visit oUr website navytoday: vy.MiL · three services as one force, being the best in everything we do navy visit oUr websitetoday: vy ... early December the new Offshore Patrol Vessels

issue 159 February 11 r O y a L N e W Z e a L a N D N a V y

t h r e e s e r v i c e s a s o n e f o r c e , b e i n g t h e b e s t i n e v e r y t h i n g w e d o

navytodayv i s i t o U r w e b s i t e : w w w . n a v y . M i L . n Z

inspection! Commander-in-Chief at fleet divisionsoperations opVs Down south

afghanistan naVy upDate

interview inDian naVy cns

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 Communications Group, Wellington, Navy Today is now in its fifthteenth year of publication.

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iNsiDe THis issue:

08 Naval Divisions

10 CDF’s change of command

16 Capability Branch

18 Afghanistan

20 Our People

22 CPOET Len Bilton

23 HMNZS RESOLUTION

24 Littoral Warfare Support Group

26 HMNZS TE KAHA

28 HMNZS TE MANA

30 OTAGO &WELLINGTON

32 Inshore Patrol Vessels

34 ENDEAVOUR & CANTERBURY

35 Sport: Champion of the Navy

36 JuniorOfficerCommon Training

38 2010 Sports Awards

ISSN 1173-8332

The Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Sir Anand Satyanand inspects senior ratings during the Navy’s Divisions on 21 January, at Devonport.20110121_PH_V1020230_0003. Photo by LAC Grant Armishaw RNZAF, Senior Photographer, Naval Photo Unit.

| issue 159 | February 2011

04 OPVS AT wORk 12 INDIAN CNS 39 ImPORTANT NOTICE FOR OUR SAILORS

HR Admin And PAy CHAnges

W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z2 N T 1 5 8 D E C E M B E R 1 0 2 W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z

Y O U R S A Y E

COmmODORE wAYNE BURROUGHS mNZm, RNZN [ D e p u t y C h i e f o f N a v y ]

The New Year br ings a sense of

beginning, of starting a new chapter in

life. We have all had our summer break

and we each probably reflected on our

priorities in life, while we sat on the sand

somewhere pleasant. I reflected on my

promotion to Deputy Chief of Navy as

being part of an existence that carries on

in spite of individuals. I was reminded by

another (who was retiring) how he had

finally awoken to the fact that the Navy

is a live being, one that is bigger than the

individuals who serve in it. Our Navy has

a renewable energy that sustains it and

moves it forward. Across the Navy this

renewal is happening at all levels and in

all Commands.

Let me first recognise the leadership

renewal across the Navy. We have had

a busy period with a significant number

of “Changes of Command”. I, along with

others in the Navy’s leadership team, am

stepping up to a new role. As different

individuals from our predecessors we each

bring our unique experiences and skills to

our new roles.

The new Commanding Officers are

stepping up to the unique challenges of

leadership and command of a ship at sea.

Their challenge is formidable, and key

to it is the development of their people.

COs rely on the teams of sailors who serve in

those ships to work with each other to deliver the

maritime combat capability of their units. Their

sailors ensure that the development and growth

within their ships are maintained. I wish all who

serve at sea the best for the coming year.

I want to recognise that renewal also happens

through advancements and promotions. Many

of our sailors have been promoted over recent

months. They are each, no doubt, excited by

their promotion but are also well aware that they

have new challenges commensurate with their

new ranks. They also bring new experiences and

attitudes to the organisational areas they work

in. It is natural that they will look, along with their

teams, to renew or refresh the processes and

procedures of their area.

I am aware that many of our people will have

just started training courses with the start of this

year while a new graduating class from basic

training moves into their respective roles within the

Navy workforce. They are the future of the Navy

and their experiences in the next year or two will

shape their attitudes and behaviours. It is all our

responsibility to ensure they have the right training,

development, and mentoring necessary to uphold

the immense mana of our Navy.

Again, this shows the nature of the Navy’s

continuous improvement and development of

our people. We will pass down new knowledge

and skills to them from those who have gone

before. I urge you all to study hard and enjoy the

camaraderie of your class.

This cycle of renewal is critical to the well-

being of our Navy. Every new generation will

complain bitterly about the changes that seem

to be constantly reshaping the way we do things.

For instance, today the Navy is experiencing the

dissipation of the unity of command that the Chief

of Navy enjoyed. Navy Capability, Logistics and

Personnel functions are now mostly under central

control, while other major reviews are also being

undertaken. These current challenges are all part

of the life of the Navy. They are modern issues

but, as time goes on, they may not necessarily

prove to be the longer term issues. I am reminded

of the saying that ‘life is not a sprint; it is a long

distance event.’

We have worked hard over the last decade or

two to instil in all our Navy personnel the right

ethos and values to adapt to any location and

situation. Our proven organisational excellence is

a demonstration of how we can excel even through

difficult times.

I wish you all success in your endeavours during

this year. We will all have to meet our individual

challenges but I am confident that all of us in the

Navy will respond well. We will continue with the

renewal process to maintain and enhance our

organisation and its reputation.

The Navy’s new DCN was promoted into the

post on 11 Feb 2011. CDRE Burroughs is a keen

golfer, an ‘optimistic’ trout fisherman, and father

of three adult children.

Born and raised in Hamilton he joined our

Navy in 1978 as a seaman officer. He studied

at Auckland University (BCom) and gained his

Watch Keeping Certificate in OTAGO (F111)

then was XO of the patrol craft TAUPO and

ROTOITI. In 1983 he trained as a Supply Officer

and became the Supply Officer of the frigates

CANTERBURY and SOUTHLAND.

In 1994 (then) LTCDR Burroughs was appointed

as Director of Corporate Planning in the Maritime

HQ. Promoted to Commander as Fleet Supply

Officer he was Project Director for the supply

chain re-engineering project. An advocate of the

Naval Excellence programme, he was appointed

the first Director of Naval Excellence in 2001.

Promoted to Captain Fleet Support in 2002,

CAPT Burroughs was later appointed as

Captain Fleet Personnel and Training. In 2006 he

attended the Royal College of Defence Studies

in London, graduating with an MA.

Back in NZ he worked in CDF’s staff until

deploying to Timor-Leste in 2009 as Senior

National Officer and Deputy Commander of the

International Stabilisation Force.

On return to Wellington he helped bring the

Defence Logistics Command into existence and

was posted as its first Chief of Staff in 2010.

His appointment as DCN was announced late

last year.

cdre wayne bUrroUghs

N T 1 5 9 F E B R U A R Y 1 1 W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z 3

ADDING VALUE— THE NEw OPVS AT wORk

In early December, HmnZ SHIpS OTaGO anD WellInGTOn HeaDeD SOuTH fOr a Week-lOnG OperaTIOn aT campbell anD aucklanD ISlanDS. IT WaS THe fIrST TIme THe navy’S TWO neWeST SHIpS Have OperaTeD In THe excluSIve ecOnOmIc ZOne TO THe SOuTH Of neW ZealanD.THe SHIpS are DevelOpInG THeIr OperaTIOnal capabIlITIeS TO prOTecT nZ SOvereIGnTy anD December’S TaSk WaS TO DelIver a Team Of ScIenTISTS anD SupplIeS fOr THe campbell ISlanD bIcenTennIal expeDITIOn, WHIle alSO TeSTInG THeIr mIlITary capabIlITy. amOnG THOSe On bOarD WaS repOrTer Debbie Porteous frOm THe OTaGO DaIly TImeS.

S O U T H E R N O C E A N P A T R O L

A new set of Government ears and eyes are about to make New Zealand’s deep seas home,

and the country’s fisheries are not the only likely beneficiaries of the Navy’s new assets. In

early December the new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) OTAGO and WELLINGTON had their

first foray into New Zealand’s Southern Ocean, where they will spend a good deal of their

working lives.

The Navy’s four new Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) have been successfully patrolling New

Zealand’s coasts for the past year and now do about 10 to 12 boardings a week. The bigger

OPVs will go further, having been designed to patrol fisheries throughout our EEZ extending

200nm off New Zealand’s coast.

WELLINGTON dIGs INTO ThE sOuThErN OcEaN sWELL. WN 10-0259-005

W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z4 N T 1 5 9 F E B R U A R Y 1 1


All six ships will work with and on behalf

of multiple government agencies, including

Customs, Biosecurity, MFAT, MAF and

Maritime NZ, who will vie for the ships’ time

through the National Maritime Co-ordination

Centre in Wellington. Two of the main likely

users of the ships will be the Department of

Conservation and Ministry of Fisheries. Staff

from those departments experienced the

vessels’ capabilities during the ships’ week-

long patrol of our Sub-Antarctic Islands, nearly

700km south of Bluff.

On board WELLINGTON were two Fisheries

staff: Field Operations Training Development

Unit manager Ian Henderson of Dunedin, and

manager of Maritime Planning and Forensics,

Gary Orr of Wellington. The men were there

to assess the capability of the ships for official

requirements. The plan to board two fishing

vessels in the area was foiled when OTAGO

had to return to Auckland and the Governor-

General was transferred to WELLINGTON,

which was then diverted to complete tasks

with His Excellency.

But Mr Orr said from what he had seen, it

was clear the ship was going to be a major

asset. The main benefit was its ability to patrol

the deep seas—a capacity which had not

previously been available. Boardings were as

much about changing behaviour as checking

for compliance, and so far there was a lot of

good feedback from the fishing industry about

the IPVs’ work, he said.

“The level of professionalism of the IPV crews

is extremely good and we want to do the same

with the OPVs.’’

The work the OPVs would be doing would

be more challenging because of the deep sea

environment, but the crews seemed to be

ready for it. Seas were larger, fishing vessels

were bigger, they were operating at further

distances and the OPVs would have to deal

with not only fishing vessels, but also factory

processing vessels.

“Having a large grey ship sidling up to

them and sending out crews to board them

was going to be something new for deep

sea operators, but was largely welcomed by

operators who wanted a level playing field,”

Mr Orr said. ‘The deep sea has been left to its

own devices for a long time.’’

