

• Tamariki House (6mth – 2 years) 

59 Calliope Road, Devonport 

P: 445 2484 

E: navytam@woosh.co.nz 

Supervisor: Pauline Withers 

Internet Website: www.navy.mil.nz [via Visit the 

Base/Naval Community Office/Childcare’] 

RNZN Intranet webpage: [via Useful Links/Naval 

Community Organisation/Child Care’] 

VIETNAM MEDALS. Commander Doug Kerr RNZN 

(Rtd) was presented by CN last December with the NZ 

General Service Medal with Vietnam clasp and the NZ 

Operational Service Medal. CDR Kerr served in the RNZN 

1967 to 1987; during 1968 he was one of four RNZN Cadet 

Midshipmen (with MIDs Alan Peck, Chris Lloyd, and Bob 

Sheriff) in HMAS ANZAC [the Battle-class destroyer] which 

deployed to Vietnam as the escort for HMAS SYDNEY. CDR 

and was attended by a record crowd of 31,800. 

Mike said afterwards “It was a honour to be entrusted with 

refereeing the match and the biggest milestone of my football 

career to date. One of the benefits of refereeing is that 

you have the best seat in the house and to see a player of 

David Beckham’s calibre up close was a real privilege.” 

Kerr now works for Veterans Affairs NZ. 

PACK THE BUS: NZDF personnel 

(l to r) LT Christian Anderson, AC 

Kylie Godfrey and POWTR Lisa Chui 

helped ‘Pack the Bus’ at HQNZDF 

before Christmas. Father Des Britten, 

Wellington City Missioner, aimed to give 

disadvantaged families and children in 

the Greater Wellington area some time 

free from want, and a Christmas Day of 

joy. The Breeze and More FM backed 

WN 07-0200-01 

AFCC HOTSHOTS COMPETITION. Cynthia 

Shailes, Canteen Manager for Hotshots Tamaki 

hands the voucher to AMT 2 Mark Gey Van Pittius, 

who won the NZDF-wide Christmas promotion to 

win a $5000.00 Shopping Spree. The promotion was 

featured in all nine AFCC Stores around NZ, and the 

Tamaki (North Yard) store had the winner! 

the campaign to ‘Pack the Bus’ for the 

Wellington City Mission. 




THE SPORTING 

YEAR AHEAD 

E 

A 

MC 07-0560-35 

SPORT 

MC 07-0559-05 

This year has started with a full sports programme at all 

levels: inter-ship, inter-Service and, for sailing, international. 

Sailing 

• Tri-Navies Sailing Challenge 14-31 January 

• RN, RAN and RNZN 

Touch 

• Inter-ship, 23 January 

• Inter-Service 11 – 15 February (Hosted By Navy) 

Cricket 

• Inter-ship 30 January 

• Inter-Service18 – 23 February (Hosted By Army) 

Navy Raft Race: 5 March 

Round The Bays Run: 16 March 

Volleyball 

• Inter-ship: 2 April 

• Inter-Service Volleyball: 14 – 18 Apr (Hosted By Navy) 

MC 07-0559-28 

D 

MC 07-0559-48 

champion of 

the navy 

MC 07-0560-21 

B 

MC 07-0560-28 

Golf 

• Inter-Service Golf: 14 – 18 April at RNZAF Ohakea 

INTER-SERVICE 

FOOTBALL 2007 

The Navy contingent left for Waiouru 

resolved to participate fully in all aspects 

of the tournament and represent our 

Navy with professionalism and pride. 

Of course the whole range of weather 

was experienced throughout the week, 

with it even snowing! 

The Women’s team went down 0-8 to 

Air Force; then the Women ran out for 

their match against Army, the favourites. 

At half time the scoreline was 0-10; 

however, our Women came out battling 

for the second half. By full time the 

Army had just one more goal, the result 

of a monumental effort from Navy – our 

women were rewarded with an ovation 

from the other Services. 

Our men’s team lost to Air Force, 0-7. 

They battled against Army, holding on 

to keep the full time score 0-2. 

Air Force men won the men’s tournament; 

Army taking the women’s trophy. 

However, the Navy contingent won 

F 

the three Services’ challenge for the 

Speight’s Cup (indoor games including 

a shooting gallery!) The Women’s team 

took out the John Berry Trophy awarded 

to the Best and Fairest team, whilst LCH 

Tash Callaghan took out the ‘Best and 

Fairest’ player award. 