Naval crews could actually make boardings

themselves, with the written approval of

Fisheries staff, as all Commanding Officers of

our naval ships were also qualified Fisheries

Officers and had the power to delegate that

authority to junior members of the crew, who

might board fishing vessels. Fisheries was too

complex a field to expect the Navy to do the

whole role, but with what he had seen, he had

confidence in their capability to do what was

required at sea, Mr Orr said.

‘’These crews know this is their business

and these vessels are ideal for this work. It just

feels seamless. This gives all these agencies a

reach we never had. They are a whole other

WELLINGTON aT aNchOr aT campbELL IsLaNd WN 10-0259-024

LTcdr sImON GrIffITh & LTcdr sImON rOOkE aT ThE dOc hQ ON campbELL IsLaNd WN 10-0259-014

ONE Of ThE rhIbs apprOachEs campbELL IsLaNd jETTy WN 10-0259-026



set of ears and eyes out on the water and can

feed information back to us. It is a meaningful

role and these guys [the Navy] are passionate

about it.’’

Certainly, the OPV crews were keen to get

to work and having them available was like

‘Christmas’ for many different agencies. ‘’It’s

a long-term investment for an even longer

term gain.’’

Department of Conservation staff concurred.

‘’These vessels are going to change our

management of the islands,’’ DOC Outlying

Islands’ Programme manager Pete McClelland

said. DOC had traditionally had great difficulty

getting materials to the Sub Antarctic Islands

and usually it came at either a great cost or,

what felt like some inconvenience, to warships

available to take time out and head to the

islands for a week. ‘’The [OPVs] have given us

a whole new range of options.’’

For the first time, on this trip, DOC workers

felt like they were working with the Navy,

rather than tagging along, Mr McClelland said.

Purpose-built as patrol ships, the OPVs were

designed to be more practical, comfortable and

accommodating to the needs of agencies like

DOC, and they were.

‘’They’re not a warship tasked with lugging

boardwalk across. The Zodiacs were brilliant,

we could unload a lot of people and gear

quickly and with relative ease. They are here

to assist us, and it does have that feeling right

through the ranks.’’

Like Mr Orr, Pete McClelland noted DOC staff

did not feel as though they were impeding Navy

crews and that everyone on the OPVs, from the

CO down, was ready and willing to help. Mr Orr

said he was looking forward to the next phase

now, when the OPVs would visit the Ross Sea

and Sub Antarctic Islands again in February.

© Otago Daily Times; reprinted with thanks

aLbaTrOss ON marITImE paTrOL. WN 10-0259-029bELOW LEfT: mINIsTEr Of cONsErvaTION kaTE WILkINsON (OraNGE jackET aT rIGhT) ON auckLaNd IsLaNd. WITh LT d rIchards, barry haNsON cONsErvaTOr sOuThLaNd cONsErvaNcy, OT paIGE drEavEr, ach Z ThOmas aNd kNEELING IN frONT (OraNGE jackET) Is aNdy rObErTs – dOc arEa maNaGEr sOuThErN IsLaNds arEa. ThE TrEE sTump Was carvEd by saILOrs frOm hEr majEsTy’s cOLONIaL shIp vIcTOrIa IN 1863.bELOW rIGhT: a campbELL IsLaNd pIpIT. WN 10-0259-020



Campbell Island, the most southerly of the five New Zealand sub-antarctic island groups, was discovered 200 years ago. Its early history included sealing, whaling and farming. The home to six species of albatross, it has an inhospitable, cold, cloudy, wet and windy climate with less than an hour’s sunshine on 215 days of the year. It rains on average 325 days a year and wind gusts reach 96kmh on at least 100 days a year. The mean annual temperature is 6ºC and it rarely rises above 12ºC. The island had no permanent residents and had been predator-free since 2001 when the last of introduced rats were eliminated under a DOC eradication programme.

Source: NZPA

see website: www.50south.org.nz/campbell-island/home

campbELL IsLaNd

WELLINGTON IN pErsErvEraNcE harbOur WN 10-0259-011


N A V A L D I V I S I O N S

PARADE SPECTACULAR!a sea of white uniforms covered the Ngataringa bay sports field when the royal New Zealand Navy paraded at divisions for his Excellency sir anand satyanand, Governor-General and commander-in-chief, and in front of senior military officers, defence attachés, auckland dignitaries and friends and families.The ceremony commenced with the Navy’s Kapa Haka group welcoming the Governor-General,

who wore uniform of the rank of Admiral, which he holds as Commander-in-Chief. A 21 Gun Salute

was fired, the Queen’s Colour of the RNZN was paraded and a flypast by Seasprite helicopters

provided an aerial salute.

Naval Divisions is the occasion that the Fleet’s annual awards are presented, and the Navy’s

Sailor of the Year is formally presented with his award.

abOvE: rOyaL saLuTE! ThE QuEENs cOLOur Of ThE rNZN Is dIppEd TO ThE QuEEN’s rEprEsENTaTIvE, ThE GOvErNOr-GENEraL, as ThE rOyaL Guard prEsENTs arms. ThE Guard cOmmaNdEr (aT LEfT) Is LTcdr aNGELa hOLLaNd, ThE cOLOur OffIcEr Is sLT rOsEmary bEumELburG aNd ThE Guard sEcONd-IN-cOmmaNd Is LT vauGhaN LuckmaN (r). 20110121_ph_T1015674_0031


[A] THE CHATHAm ROSE BOwL AND RNZN EFFICIENCY PENNANTThe Rose Bowl is awarded to the sea-going ship achieving the best all-round result. The award

for 2010 went to HMNZS MANAWANUI, which had achieved the best overall work-up result,

made a significant contribution to training and defence outputs, and additionally has maintained

a high degree of community engagement.

[B] THE mONOwAI TROPHY. This trophy is awarded to the Force Element achieving the highest level of operational excellence

and is contested by ships of the Naval Combat Force, the Naval Support Force and the Naval

Patrol Force. This year’s award went to HMNZS ROTOITI, which has consistently maintained

the highest levels of operational preparedness and availability and has made a significant

contribution to other government department outcomes through the delivery of Multi-Agency

Operations and Taskings.

[C] THE COmmANDER w. L. J SmITH CUP.This Cup is awarded to the best overall Supporting Force Element and is contested by

RESOLUTION, MANAWANUI, No.6 Squadron, the Maritime Operational Evaluation Team and,

the Littoral Warfare Support Group. The award this year goes to the Littoral Warfare Support

Group, which has made a significant contribution to Navy’s outputs and the Navy’s mission and

on a number of occasions has been involved in activities of high public interest.

[D] THE NAVAL SUPPORT COmmAND EFFICIENCY TROPHYThis trophy recognises the unit within the Naval Support Command whose staff consistently

utilised effective processes to enable the department to operate at a high standard of efficiency

throughout the year. The winner for 2010 is the Recruit Training School.

[E] THE NAVAL SUPPORT COmmAND CUSTOmER SERVICE TROPHYThis award recognises the Naval Support Command Department whose staff consistently

utilised customer-focused processes, in order to provide a high standard of Customer Service

throughout the year. The winner for 2010 is the Naval Community Organisation.

[F] THE SAILOR OF THE YEAR AwARD.The Sailor of the Year programme was introduced into our Navy in 1999. The aim of the award is to

recognise and foster excellence at the junior rating level. All serving RNZN and RNZNVR personnel who

are Ordinary, Able or Leading ratings are eligible for selection. The award was made to LSA Benjamin

Owens from HMNZS OTAGO who has demonstrated a clear understanding of our Core Values.

After Divisions, Rear Admiral Parr said:

“I have received much positive feedback and appreciation following Fleet Divisions. There were

almost 1000 of us on parade from both the Fleet and shore establishments. The dress and

bearing, turnout and standard of drill were all particularly good. The day had special significance

as well, marking the last opportunity for the Governor-General, the Chief of Defence Force [LTGEN

Mateparae] and Deputy Chief of Navy [CDR Pepperell] to attend in their official capacities—and

they were not disappointed.

“Divisions in late January of each year is now a regular event in our annual programme. It serves

not only to provide a traditional naval spectacle, but also to enable a degree of kotahitanga

(‘togetherness’) amongst ourselves in a formal and unique way before we begin the year’s work

in earnest. I acknowledge the work and professionalism of our Parade and Events staff, whose

efforts in organising and running Fleet Divisions were clearly key to its success.

“To all those who participated in Fleet Divisions 2011 — well done.”

N A V A L D I V I S I O N S

rEcOGNIsING LONG, LOyaL aNd ExTENsIvE sErvIcE TO ThE rNZN.ThE armEd fOrcEs aWardLTCDR Laurie Bates

LTCDR Tony Masters

ThE LONG sErvIcE aNd GOOd cONducT mEdaLCPOSCS Henry Matangi, HMNZS CANTERBURY

CPOMT Dave Hamill, HMNZS TE MANA

POWT Dwayne Williams, HMNZS TE KAHA

POET Hamish Ivey, HMNZS MANAWANUI

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L E A D E R S H I P

A tri-Service 50-person Guard of Honour and

the NZDF Maori Cultural Group took part;

the Governor-General presented General

Jones with his Warrant and promoted him to

Lieutenant General.

The new CDF said he is honoured to be

appointed to the post: “The Defence Force

has a great international reputation and is full

of New Zealand’s finest men and women—

service-people and civilians. Across the Navy,

Army and Air Force I have met only passionate,

professional and selfless people who have the

interests of their Service and New Zealand at

heart.

“With the release of the Defence White

Paper the New Zealand Defence Force has

an opportunity to transform itself into a force

shaped for the next 25 years and more. My role

will be to provide the direction and leadership

to that change. The challenges and possibilities

ahead of us are real, and sizeable, but with

such a strong organisation, and talented and

dynamic people, I know we will succeed.”

LTGEN Jones thanked the Prime Minister,

Minister of Defence and Cabinet for giving him

this opportunity and paid tribute to his family

who have helped him throughout his career.

“My wife and children have had to live with the

stresses and strains of being a military family;

the constant moves and long periods of me

being away during critical times in their lives.”

LTGEN Mateparae wished the new CDF all

the best. “I congratulate General Jones for

his appointment. He has shown exceptional

leadership qualities throughout his distinguished

career with the New Zealand Army. Most

recently as Chief of Army he has been a

leading figure on the Defence Force’s Executive

Leadership Team. General Jones is focused

on the opportunities and challenges facing the

Defence Force and is committed to ensuring

we are a strong, vibrant and professional Force,

now and into the future.”

wARRANT OFFICER OF THE DEFENCE FORCE

As part of the ceremony, Warrant Officer

Class One Alan Cunningham was appointed to

the position of Warrant Officer of the Defence

Force, replacing WO1 John Barclay. This

position is the most senior non-commissioned

appointment in the NZ Defence Force and

the WODF is a key adviser to the Chief of

Defence Force, responsible for the Defence

Force’s strategic direction with regard to non-

On 24 January in a ceremony hosted by His Excellency Sir Anand Satyanand, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief, at Government House Auckland, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones was promoted into the post of Chief of Defence Force (CDF), relieving LTGEN Jerry Mateparae.

Leads oUr defence force

new chief of defence force

LTGEN jONEs INspEcTs hIs TrI-sErvIcE Guard. 20110125_WN_s1015650_0043


changes of sea coMMand Ceremonies to mark the official change of

Commanding Officer for three of our ships

took place in recent weeks. The Change of

Command Ceremony is traditionally formal and

impressive, intended to strengthen the respect

for authority and demonstrate continuity of

leadership. The changing of command takes

place when the out-going CO states “You

have the ship” and the new CO replies “I have

the ship”.

Witnessing the ceremonies were the ship’s

company of each ship, invited guests, family

and friends. The Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral

Tony Parr, officiated at these ceremonies.

[A] On 9 December 2010, LTCDR Jonathan

Clarkson relinquished command of HMNZS

TAUPO to LT Luke Taylor.

[B] On Thursday, 20 January, CDR Shane

Arndell formally handed over command of the

Navy’s Littoral Warfare Support Ship HMNZS

RESOLUTION and LTCDR Matthew Wray

assumed command.

[C] That same morning, CDR Mathew

Williams relinquished command of HMNZS TE

KAHA to CDR Jonathan Beadsmoore.

commissioned personnel, including issues such

as morale, welfare and conditions of service.

VCDF RE-APPOINTED Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Jack Steer, the Vice

Chief of Defence Force, has been appointed for

a further two years from 2 February 2011. He

has served in the role since February 2008. The

Minister of Defence, Dr Wayne Mapp said:

“Rear Admiral Steer has provided an in-depth

approach to realising the Value for Money project

during the development of the White Paper. He

will have a central role in implementing the

Value for Money aspects of the White Paper,

and the enhanced responsibilities of the Vice

Chief will reflect this.

“LT GEN Jones and Rear Admiral Steer

will make a strong team to lead our Defence

Force through the challenges that it faces in

the coming years. I congratulate both officers.

I know their leadership will be a substantial

contribution to New Zealand’s defence and

security,” he said.

LTGEN maTEparaE hONGIs WITh LTGEN jONEs, WhO Is WEarING ThE cdf bELT WITh ThE maNahI paTu TuckEd INTO IT.

20110125_WN_s1015650_0022

ThE GOvErNOr-GENEraL WITh WarraNT OffIcEr Of ThE dEfENcE fOrcE aLaN cuNNINGham aNd hIs parTNEr NGaTaI WaIrEpO. 20110125_WN_s1015650_0032

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intervieW Withadmiral nirmal verma, Pvsm, avsm, adC*

Chief of naval staff, indian navY

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

During his visit to New Zealand in early November, Admiral Verma visited the Naval Base at Devonport, was welcomed on to our Navy Marae, toured the Marine Engineering Synthetic Training Environment and the TAMAKI Leadership Centre, as well as seeing over CANTERBURY and PUKAKI. He also agreed to be interviewed by Navy Today.

accOmpaNIEd by capT frEd kEaTING, adm vErma INspEcTs hIs Guard Of hONOur aT phILOmEL. mc 10-0368-009

*Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, for meritorious service. ADC: Honorary

Aide-de-Camp to the President of India.



BioGraPhY: admiral vermaAdmiral Nirmal Verma assumed command of the Indian Navy on 31

August 2009, as the 20th Chief of Naval Staff and the 18th Indian to

take over this office.

Admiral Nirmal Verma is a specialist in Communication and Electronic

Warfare; his sea commands were INS UDAYGIRI, a Leander-class

frigate; INS RANVIR, a Kashin-class Destroyer; and the aircraft carrier,

INS VIRAAT. He has also commanded the Indian Naval Academy (then

at Goa), was Head of Naval Training Team at the Defence Services

Staff College, Wellington, India, and Senior Directing Staff (Navy) at the

National Defence College, New Delhi.

As part of crew for the IN’s first Kashin-class destroyer, he trained in the

former Soviet Union. He has also attended courses at the Royal Naval

Staff College, Greenwich, UK and the US Naval War College.

He has held six posts at Flag rank. As the Vice Chief of Naval Staff,

Admiral Verma structured the framework for the transformation of the

Navy’s combat capabilities and infrastructure development. His last area

command was as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval

Command, prior to taking over as the Chief of Naval Staff.

SIR, THANk YOU FOR TAkING THE TImE TO ANSwER SOmE qUESTIONS FOR NAVY TODAY. IS THIS YOUR FIRST VISIT TO NEw ZEALAND?

Yes. I have been eagerly looking forward to visiting your beautiful country

and I am very glad to be here.

wHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR VISIT?

India and New Zealand share a long-standing and multi-faceted

relationship encompassing a range of issues from trade to mountaineering

and from cricket to defence cooperation. The main purpose of my visit

is to meet your senior defence leadership, particularly my counterpart,

Rear Admiral Parr, to exchange perceptions on security issues of mutual

interest and explore new avenues to advance our bilateral Navy-to-Navy

relationship. I am sure that during this visit we will be able to identify

some additional areas of cooperation.

THE INDIAN NAVY IS UNDERGOING SIGNIFICANT ExPANSION. wHAT LEVEL OF CAPABILITY IS THE IN SEEkING TO ACqUIRE IN COmING YEARS?

The Indian Navy is definitely expanding in terms of capability, but not

in terms of numbers of platforms, where our absolute numbers are

actually reducing. At present there are 39 new ships and submarines

on order, mainly in Indian shipyards, and largely as replacements for

existing platforms. Our preferred choice of inducting ships is through the

indigenous route because we lay a lot of stress in attaining self-sufficiency

in defence equipment production. However, we also recognise that we

will need to avail niche capability from other countries.

For instance, the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, a

government-owned public sector shipyard in Kolkata is currently building

a series of ten water-jet Fast Attack Craft, of which the first six have been

inducted into the Navy. These ships are powered by Hamilton Jets water-

jet propulsion systems and we are pleased with their performance.

Probably the most significant platform being acquired by the Indian

Navy is the aircraft carrier VIKRAMADITYA (ex-GORSHKOV) from

Russia along with its integral MiG-29K fighters. At Mumbai, our premier

warship-building yard, Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL), is engaged in

the construction of three Kolkata-class destroyers and three stealth

frigates of the Shivalik-class, all of which are Indian-designed and

Indian-built ships. The first Shivalik-class frigate has in fact already been

commissioned in April this year.

Six submarines of the Scorpene-class are also under construction at

MDL. Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), based at Kochi in the southern

state of Kerala, is progressing the construction of our most ambitious

ship yet—the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier.

AND wHAT IS THE STATE OF THE SUBmARINE FORCE? YOU ARE COmmITTED TO NUCLEAR POwERED SUBmARINES?

The Indian Navy operates a mix of ten Sindhughosh-class (Kilo-class)

submarines and four Shishumar-class submarines (Type 209/1500). As I

mentioned earlier, six Scorpene-class submarines are being constructed

in Mumbai in collaboration with DCNS of France.

You would be aware that we are also in the process of inducting the

first Indian-built nuclear powered submarine in the Indian Navy. Named

INS ARIHANT, the submarine will play a major role in ensuring deterrence

and strengthening strategic stability in our region.

THE NEw ZEALAND GOVERNmENT HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A wHITE PAPER OUTLINING THE STRATEGIC CONCEPT FOR OUR ARmED FORCES. wHAT ARE THE mAJOR STRATEGIC CONTExTS AND CHALLENGES FACING THE INDIAN NAVY?

The challenges that the Indian Navy has to contend with stem from

the prevailing security environment in our part of the world. The locus

of international terrorism lies in our immediate neighbourhood and its

adm vErma WITh ThE WahINEs Of ThE NavaL cuLTuraL GrOup. mc 10-0368-034

adm vErma Is chaLLENGEd as hE ENTErs TE Taua mOaNa maraE. mc 10-0368-020


maritime dimensions were revealed in the unfortunate incident of 26/11

in Mumbai.

The external ramifications of state weakness are today exemplified by

the emergence of the scourge of piracy off the Horn of Africa, which

threatens the free flow of energy and trade across the Indian Ocean

region and needs to be combated.

The rise of fundamentalist and extremist ideologies in our vicinity

threatens the pluralism and tolerance that are intrinsic to the Indian

way of life.

Climate change is contributing to natural disasters, many of which

have a maritime dimension.

In the midst of all this, India remains a thriving democracy and exhibits

rapid economic growth. In my view, the Indian Navy is a key contributor

not just to India’s national security, but also global economic and energy

security. The Indian Navy is committed to being a ‘force for good’ in

the Indian Ocean region and in protecting the freedom of the seas for

all nations. I am aware that we cannot accomplish this alone and we

will need to cooperate with our friends and partners to succeed in this

endeavour. That is the reason that I am here in New Zealand.

INDIAN NAVY FRIGATES AND DESTROYERS HAVE OPERATED ExTENSIVELY IN THE ARABIAN SEA IN RECENT YEARS, ON ANTI-PIRACY PATROLS. HOw SUCCESSFUL HAVE THESE PATROLS BEEN? wHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED FROm THESE DEPLOYmENTS? wHAT PRIORITY ARE THEY?