Navy MVP: LCH Tash Callaghan, LSA 

Jamie Colvin & POCH Rez Garrett 

Coaches’ special award to Goalkeepers 

ACH Grimmy Growcott & LSCS 

Genga Lawrence. 

NZDF selectees: (Men) POEWS 

Greg Gatley, POCH Rez Garrett, ASA 

Morgan Findlay, and LCH Tash Callaghan 

(Women) 

A: MCC Award for Best Ship Team,and Overall 

Champion Of The Navy: TE MANA. B: The ‘courage’ 

award went to the Bandies C: DCN Award for Best 

Shore Team went to the Divers who also won the 

Best Dressed, appearing as Priscilla, Queen of the 

Desert and all her friends. D: TE MANA's team and 

mascot E: 101 Dalmatians - well several, anyway! 

F: The blindfold gumboot water transport challenge. 

SPORTS BRIEFS 

NZDF Basketball 2007 

The NZDF Teams participated in the 3rd Division Premierships, 

held in Levin last year, before the 3rd Division Nationals in October. 

The selected Navy players were: 

• LT Nige Young (Men’s Coach) 

• CPOET Saul Smith TE MANA (Men’s Team) 

• ACO Charlie Gallagher TE MANA (Women’s Team) 

• AET1 Matt Hauraki PHILOMEL (Non-travelling Reserve) 

• AMEDIC Andrea Gooch PHILOMEL (Non-travelling 

Reserve) 

Navy Half Marathon 

The annual Navy Half Marathon (21.2km) was held in October. The 

unpredictable weather proved challenging, but the showers didn’t 

deter over 150 enthusiastic runners and walkers from getting away 

from the office for the afternoon to participate either as a team or 

as individuals. It was also great to see the Air Force participating 

C 

along with a French Navy team. The overall winner of the Half 

Marathon was Richard Begg, coming in at 1hr 17m11secs. 

Intership Touch 2008 

8 teams in two pools allowed for a double round robin. In each 

of the pools there were two Open Mens teams, an Over 30’s and 

a Womens side. 

The first of the finals was between the Ship and Shore Over 

30’s. 3-2 to Shore OT’s. Player of the Day for the OT’s was POSA 

Dan Mauafu. 

The Women’s final was Ship vs Shore with the Ship ladies winning 

by 2 tries. Player of the Day for the women was POEWS 

Aderleen Matete. 

The open Men’s final was CANTERBURY vs PHILOMEL Black. 

Black had the edge with more reserves to call on, as the CAN- 

TERBURY defence started to tire. The final score was 6-3 to 

PHILOMEL Black. Player of the Day: LCO David Tapene. 




SPORT 

The Awards dinner was held at the Nagataringa Sports complex 

on 23 November with LT Roger Saynor, the Fleet Sports Officer, as 

MC for the evening. Warriors Rugby League Captain, Steve Price 

gave a riveting insight into the life of a top professional sportsman 

mesmerising the audience with his stories. 

After a sumptuous dinner provided by the PHILOMEL Chefs the 

audience (about 180) witnessed the nominations and presentations 

of the outstanding RNZN Sports personalities for 2007. 

CDRE Parr (then DCN, now MCC) concluded the evening thanking 

all for a great year of Navy Sport. 

NAVY SPORTSPERSON 

2007 

OF THE YEAR AWARDS 

Absent from the awards were: 

Young Sportsperson of the Year, ASA Morgan Findlay 

Civilian Sportsperson of the Year, Katrina Lye (Netball) 

Sports Administrator of the Year, CHAP Colin Gordon (Rugby) and 

WOPTI Nigel Hooper (an RNZN Colour). 

A 

A. Navy’s Sportsperson of the Year, SLT Jan Peterson, accepts his 

award from CDRE Tony Parr. Jan is a Navy hockey reprentative and 

won selection to the Black Sticks squad last year. B. WO Michelle 

Hunt accepts the trophy as Coach of the Year from Ms Sandy Hunter 

of Stirling Sports. Michelle coached the Navy Netball team. C. Carolyn 

McQueen accepts the award for Civilian Sports Administrator of 

the year, recognising her role with Navy Softball. Graham Waite of Ace 

Engraving makes the presentation. D. AMT Matty Sara won the award 

for Manager of the Year, for his work with Navy Soccer. LTCOL Bob 

Bulman, Chairman of the Army Sports Council makes the presentation. 

E. CPO Tom Seymour, Chairman of RNZN Softball, accepts the trophy 

for Club of the Year from Mr Leighton Duley, HSBC. F. CPO Ray Climo 

accepts the trophy for Team of the Year on behalf of the Navy Rugby 

Team from Steve Riegen of Vodaphone. G. LT Ange Barker accepts her 

RNZN Pocket, for administration in a number of sporting codes, from 

CAPT Dean McDougall. H. LTCDR Phil Eagle accepts his RNZN Colour, 

awarded for Hockey, from CAPT Clive Holmes. I. LT Kerry Climo makes 

a presentation to CAPT Clive Holmes recognising his role as Chaiman 

of the Naval Sports and Recreation Council Trust since February 2005. 

B C D E 

F G H I 





45

MAIN NOTICE BOARD 

CONGRATULATIONS ON 

YOUR PROMOTION 

CAPT D J R Mcdougall RNZN 

CDR L R Hunn RNZN 

CDR M A De Ruiter RNZN 

LTCDR K J Barrett RNZN 

LTCDR J A Clow RNZN 

LTCDR D P Griffiths RNZN 

A/LTCDR R P Taylor RNZN 

LT S J Dron RNZN 

LT T D Hall RNZN 

A/LT A P Bergman RNZN 

LT D E Hunter RNZN 

LT M T Tapsell RNZN 

POET L A Scott 

POEWS B C Edwards 

POMEDIC K M Munro 

POPTI W I Sharland 

POSTD D M Kingi 

POWTR M B T Wihapi 

POYS O J Cooper 

APOEWS P H Nicholas 

LMT(P) J M Wedding 

LMT(P) M Edmonds 

LMT(P) J P Watson 

LMT(P) M J Dunn 

CTTAG ENTRY 

ASSESSMENT 

02-09 MAY 08 

The role of the 1 NZSAS Group 

Counter Terrorist Tactical Assault 

Group (CTTAG) is to plan 

and conduct counter-terrorist 

operations either independently 

or in support of the Police in 

response to terrorist threats 

against national interests. 

• Nominations open from 

2010 REUNION 

‘ALL SHIPS REUNION’ 

• Palmerston North Labour 

Weekend 2010. 

• At the Palmerston North RSA 

and Navy Clubrooms 

• Contact: 

Dave Leese 

E:exnavy@inspire.net.nz, 

P: 06-354-0479, 

or 027-243-0427 

Final entry by the IPCs; HMNZS KIWI leads 

HMNZS WAKAKURA into Auckland harbour 

for the last time on 29 November 2007. KIWI 

is flying her international code flags, ZMOW, 

and the Guide flag G as well as her paying 

off pennant; WAKAKURA (ZMRB) is also 

flying her paying off pennant. 

PHOTO: SGT CHRIS HILLOCK RNZAF, 

NAVAL PHOTO UNIT. MC 07-0529-41 

LT K W Sutherland RNZN 

LT A M Talbot RNZN 

LT A L Hansen RNZN 

LT S G Goble RNZN 

LT A Pranish RNZN 

SLT S E Dymond RNZN 

LMT(P) T C Henricksen 

LMT(P) B S Gilmour 

LMT(P) W D Mills 

LWT P T Mcleod 

ACH C I Harrison 

ACH B P Maangi 

02 Feb 2008; for all enquiries: 

• E: @NZSASRec 

• P: (09) 296 6868 

• DTLN: 396 6868 

• Army Intranet site: 