The Indian Navy has been undertaking anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of

Aden since October 2008. A total of 23 warships have been deployed for

this mission to date and we have endeavoured to maintain one frigate or

destroyer (with an embarked helicopter and Marine Commando element)

continuously in the Gulf of Aden. In addition to this, we have assisted our

smaller neighbours in the region whenever called upon to do so.

Merchant ships are currently being escorted along the entire length

of the 500 nautical mile long Internationally Recommended Transit

Corridor (IRTC) that has been promulgated in the Gulf of Aden for use

by all merchant vessels. At least 1400 merchant ships of all flags have

been escorted so far by Indian warships, and they have also thwarted

25 piracy attempts.

The proactive stance taken by the Indian Navy towards providing

protection to the merchant marine, irrespective of nationality, has deterred

acts of piracy in the Gulf of Aden, and this has been widely appreciated.

The anti-piracy missions are a high priority for our Navy as we have been

entrusted with this responsibility by our Government.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR NAVY HAS INVESTED IN A BRAND NEw NAVAL ACADEmY. DOES THIS REFLECT A POLICY OF BETTER qUALITY ACADEmIC EDUCATION FOR YOUR NEw OFFICERS?

We are particularly proud of our new Naval Academy located at

Ezhimala in Kerala. While we have always had the policy of imparting

the best possible training to our officer-cadets, the establishment of our

new Naval Academy is certainly a significant step in the evolution of the

Navy to meet technical challenges of the 21st century.

We have committed ourselves to ‘technicalising’ the Navy’s officer

complement over the next few years. Towards this, we have commenced

a Bachelor of Technology (B Tech) programme for all permanent

commissioned officers, notwithstanding the branch or cadre that he or

she is finally allocated. This step is not just to better equip our future

officers, but also a part of our plans for multi-skilling, which will eventually

lead to a leaner Navy.

wITH THE GROwTH IN INDIA’S mIDDLE CLASS, DOES IT mAkE IT EASIER FOR THE NAVY TO RECRUIT, OR DO YOU HAVE TO SELL THE NAVY TO THE INDIAN PEOPLE?

The growth of Indian middle class has resulted in the creation of a

large pool of educated, aware and motivated youth. This pool, if tapped

correctly, can be a major source of quality people; something that is

critical if we are to sustain the transformational initiatives that we have

set in motion. However, the rapid growth witnessed by our economy

has also resulted in the creation of a larger number of avenues and jobs

in the private sector, apart from opportunities abroad.

We need to compete with these alternate avenues if we are to continue

attracting the best talent that the country has to offer. Towards this, we

do ‘go to the people’, as you have mentioned, by undertaking recruitment

drives across the country. So far, we have been reasonably successful in

getting our fair share from the talent pool of the country’s youth.

IN RECENT YEARS THE IN HAS UNDERTAkEN A mORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE REGION, INCLUDING mAJOR ExERCISES wITH THE USN, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND REGULAR DEPLOYmENTS TO THIS REGION. DO YOU THINk IT IS LIkELY THAT THE IN SHIPS wILL DEPLOY REGULARLY TO AUSTRALIA AND NEw ZEALAND?

We value our relationship with navies in this region, particularly with

New Zealand and Australia. Sharing of common values of democracy,

openness, freedom of speech and belief makes it easier for us to interact,

as we start from a common viewpoint. You also need to remember that

we have a legacy of military cooperation that goes back over a century.

The only obstacle for regular deployment of ships to your region is

distance, but I am sure we will find ways of overcoming this.

HOw DO YOU SEE THE RELATIONSHIP BETwEEN THE IN AND THE RNZN DEVELOPING IN THE FUTURE?

I think we have a great basis for cooperation. As I mentioned before,

we share common ground on basic human values. Both our countries

are committed to peace and stability across the globe. Consequently,

we have a consensus for closer relations in both countries. We also have

many complementary strengths. The RNZN has unique niche capabilities

in equipment, training and efficient utilisation of human resources from

which we can benefit.

As India continues to grow economically, industrially and technologically,

our maritime capability will also grow, and combined with India’s strategic

maritime location, this will offer the RNZN many avenues for cooperation

with us. It is very important that we remain strong partners in ensuring

the freedom of the seas for common good, as indeed we are today. I

am extremely positive about the overall growth of our bilateral naval

relations.


at least 1400 merchant ships of all flags have been escorted so far by indian warships, and they have also thwarted 25 piracy attempts.


T R A I N I N G A N D E D U C A T I O N

A DETAILED PICTURE OF HOW THE NAVY’S TRAINING AND EDUCATION WILL BE DELIVERED IS NOW AVAILABLE FOLLOWING THE END OF CONSULTATION ON THE NEW TRAINING AND EDUCATION DIRECTORATE STRUCTURE.The set-up of the Training and Education

Directorate (TED) signals a new Defence-wide

approach to training and education. TED starts

recruitment for roles in the new structure in

February and key leadership appointments have

recently been announced, with LTCDR Gordon

Robinson taking one of the top jobs.

TED Director Colonel Al McCone says the new structure will give Naval personnel access to

the best training practices and processes from right across our Defence Force. “Ultimately, this

approach will improve military capability and save money through smarter and simpler services,”

COL McCone says. “Instead of duplicating training and education across each of the Services,

we will have a one-stop shop approach,” he says.

TED IS mADE UP OF THREE kEY PARTS. A centralised • Training and Education Services (TES) team to provide strategy and policy

direction, training development, audit and evaluation, planning and scheduling, and external

relationships and qualifications. It will also have training and education support staff on camps

and bases. LTCDR Gordon Robinson from Navy’s Fleet Personnel and Training Organisation

is posted as Director of Training and Education Services on promotion to Commander.

The • Defence Training Institute (DTI) will be the home of Defence’s common training schools.

SQNLDR Michael Salvador has been appointed the new Commanding Officer Defence

Training Institute on promotion to Wing Commander. Michael is currently the Assistant

Director of Training at Woodbourne.

Initially the DTI will include the Burnham Joint Services Health School, Joint Services Physical

Education and Recreational Training School at Woodbourne, a new NZ Explosive Ordnance

School at Trentham and a Joint Training Systems School in the Manawatu, both due to start

up at the end of February. As more common training is identified it will become part of the

Defence Training Institute. Environment training – training specific to the Navy - will continue

to be delivered by the Navy.

The third part of TED is the• New Zealand Defence College which will continue to offer a

wide range of education and higher professional development, from literacy and numeracy to

organisational management skills. All Naval education structures became part of the Defence

College in December 2010. COL John McLeod is leading the Defence College.

The new Directorate’s structure comes into place progressively, from the end of February, with

full operations beginning on 1 July 2011. For more information on the new Training and Education

Directorate see the NZDF intranet page: http://projects/dtp/LP/Publication/TED.aspx

NAVY TRAINERS AND EDUCATORS DELIVER in new strUctUre

INs brahmapuTra (f 31)

INs raNa (d52) ExErcIsING WITh a usN Task GrOup

cdr GOrdON rObINsON rNZN

INs vIraaT WITh usN, Iaf aNd IN aIrcrafT OvErhEad

INs raNa, a russIaN-buILT dEsTrOyEr. phOTOs: usN


Sustaining and renewing the operational

capabilities of the Defence Force are the key

features of the recent Defence White Paper.

Those capabilities will be the focus of intense

staff work and planning by the new NZDF

Capability Branch, which was formed last

October within HQNZDF, Wellington.

Captain John Martin RNZN is the new Director

for Capability Working Groups within the new

joint branch; he is now at the forefront of leading

the Defence Force into a new era in the way

we deliver and manage our military capability.

He says the experience and expertise that

naval people bring to the organisation will add

significant value to the new Branch.

“Navy’s commitment to the new structure also

provides Navy personnel with opportunities to

develop and broaden their career within the

Capability stream, at a variety of levels.”

He says the most important thing for those

in the wider Navy to know, is that from now

on all current or future capability work will be

developed in the tri-Service Capability Branch.

However, key Navy liaison points will stay the

same initially, as the changes bed-in over the

next year.

“While the new arrangements are NZDF

posts, the core skills for naval personnel

remain professional mastery and excellence

in naval operations. It is essential that our

naval personnel bring these skills to the new

organisation. It will also be a place where

naval personnel can learn, while adding value

to our Defence Force, and where we’ll have

the chance to provide more informed debate

around maritime security.

“Navy is making a significant ‘people

investment’ in the new structure because the

A self-defence upgrade for the Anzac •

frigates

LAV upgrades•

Enhanced Special Forces•

Improved strategic lift:

ENDEAVOUR’s replacement to include •

logistics and sealift capabilities

And improved ISR:

Satellite imagery•

A littoral warfare support ship•

A land command and control system•

Then, in due course, replacements for P-3 •

Orions, C-130 Hercules and the Anzac

frigates

an opportUnity to ‘BUILD THE BEST’

D E F E N C E C A P A B I L I T Y

Capability branCh

on 1 october, 32 navaL personneL joined nine existing rnZn personneL froM the oLd deveLopMent branch, together with their air and arMy coLLeagUes to forM the nZdf capabiLity branch. this new branch wiLL enabLe the assistant chief capabiLity to be responsibLe for the coMpLete nZdf capabiLity deveLopMent process.

Defence White Paper signals that as a maritime

nation, many of the Defence capabilities

we acquire will have a significant maritime

dimension,” CAPT Martin explains.

The Navy’s approach to the new Branch’s

establishment has been to keep the focus on

managing existing naval capability in the best

way, as well as delivering new capability for the

maritime role to achieve joint military effects.

“Although there is a new structure the same

work will get done as in the past. In particular

in-service management will be conducted by

a naval working group inside the Capability

Branch, with responsibility to both the Deputy

Chief of Navy (CDRE Wayne Burroughs)

and Brigadier Tim Gall, the Assistant Chief

Captain John Martin, DireCtor for Capability Working groups With Capability branCh heaD, brigaDier tiM gall.

The New CapabiliTiesWith the release of the Defence White Paper, Capability Branch is now planning for improved combat capabilities:


Currently chaplains have different identification

across the three Services - the cross and

anchor rank slides in Navy, and for Army

and Air Force, ‘equivalent rank’ slides.