2008 REUNIONS 

ANNUAL EX-FAIRMILERS 

CREW REUNION 

SLT M R Lester RNZN 

SLT J R V Bentin RNZN 

SLT M J Mcquaid RNZN 

SLT A J Green RNZN 

SLT W Marais RNZN 

SLT A J Norris RNZN 

SLT R W Bexley RNZN 

SLT D A Luhrs RNZN 

SLT Z M T Jones RNZN 

SLT C H T Stewart RNZN 

ENS C N Bone RNZN 

ENS M P Sullivan RNZN 

ENS D J Stanley-Boden RNZN 

WOCH D B Anderson 

WOCSS G T Mohi 

CPOET J D A Vincent 

CPOWT A P Schertenleib 

ACPOSTD N C Geary 

APOCO D L Kiwikiwi 

POCSS B J Hill 

POET N A Poultney 

POET E J Munn 

CDR D L Mundy RNZN 

CDR K A Ward RNZN 

LTCDR M N Harvey RNZN 

LTCDR Z J Chadwick RNZN 

LTCDR D P Field RNZN 

SLT R A Morrison RNZN 

CPOMT(P) W A Rawlins 

CPOSTD A J Green 

CPOYS G E Thomas 

POET S O R Robertson 

POMT(L) D J Johnston 

POMT(P) A S T Kotlowski 

POPTI E J Cairns 

LCH T L McCallum 

LCH M E M McConnel 

LCO N J Morgan 

LMT(L) B H Kiel 

LMT(L) P R Henare 

LMT(L) T J Maera 

LMT(L) G J McCreery 

LMT(P) C S Harper 

ACH J K Pritchard 

ACO M T O’Connor 

ACH L J K Macdonald 

AET2 A E Coster 

AET2 P A Buchanan 

AMA D Feary 

AMT2 J O Mathisen 

AMT2 C M Bedford 

AMT2 A J Kirkland 

AMT2 M P Wakefield 

AMT2 A D W Carr 

AMT2 L A Hulse 

AMT2 A J Robertson 

ASA K F L Morrison 

ASCS M A J Ruki 

ASCS A R Strachan 

ASTD K T Murray 

AWTR H V Cook 

RNZNVR 

ADEF D E Scott 

LSEA I J A Johnstone 

LT A G M Wilson 

FAREWELL, AND THANK YOU 

FOR YOUR SERVICE 

AET1 S N Forbes 

AET2 N Y H Brennan 

AEWS C G Saunders 

AHSO J M Baldwin 

AHSO Z B Powell 

AMEDIC L Morgan 

AMEDIC S R Lean 

AMT1(L) T J K Billot 

AMT2 A D Harford 

AMT2 L L J Vatu 

AMUS M D Shone 

OCH Z J Spanhake 

OCH M N Smith 

OCSS J C Corkery 

OMA N T Fairbairn 

OMT A J Mclauchlan 

OSCS T P S Karauna 

RNZNVR 

AMUS S M Imrie 

CPOWEF G C Cossar 

OSEA S M Cooney 

Compiled by AWTR Nicole BrookS, Fleet Personnel & Training Office 

http://awi-teams/1NZSAS/ 

PROPOSED REUNIONS 

Proposed Stores 

Accountants 

(Jack Dusty) Reunion 

• Auckland, (date to be 

confirmed) 

• To register logon to www. 

oldfriends.co.nz and add your 

name under Auckland>Military 

Institutions>RNZN Stores 

Accountants (Jack Dusty). 

Once a date is confirmed 

all interested parties will be 

contacted via the oldfriends 

website or emailed. 

• Contacts: 

micheal.ayton@nzdf.mil.nz; 

david.hickson@nzdf.mil.nz; 

Kereti.henry@nzdf.mil.nz 

PROPOSED: ALL SHIPS 

REUNION 

• Being organised in Sydney, 

Australia 

• Easter long weekend, 2009. 

• Contact emails: 

Bill Tahu: btahu@aapt.net.au 

Ken Johnston: ken.johnston7@ 

bigpond.com.au 

PROPOSED: NAVY ENGINE 

ROOM BRANCH REUNION 

• Masterton; Labour weekend 

October 2009 

• Contacts: 

Malcolm Harris 06-377-1606 

Rex Hawes 06-378-6370 

Email: rexhawes@yahoo.com 

• Wednesday 12th March 2008 

• Mount Maunganui RSA 

• Contact: 

Peter Chappell 

64/60 Maranui Street 

Mount Maunganui 

P: 07 5722247 

HMNZS Otago 

Association 2008 

Reunion 

• 19th to 20th April 2008, Bribie 

Island, QLD, Australia 

• (All retired and serving 

members of the RNZN are 

welcome) 

• Contacts: 

Noel Davies 

P: 09-377-0662; E: Noel_ 

davies@xtra.co.nz 

EX- HMNZS LEANDER 

Reunion 

• Christchurch 15-16 March 2008 

• Enquiries to: 

Ex-Leanders’ Reunion 

3 St Pauls Place, Burwood, 

CHRISTCHURCH 8083 

E: kmd100@xtra.co.nz 

P: 03-383-0164 or 03-332-6887 

THE NEW ZEALAND EX- 

WRENS ASSOCIATION 66TH 

ANNIVERSARY REUNION 

• 21-24 March (Easter) 2008, 

• Bay Of Islands. 

• Ex-Naval women of NZ and 

Commonwealth Navies 

welcome. 

• For a registration form and 

information contact: 

Jill Thompson 

P: 021-274-4426 

E: jill.thompson@clear.net.nz 





WWW.NAVY.MIL.NZ

NT 129 January - Royal New Zealand Navy

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?