When operating outside of their ‘home

Service’ it is important that Chaplains are

recognisable whereever they are working,

including in the operational environment,

where NZDF Chaplaincy now provides

support in Afghanistan, Timor-Leste and

the Solomons.

Approved by the Service Chiefs, the new

rank slide for all NZDF Chaplains is a simple

and unmistakable cross (based on the Naval

Chaplaincy cross). The new rank slides will

be worn by all chaplains from early 2011. The

status of chaplains in NZDF doesn’t change:

they remain officers who do not exercise

executive command.

'The introduction of the new rank slide is

not a big change for Navy as its based on

our original Navy cross. The main change

is that chaplains are now managed by

chaplains - those who are best placed to

understand what its like to be a chaplain -

with the main focus on providing chaplaincy

services to the base . The important thing

is that Navy personnel at all levels continue

to be supported by the chaplaincy service.

After all , first and foremost we are chaplains

and that is what we are here for.

A new chaplaincy structure has been in place since 1 April, when NZDF Chaplaincy was established within the Defence Personnel Executive (previously Personnel Branch). This means all chaplains now report directly to the Principal Defence Chaplain rather than the camp or base commander. This structural change has brought flexibility to the way Chaplaincy support is provided, making it easier to provide support where it is needed most.

Capability branCh

(Capability),” CAPT Martin says. “Their focus will

be on making sure the existing fleet is managed

correctly as well as advising capability planners

on requirements for the future fleet.”

Naval capability is deployed for the Defence

Force as a whole—that’s why the new

Branch structure is supported with a high

level of knowledge on naval matters, he says.

“Additionally there will be better outcomes for

the Navy by participating in the Branch because

our capability requirements and planning will

have been worked through the joint process

and will have been scrutinised by officers of the

other Services. This means that interoperability

will be assured from the start with regard to

people, platforms and infrastructure. There

are times when specific Navy needs will need

to be addressed as a priority, and having this

level of engagement will assist us to do that.

The whole of the NZDF will benefit from this

approach.”

As part of the changes the ‘Naval Authority’

has been enhanced and its role strengthened to

be able to deal with the variety of ships we have

at present as well as to inform future Capability

projects of regulatory requirements. The Chief

of Navy has provided written formal delegation

that guide members of the Naval Authority

and the design acceptance authorities of their

tasks.

He acknowledges that with the shift to a

central point of accountability for capability

decision-making and project management,

there are likely to be some Navy concerns

about capability design and safety issues,

and the operation of current fleets. But he is

quick to assure his service colleagues that the

new Branch arrangements will be a positive

opportunity for Navy involvement.

“In a way it’s about a refocus for us in Navy

Capability and will in fact give us increased

capacity to take on more work. This is an

unparalleled opportunity to build the best we

can. We shouldn’t be worried about any of

this—it really is about improving our ability to do

our jobs and meet government expectations,”

CAPT Martin concluded.

D E F E N C E F O R C E C H A P L A I N S

NEW LOOK FOR CHAPLAINS

This year Chaplains will be more identifiable with the introduction of new rank slides for all chaplains in our Defence Force.

prINcIpaL dEfENcE chapLaIN dON parkEr, prINcIpaL chapLaIN WayNE TOLEafOa rNZN, chapLaIN aNTONy haWEs rNZaf & prINcIpaL chapLaIN LaNcE LukIN, rNZchd


by cpOWTr sTEvE cLarkE

The snow has definitely settled in here in

Bamiyan, unfortunately a little late to provide

a white Christmas for the five Naval personnel

who are contributing to the goal of making

the province the safest and most secure in

Afghanistan. Specifically, the NZ Provincial

Reconstruction Team (NZPRT) functions in

three lines of operation:

Governance, •

Security and •

Development. •

These all begin by winning hearts and

minds of the Bamiyan people. There is a

high operational tempo for us, with counter-

insurgency patrols carried out from the Forward

Patrol Bases (FPBs). These are supported by

the team at Kiwi Base situated in the Bamyan

Township.

I am the S1, the sole administrator, who

is responsible for all the human resource

management, pay, mail, movement of personnel

and so much more—all of which keeps me busy

but makes the time go by quickly. I also get

the occasional pleasure of venturing out to the

local hospital and orphanage with the Padre, Ra

Koia, where we hand out much-needed warm

clothing and other relationship-building items.

It’s always satisfying to see the faces of the local

children light up with appreciation.

POHST Karen Foster is another sailor in

a sole charge position as the Geospatial

Information Systems Operator (GISOP) and she

is kept busy with the responsibility of providing

a variety of maps to various stakeholders.

LMED Kim Mordecai maintains the health

and well-being of the soldiers at one of the

FPBs. The intensive dismounted patrols have

taken her out of the comfort zone and in no way

resemble sick parades in a ship! She is due

in camp shortly for a well-deserved mid-tour

‘reconstitution’, where she will undoubtedly

relish the luxury of a flushing toilet!

ACO Candy Fox keeps morale up in the

Command Post with her gregarious and bubbly

personality. Her roles include:

maintaining communications with all •

patrol elements in the area of operation

via several communication methods;

sending reports and returns to HQ; •

and

sending direction and information to •

patrol elements.

AEWS Bjorn also provides communications

support to the NZPRT. He states he has

enjoyed the experience, and recommends to

anyone else in his trade to give it a shot. “Just

get fit before you start Pre-Deployment Training

and prepare to go dry for six months!”

N A V Y P E A C E K E E P E R S

kIwI CHRISTmAS in afghanistan

cpOWTr sTEvE cLarkE haNdING OuT cLOThING TO LOcaL chILdrEN

acO caNdy fOx (cENTrE) WITh saNTa’s ELvEs: capT ELLEN fOrd (L) aNd capT LIZ pEarsON.


N A V Y P E A C E K E E P E R S

Despite the high operational tempo of the

NZPRT, our rotation has maintained the Kiwi

standard of being able to mix business with

pleasure—we managed to celebrate Christmas

in style. The Chefs put on a feast, nothing short

of a banquet with seafood, all the best meats

and, of course, deserts to make your stomach

pop. All this topped off with alcohol-free beer

and sparkling grape juice. Santa made an

appearance, with everyone having a photo

with him before receiving their gifts, including

the RSA gift boxes which were well received

and appreciated.

New Years was another festive occasion

which saw us see the New Year in with a ‘P

Party’ theme. With good music and good food,

Candy led the charge on the dance floor. Other

entertainments: Melbourne Cup (see sidebar) a

couple of quiz nights, poker evenings, and—on

New Year’s Day—a half marathon running

around the Camp followed by some brave

individuals doing a polar plunge. We even

had the privilege of being entertained with a

hilarious show by NZ comedian Mike King, who

is making a documentary on Afghanistan.

For the majority of the Navy team, there has

been the opportunity to get out and see the

country side. One location in particular takes

the breath away from all who see it for the first

time—the Bande Amir Lakes. The lakes are

a sight that shows that, despite Afghanistan

being such a war-torn country, it still has its

beautiful side.

As we reach the half-way point of the

deployment, our small Navy team can start

looking forward to being reunited with our

friends and families, returning home with the

satisfaction of knowing we have contributed

our part in making Bamiyan the Province-to-

be-in, in Afghanistan.

mELBOURNE CUP DAY!

To give us a taste of home, our entertainments

committee arranged a special Melbourne Cup

afternoon. Festivities commenced with the

locally employed civilians demonstrating their

sport of bozkashi, the details of which are

not for the faint-hearted. Let’s call it polo on

donkeys. The donkeys were 11 fine specimens

hired from the locals who eagerly looked on

from behind the wire ensuring there was no

ill treatment.

The opening Kiwi event, the Spandex

100, was a quick sprint for the prize of 1

doz Redbulls. A slower paced race was the

Bamiyan Hog Back sprint - a close competition

with the Workshops team winning the prize

bottle of Watties Tomato Sauce. To lighten

the mood, a fashion parade was held on the

catwalk.

The big event was the Donkey race, with,

appropriately, SGT Melbourne riding the winner

home! The wooden spoon was presented to

the Ops/Comms team; ACO Candy Fox is seen

here in her race-goer’s best, after the race on

the slow Comms Team donkey.

All in all, an action-packed afternoon in

‘Barmy Bamiyan’. Our Chefs created a great

outdoors meal, the locals enjoyed a free show,

the Donkey breeders earned some money and

the betting raised money for our unit fund.

aEWs aNdrE bjOrN ON paTrOL

pOhsT karEN fOsTEr OuT ON paTrOL

acO caNdy fOx

cpOWTr s cLarkE aT ThE baNdE amIr LakEs

‘dOc’ dr marc shaW (L) aNd chap raharuhI kOIa, ‘padrE ra’, aT ThE ENTraNcE TO kIWI basE.


O U R P E O P L E

{A] LSCS Graham assists Auckland mayor Len Brown fire the starting gun, with AwT monk behind, during the Auckland Anniversary Regatta.

[B] TV One weather presenter Tamati Coffey dropped into the Navy museum and the Torpedo Bay café just before Christmas, to do the day’s weather reports. He was quickly ‘commissioned’ as a Commander, while Jo Eagin, manager of the café, ensured he was well refreshed between live crosses. Our new museum has had a good attendance throughout the holiday season, with some 1500 visitors per week. mC 10-0409-004

[C] The minister of Youth Affairs, Hon Paula Bennett, came to the naval base on 27 January to see participants in the Prime minister's Youth Programme which celebrates the achievements of young people who have made positive life changes. The programme provided them with extra-ordinary activities including a day with the Navy. 20110127_PH_T1015674_0027

[D] LTCDRs matt and mariane Ray with their children Laila (1 yr old) & Oscar (4) on RESOLUTION’s Bridge (see Change of Command story on p 23). 20110120_PH_V1020230_0002

[E] CPOET Len Bilton celebrated 50 years service with eight of the ‘top ten’ longest serving members of the RNZN (l to r) CDR Edwards (43 years, 359 days) LTCDR Hine (40 years, 170 days) CDR Rands (44 years, 232 days) CDR Corles (39 years and 9 days) CPOET Bilton, LTCDR Young (42 years, 6 days) LTCDR mortimer (46 years, 321 days) wOmT(P) Blue Allen (41 years, 236 days) & LTCDR Howland (42 years, 360 days). missing from the ‘top ten’ was wOSCS Reece Golding who has served nearly 48 years. 20110112_PH_V1020230_0004.

[F] mANAwANUI’s company with the very shiny CHATHAm Rose Bowl and their Efficiency pennant. 20110201_PH_V1020230_0003

[G] LT mason Tolerton RNZN is currently a Platoon Commander at the Youth Development Unit South. He has been awarded a winston Churchill Fellowship to study the Canadian Defence Force’s Raven and Bold Eagle programmes, which bring young indigenous Canadians into the military for a six-week employment programme. mason will go to Canada during our winter.

[H] LmED kim mordecai with a group of villagers during a patrol in Afghanistan last December. kim and her colleagues will return to NZ during April.

[I] LT Luke Taylor with members of his family after taking command of HmNZS TAUPO (see his story p 33). mC 10-0411-036

[J] PUkAkI’s company with the Nelson Fire Brigade (see p 32).

[k] Last November the Indian Staff College visited NZ on a study tour; at the naval base they were given a powhiri at Te Taua moana marae. mC 10-0371-043

[L] Divisions formed up at Nagataringa on 21 January (see story p 8). 20110121_PH_L1020290_ 0012.

[m] A maude Island weta meets two hands from ROTOITI (see also p 32)

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O U R P E O P L E

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On completion of basic training Len was categorised as an Ordnance

Artificer Apprentice. Subsequent reorganisations during the Sixties

saw Len’s trade change to Control Artificer Weapons, then to Control

Electrical Artificer (CEA). In 2001 his trade was again re-categorised as

‘Electronic Technician’.

Stage Two of his apprenticeship (1962 – 64) was at HMS COLLINGWOOD

in the UK. “We flew to England in an RNZAF aircraft, which took 10

days. I hitch-hiked around Europe during the term holidays. There was

a big snow in England in 1963, which closed the parade ground at

COLLINGWOOD for 3 months! And I attended All Black test matches

at Twickenham and Cardiff Arms Park (Don Clark, Wilson Whineray and

Colin Meads were in the team).

On-the-Job training was in HMNZS TARANAKI (F 148) which deployed

to Singapore and took part in Confrontation. “We were in Two-watch

patrols around Malaya and Borneo. We also rescued a log carrier that

had run aground and caught fire. I remember the filthy condition of the

Singapore waterways and streets before the big clean up (instigated by

Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew). There were cheap food stalls and bars at

Sembawang, and of course the daily tropical downpours.”

Len was promoted to CEA3 (Leading hand) in September 1965 and

the following year was awarded the General Service Medal with Borneo

clasp [subsequently he was awarded the NZOSM and the Pingat Jasar

Malaysia Medal for this operational service].

He joined HMNZS WAIKATO (F 55) for her first commission and also

served in HMNZS MONOWAI. Len was in WAIKATO again in 1970 where

he was promoted to CEA1 (Chief Petty Officer). “We were exercising

in the Hauraki Gulf when a major engine room fire occurred. I was off

watch at the time; a hydraulic oil pipe burst in the Engine Room and the

spray was ignited on contact with a hot pipe. The ship was quickly filled

with smoke and ship’s company mustered on the foc’sle. Flames were

leaping out of the engine room exhaust fan trunking, and great sheets

of paint were peeling off the ship’s side. I was sent down to relieve the

switchboard operator; I had to crawl along on hands and knees to see

and get some air. The fire gutted the engine room and WAIKATO was

towed back to Auckland for repairs.”

In 1973 Len met Marion Christie of Maungaturoto, at a naval function

in HMNZS PHILOMEL. Their courtship was interrupted by a six month

deployment to SE Asia, but subsequently they were married in the Wilson

Home Chapel, Takapuna, in 1975. Marion is a Beauty Therapist who

part-owns Milford Beauty Therapy. .

Len served twice in the frigate HMNZS CANTERBURY (F 421) and

stood by HMNZS SOUTHLAND (F104) during its pre-delivery UK refit.

"The trip home from the UK in SOUTHLAND included visiting the East

Coast of America, through the Panama Canal, across to Hawaii and we

arrived in Wellington on election day 1984. That was followed by the first

visit to our home port [Bluff].”

Len also served in shore postings as an Instructor, Maintainer or

Administrator, including at HMNZS IRIRANGI. In April 1977 he was

awarded the LSGCM and in the 1980 Queen’s Birthday Honours he

was awarded the British Empire Medal

Len has represented the Navy in Inter-Service Rugby, Cricket, Basketball

and Golf. He is qualified as a referee in Rugby and Basketball and is a

national golf referee who has officiated at several major NZ tournaments.

Len is a member of the Pupuke Golf Club and a Life Member of the

RNZN Golf Society. In 1993 his sporting endeavours were recognised

at the Navy’s Sportsperson of the Year awards.

In 2007 Len was awarded his 2nd Clasp to the LS&GCM—45 years’

qualifying service. With his career exemplifying Commitment and

Comradeship, the fiftieth anniversary of his entry on 12 January, 1961

(as a Boy Entrant) was celebrated with eight other of the longest-serving

members of the RNZN.

Len is now back at work as the Ship Manager in the Repair and

Maintenance Group for HMNZ Ships RESOLUTION and MANAWANUI;

his current commitment is to serve until 2013.

In January Chief Petty Officer Electronic Technician Len Bilton achieved 50 years service in the RNZN ( “19 Chiefs of Navy and 57 Divisional Officers!”)

Len was born in April 1944.While at Manurewa Central primary school he represented Counties in the 1957 Inter-provincial schools’ rugby tournament. He then attended Papakura High School, passing School Certificate and representing the school at cricket and rugby. “A Naval Recruiter visited Papakura High—I didn’t realise we had a Navy but took the opportunity for an hour off class! I joined three months later [in January 1961] with parental permission, as an Artificer Apprentice and committing to 12 years service. My first night was in a hammock, and I had to polish shower linings— a sudden realisation that life wasn’t always going to be glamorous!”

cpoet Len biLton, beM50 years’ servicecpOET LEN aNd marION bILTON. 20110125_ph_v1020230_0011


F L E E T P R O G R E S S

H M N Z S r e s o l u t i o n

On Thursday, 20 January, CDR Shane Arndell

relinquished command of our Littoral Warfare

Support Ship HMNZS RESOLUTION and

LTCDR Matthew Wray assumed command.

LTCDR Matt Wray enlisted in the RNZN as an

Ordinary Seaman in 1984 and subsequently

specialised in the Hydrographic Branch. He

spent the next 12 years at sea, punctuated

by promotional and professional courses,

serving in HMNZ Ships MONOWAI, TAKAPU,

TARAPUNGA, WAIKATO, CANTERBURY

[F421] and on exchange with the RAN.

In 1997 he commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant

and after Junior Officer Common Training,

posted to HMNZS WELLINGTON [F69] where

he qualified as an Officer of the Watch before

returning to the Hydrographic Survey Force. He

attended the Royal Navy Long Hydrographic

Survey Course (2001-2002) and on completion

posted to RESOLUTION as the Hydrographic

Operations Officer and Acting Surveyor in

Charge.

He was posted as Officer-In-Charge of

the Detached Hydrographic Survey Unit (for

the survey of Napier Harbour) and a Rapid

Environmental Assessment Team for Exercise

Croix Du Sud 2004 in New Caledonia. After

those roles he was advanced to Charge

Surveyor.

LTCDR Wray has served on missions as a UN

Military Observer in East Timor and as a Force

Field Liaison Officer and Second-In-Command

of the NZ Contingent with the Multinational

Force and Observers (MFO) Sinai, 2004-2005.

For his efforts in the MFO, he was awarded a

Director General’s Commendation.

His next sea posting was as the commissioning

Executive Officer of HMNZS CANTERBURY

[L421]. Following that, he posted to HQJFNZ

as the Maritime Exercise and Activity Planner.

He assumed command of RESOLUTION

in November 2010, but due to operational

change of coMMandLIEUTENANT COmmANDER mATT wRAY RNZN

commitments the ceremony was held last

month.

LTCDR Wray’s wife Mariane is a LTCDR

Psychologist in our Navy.

rEsOLuTION aLONGsIdE aT ThE NavaL basE, 7 NOvEmbEr 2010



by LTcdr GraNT judsON rNZN

The Littoral Warfare Support Group (LWSG)

was out in force on Auckland Harbour during

November, tasked with producing briefing

aids and operational information for an end

user, such as a Task Force Commander. The

aim of Exercise ACME was to conduct Rapid

Environmental Assessments (REA) of various

locations within the inner Hauraki Gulf, and

produce briefs within a short time frame, to

enable the commanders to make decisions

based on that information.

The Operational Diving Team (ODT) was also

tasked with proving and validating a discrete

diving operations capability, where searches

were conducted of wharves and beaches

with the Diving team operating at night and

remaining undetected.

The exercise was supported by MANAWANUI

which acted as a LWSG support vessel,

providing logistical support, technical facilities,

hotel services, boats and additional personnel.

The support provided by MANAWANUI was

second to none, and enabled the LWSG to

focus on the REA taskings and make the

most of the short exercise, while producing

good results. MANAWANUI anchored in

vicinity of Browns Island over the period and

accommodated our personnel from the ODT,

Mine Counter Measures Team and Maritime

Survey Team (MST).

During this exercise the LWSG Detachment

was tasked with:

Wharf Surveys of Islington Bay, Motuihe •

Island Wharf and Kauri Point Wharf, to

determine their suitability for use,

Beach Gradient Surveys of Islington Bay, •

Home Bay, Motuihe Island and Browns

Island, with the information gathered used

to produce REA Briefing products

Sub-surface IED search operations around •

wharf structures and potential beach landing

sites,

Delineation of boat lanes, for RHIBs and •

LCMs using the divers’ DUSS and the

MST’s REMUS

ODT exercised Discrete Diving Operations •

and proving that the dive team could be

used to good effect in a discrete manner,

And finally the production of detailed briefing •

products to enable commanders to make

well-informed decisions based on the latest

accurate information.

Exercise ACME is conducted bi-annually

and puts elements of the LWSG to the test

as a combined detachment. This exercise

develops each element’s [ODT, MST and

MCMT) interoperability and demands the use

of all LWSG equipment in an arena where time

is of the essence and gathering and collating

accurate information becomes critical to

mission success. It is a key exercise for our

Group and an important part of our training

cycle.

Last month that type of integrated

detachment training was put to use on a

sad task. An LWSG Detachment of six divers

and a two-person REMUS team assisted the

NZ Police at Lake Okareka in their search for

a missing Jet-skier. During 11-13 January

and after 24 hours on task, our detachment

located the missing person using REMUS

and the divers utilised DUSS to accurately

pinpoint the victim despite the lake’s poor

visibility. Then we handed the task back to

the Police to recover the teenager’s body. It

was a sad reminder of the dangers that can

affect anyone.

exercise ACmE 02/10

L I T T O R A L w a r f a r e s u p p o r t g r o u p

exercise acMe is condUcted bi-annUaLLy and pUts eLeMents of the Lwsg to the test as a coMbined detachMent.

ThE mcm TEam brING a rEmus ashOrE.20101019adf8569263_069.

marITImE survEy TEam hydrOGraphEr cONducTING a bEach GradIENT survEy


b y a d r j a r r O N ( u N I T ) W I L L I a m s ,

OpEraTIONaL d Iv ING TEam

Last October the ODT left New Zealand for

Singapore, where we embarked in HMAS

TOBRUK and hitched a ride along with the

Australian and Singaporean naval diving teams

to Juara Bay on Tioman Island, Malaysia.

Exercise BERSAMA PADU is a Five Power

Defence Arrangements exercise, involving

Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the UK and

NZ. The diving teams’ mission was to clear an

anchorage and approach lanes of mines, from

the high water mark out to 24 metres, to enable

troops and stores to land safely.

Our equipment was loaded onto landing craft

and landed on the beach. The process which

we thought would take an hour or two ended

up taking most the day. Once finally ashore

it was time to set up camp. We thought we

deserved a rest when the WODR took us for

a run up Tioman Hill—about 4km straight up,

in 30ºC heat, through the muggy jungle. It

was the steepest and hardest hill run I have

ever done!

During the first week we carried out some

continuation training to perfect our equipment

and techniques for mine detection, both surface

and sub-surface. This was the first time I had

worked with other naval Diving Units so it was

interesting to watch the different techniques.

I was also fortunate enough to dive using the

Singaporeans’ ‘stealth’ re-breather set. It was

a lot more technical to the Viper SC that the

RNZN uses, as it has computer controls and

mixes the gases automatically dependant on

the depth of the dive.

After completing the tasking of clearing the

beach staging area of land mines and the surf

zone/boat lane of anti-invasion mines, we

started mine counter-measures (MCM) diving

in the deeper parts of our area of operations.

Each MCM team had different tasks daily.

For diving on sea mines, conditions couldn’t

have been more perfect, lukewarm water

with excellent visibility. As we pin-pointed the

contact by hand-held sonar or DUSS we could

conduct our underwater drills in full confidence,

compared to the cold and dark waters of

Devonport Naval Base!

It was a great opportunity to hone our skills with

DUSS, our team’s newest piece of kit. Everyone

cycled through sonar searches, setting up

electronic search grids, and developing different

mission profiles, utilising the many modes of

operation within the DUSS.

TOBRUK was tasked to lodge troops via a

Tactical Beach Landing, but the ship needed to

know the beach gradient and any obstructions

(including mines) so the landing craft could

land safety. DUSS Rapid Beach Profiling Mode

was perfect for the job. In this mode the DUSS

unit and its onboard computer via a Doppler

Navigation System picks up the beach gradient

from shallow to deep and back again as the

diver swims up and down in 400 m lanes to

achieve a surveyed safe channel for the LZ.

We gathered all the info required, then handed

it over to the Hydrographers to process, which

they lay over a chart for the ship.

Overall, the whole exercise was a real

success. It was an awesome experience for

everyone who participated, especially us more

junior divers who, in my opinion, are really living

a life less ordinary!

exercise BERSAmA PADU

it was a great opportUnity to hone oUr skiLLs with dUss, oUr teaM’s newest piece of kit.

ThE mcm TEam aT WOrk IN maLaysIaN WaTErs: pOscs OLsEN (aT ThE TILLEr) WITh ahsO’s LITTLEWOOd aNd mckILLIp

a dIvEr usEs a duss TO dETEcT a mINE



H M N Z S t e K a h a

On Thursday 20 January, CDR Mathew Williams

relinquished command of HMNZS TE KAHA to

CDR Jonathan Beadsmoore.

CDR Beadsmoore was born and educated

in England and joined the Royal Navy in 1985,

attending Britannia Royal Naval College,

Dartmouth. He gained an honours degree

in Physics under a cadetship scheme at

Imperial College London. After graduation he

completed his bridge watchkeeping training

and was appointed to the fr igate HMS

CUMBERLAND.

In 1993 he qualified as a Fighter Controller

and joined HMS NEWCASTLE while the ship

was involved in embargo operations against the

former Yugoslavia, enforcing UN sanctions.

He qualified as a frigate navigator in 1995

and later passed the Principal Warfare Officer

Course. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander he

was appointed to HMS NORTHUMBERLAND

as the Gunnery Officer and later as Operations

Officer.

After specialist Air Warfare training in 1999

he was appointed to the 3rd Destroyer

Squadron as Squadron Operations Officer in

HMS EDINBURGH where he was involved in

training and mentoring of ships’ warfare teams.

Between 2001 and 2003 he continued in a

training role on the staff of Flag Officer Sea

Training, at Plymouth.

In 2003 he took command of the Mine Hunter

HMS WALNEY for two years, deploying to

the USA and conducting operations around

the UK.

In December 2005 he moved to New Zealand

and joined the RNZN, quickly taking up a

posting as the Operations Officer in HMNZS TE

KAHA. After 9 months he took up a position

as the Fleet Warfare Officer with the Maritime

Operational Evaluation Team, to mentor and

evaluate ships during sea training periods.

In 2009 he joined HMNZS TE MANA as the

Executive Officer until in May 2010 when he was

promoted to Acting Commander as the Fleet

Seamanship and Executive Officer. Confirmed

as a Commander, he is now CO of TE KAHA.

by sLT kurT sTOry rNZN

Returning from Australia last year, we arrived

in Timaru on 3 December for a quiet visit. We

gave a number of school tours during the visit,

and our ship’s company enjoyed the South

Canterbury hospitality. Before arriving there,

we had the opportunity to conducted pilotage

training in Milford Sound. As well as practising

navigation and rapid fixing in a constrained

area, the visit to Milford gave our sailors an

opportunity to view an area of New Zealand that

not many had seen before. The hours spent in

the Sounds were something special.

In the New Year our first focus was on the

Change of Command. Now, under our new CO

we have undergone our Safety and Readiness

checks, before we sailed to Waitangi. Later this

month we voyage to Sydney before we spend

about five weeks off Western Australia with

TE MANA for her workup.

cOmmaNdEr jONaThaN bEadsmOOrE rNZN

TE kaha’s cuLTuraL GrOup GrEET ThEIr NEW cO.20110120_ph_v1020230_0049

cdr jON bEadsmOOrE WITh hIs WIfE amy aNd ThEIr dauGhTEr ayEIsha. 20110120_ph_T1015674_0001

TE kaha IN mILfOrd sOuNd


H M N Z S t e M a n a

February is a busy month for TE MANA as we

gear up to sail for Sydney on the 22nd—kicking

off the start of a deployment that is expected

to span several months. There is an air of

excitement surrounding our deployment and

preparations are well underway with the ship

now fully manned and fully stocked.

We began this month with various weapon

firings, including the first-ever RNZN CIWS

Block 1B firings and a Seasparrow missile

firing—the RNZN’s first missile firing to take

place since 2004!

On a more personal level, our ship’s company

are also looking forward to Family Day on 11

February, when friends and family will spend

the day at sea with us. It’s a great opportunity

for family members to gain a brief insight into

what life will be like for their loved ones while

they are away from home.

Whilst most of our company were on summer

leave, enjoying the sunshine and barbeques,

Babcock Fitzroy Limited staff from the dockyard

progressed work on the new Computer Suite

onboard, which was powered up on 24

January. The compartment, which was once

the ship’s laundry, has been transformed into

a suite housing ten desks and computers.

The Computer Suite will now be able to

provide personnel with access to the Defence

Force intranet and the internet—a huge step

forward! The new Suite means that there are

now computer facilities available to undertake

distance learning via the NZDF Learning

Management System, while at sea. This is of

huge benefit to those personnel wishing to

advance their knowledge and/or accelerate

promotion.

Looking ahead to March, TE MANA will be

based in and around Australia conducting

joint exercises as part of our Work Up with the

Royal Australian Navy. Work Up involves several

weeks of concentrated drills and assessments

spanning all departments and sections. These

few weeks will be intense as the ship is put

through her paces on every level. However, we

will gain some respite with spells alongside at

Fleet Base West and Fremantle.

All in all, this year looks to be an exciting

one for our ship and our great crew. We are all

back into the swing of things after the holiday

season and our focus is now on the upcoming

challenges. We aim to make 2011 the most

successful year yet!

amT(p) bLakE cOvErdaLE mc 10-0390-040 040

LWT daryL bEGG mc 10-0390-010

LmT maTT sara mc 10-0390-031

TE maNa aT dEvONpOrT ON 7 NOvEmbEr.



N A V A L P A T R O L F O R C E — 0 p v s

by mIdshIpmaN TrENT NaNcEkIvELL, hmNZs WELL INGTON

The sky was clear and the sea flat when WELLINGTON departed Devonport to head south for

OP ENDURANCE last November. After we embarked DOC personnel in Bluff, it was time to set

off for Campbell Island; to our testing ground!

We encountered Sea State 6 and spent three days with sea and swell on our starboard bow—a little bit lumpy! The general feeling onboard was that the ship was more comfortable in the conditions than others people had served in. WELLINGTON sat well in the sea and responded quickly to helm and engine orders.

OTAGO and WELLINGTON anchored in Perseverance Harbour at Campbell Island; the Governor-General and Lady Susan Satyanand were embarked in OTAGO, with DOC, Ministry of Fisheries staff and scientific personnel embarked in both ships.

Both OPV’s showed their versatility whilst disembarking DOC stores and equipment, with LT Graham Maclean as Beach Master, fending off hordes of sea lions on the foreshore! The thick kelp near Perseverance Jetty proved to be a slight hindrance for the J3 RHIBS, however this was quickly overcome and the rest of the re-supply went off without a hitch.

OP ENDURANCE was a very good opportunity for the recently accepted OPVs to demonstrate their capabilities and characteristics in heavy seas. We are now looking forward to OP ENDURANCE 01/11 and our Southern Ocean Trials when we venture further south (78º South) in mid-February.

HmNZ SHIPS OTAGO & wELLINGTON

WELLINGTON ( L) aNd OTaGO ( r) IN pErsEvEraNcE harbOur, 8 dEcEmbEr


OTaGO WITh aN rNZaf OrION, 15 dEcEmbEr. mc 10-0423-013

WELLINGTON’s shOrE parTy mEET ThE sEaLIONs ON ENdErby IsLaNd (L TO r): LmEd churNsIdE, sLT murdON, pOys NIckEL, mId LENNON, amT LOadEr, sLT bOrsZcZOW (caNadIaN fOrcEs) sLT rObb, LET haNNam, ach campbELL, pOmT GraNT & amT maLmO

WELLINGTON’s fOcsLE parTy as ThE shIp ENTErs OTaGO harbOur, 12 dEcEmbEr (L TO r): ach maGuIrE, ascs GOmEZ, ach ThOmas, aET GaTEs, aWT mONk aNd acss murIWaI

WELLINGTON’s shOrE parTy TakEs a brEak cLImbING ThE hILLs Of campbELL IsLaNd

WELLINGTON’s OffIcErs GaThEr fOr ThEIr fIrsT mEss dINNEr IN ThE shIp’s haNGar


F L E E T P R O G R E S SF L E E T P R O G R E S S

maTT skELTON-prIcE (sTudENT)

The experience was great. I was privileged to

witness the Governor-General’s welcoming

ceremony [embarking in OTAGO], a procession

of naval personnel bearing guns and bayonets.

It was intriguing getting a look at the world of

ceremonies, protocols and traditions that make

up the sailor’s everyday life. We witnessed

Colours, the raising of the [White Ensign] at 8

am each morning. Although it was new and

exciting for us, watching the naval personnel

standing stock-still for 5 or 10 minutes waiting

for 8 o’clock, we were assured that after 20 or

30 ceremonies, it begins to lose its charm!

Everybody we met in the Senior Ratings’

Mess was very nice, and happy to share their

experiences with us. Our first night aboard,

we were invited into their lounge area to relish

their widescreen TV. The hospitality extended

further to a meeting with the Captain, where

he introduced himself and formally welcomed

us onboard.

I was one of the fortunate ones who avoided

seasickness. The meals onboard were

excellent, and I am awfully grateful to the Navy

Chefs who catered to my allergies flawlessly

and graciously. Thanks to them, I didn’t die

of starvation!

The waves were huge. I made it out on

Quarterdeck once, and the waves that I saw

were, at their highest point, over my head.

The enormity of those waves and the force

behind them was very humbling. I’m amazed

at how explorers of old could have braved and

conquered those waves, and I’m very thankful

we were braving them in a naval ship.

The trip was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,

and I am very grateful to the Royal New Zealand

Navy, the Royal Society of New Zealand and

DOC for making this happen for me. Thank

you all.

marIa GaLbraITh (TEachEr)

A member of OTAGO’s crew came to collect

us; the Engineering Officer, LT Matt Windross,

welcomed us onboard, showed us where our

accommodations were, then gave us a tour of

the ship before dinner.

[Next morning] we were invited to the

Captain’s cabin to meet the Commanding

Officer, LTCDR Simon Rooke, who welcomed

us to the ship. Since we were not to sail until

that evening, we visited both Invercargill and

Bluff. By the time dinner came round, the other

civilian sea riders had joined the ship and we

all moved up to the Bridge for best viewing of

our departure.

It was a very choppy trip down, with swells

reaching 8-9m and up to Sea State 6 which,

according to our acquaintances, was reasonably

rough. Two of the students succumbed to sea

sickness, while I and the other student, Matt,

were left unscathed. We passed the time by

OUR SOUTHERN OCEAN VOYAGE

The Royal Society played an important part in Campbell Island Bicentennial Expedition. The Society sponsored a science teacher and three students on the voyage; extracts from two of their reports highlight their impressions of the Navy.


sleeping, eating light meals or reading. It was

too rough to venture on deck and up in the

Bridge the world was definitely rocking! As an

aside, I mastered the art of showering as the

floor pitched in different directions every few

seconds.

That evening the infamous ‘engine failure’

occurred. We felt no difference in the sailing of

the ship, were never in any danger and were

personally a bit annoyed [that the story was

sent out over] the ship’s satellite email system

when it really was such a minor event.

We awoke in the calm of Perseverance

Harbour in Campbell Island. Stepping out on

deck we were treated to snow-dusted peaks

and were filled with a sense of awe.

Donning our tramping & wet-weather gear, we

piled into the RHIBs and were lowered over the

side for the transfer to land. Once the whole

party was ashore, we set off on the Col-Lyall

boardwalk.

ENDERBY ISLAND, AUCkLAND ISLANDS GROUP.

As WELLINGTON anchored off a misty

and dreary Enderby Island, we donned our

most water-tight gears for the day. Down the

steps into the RHIBs, we then zoomed half-

way to shore before transferring (mid-water)

to the Zodiacs for the final run to the rocky,

kelp-covered platform. Navigating the sea

lion gauntlet, we made it to the meeting point

unscathed!

At sea again, a bumpy sea accompanied us

until we were closer to land and Stewart Island

became visible. Pelagic birding, card games,

talking with other sea riders & crew, movie-

watching and meal times kept us busy until

our final bed-time.

DUNEDIN.An early morning wake-up. We packed our

gear, had a final breakfast and stood on deck

to watch the tugboat assist us into our berth.

The crew formed a guard for the Governor-

General’s departure and once this was over,

the CO, LTCDR Simon Griffiths, came over

and presented us with ‘HMNZS WELLINGTON’

baseball caps. Navy transport took us to the

airport for our flights home, where we have had

to get used to dry, un-moving land again!

Travelling by naval vessel added a further

dimension to the trip and I was hugely

impressed with this part of the voyage. DOC

staff and Navy staff were always approachable

and really couldn’t be faulted in their dealings

with us and the other sea riders.

LsTd jOhN WEbby WITh OThErs ashOrE ON campbELL Is

a GrOup Of dOc aNd Navy pErsONNEL vIsIT ThE 1852 sETTLErs' GravEyard ON auckLaNd IsLaNd. LT sarNdra drON Is aT rIGhT



N A V A L P A T R O L F O R C E — i p v s

HmNZS ROTOITIby aT(WE) phILL Ip QuINLaN

Over the summer holiday period, ROTOITI conducted a two-week patrol in the Marlborough

Sounds, conducting boardings for the Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) and working with the

Department of Conservation (DOC) to keep the marine reserves safe. We also did some insect

and bird watching, celebrated the New Year, and even had some Christmas celebrations!

The passage south from Devonport (we sailed on 27 December) threatened to be rough but in

the end Mother Nature played along and it remained fine. A ship’s Christmas dinner was held on

arrival in the Sounds, with Santa arriving to hand out some gifts he had left over! Most people

were already pretty full from their family Christmas meals, but the Chefs on board provided a

wonderful meal we couldn’t refuse.

MFish and the boat crews worked hard during this period, achieving a total of over 160 boardings,

leading to 10 warnings and six infringement notices being given out. Our presence was certainly

noticed. The public were very appreciative of the ship being present over the busy period in the

Sounds and keeping watch over the area.

The Sounds were spectacular and although the small port town of Picton probably wasn’t first

choice for our sailors for New Year’s Eve, it turned out to be a great night out with friendly locals

and an opportunity to take a break before the high tempo patrol continued.

A DOC Ranger who was embarked thanked us by arranging a visit to Maude Island, somewhere

few people are allowed to go. The Island had some indigenous critters not often seen in Auckland,

which we were allowed to view up close—and we even handled the wetas—an interesting and

unforgettable experience.

After a very productive patrol away, ROTOITI returned to Auckland for some time alongside

following a busy beginning to the New Year. We were then surprised and proud to be awarded

the MONOWAI Trophy at Navy’s Divisions, on 20 January!

HmNZS PUkAkIPUKAKI is operating in the Marlborough Sounds

and Nelson areas, conducting a New Zealand

Customs patrol. On 17 January we sailed from

Picton and following the day’s patrol through

Queen Charlotte Sound, PUKAKI anchored

in Ship Cove, the site of Captain Cook’s first

South Island landing. While at anchor members

of our company went ashore to clean the

monument dedicated to the great Captain and

Navigator. It was a spur of the moment idea,

but the Navy has had a sense of ‘ownership’

for this memorial for many years!

After patrolling the Marlborough Sounds,

PUKAKI made a home port visit to Nelson.

“Nelson is our home port” said LT Alexandra

Hansen, our Commanding Officer. “Whenever

we get the opportunity, we like to get involved

in the community and give a little something

back.”

We spent a day with the Nelson Fire Brigade.

They came on board with St Johns members

too, and we walked them through the ship,

then conducted a main machinery space fire

exercise with ‘casualties’ involved. The Fire

rOTOITI IN ThE marLbOrOuGh sOuNds, 4 jaNuary


On 9 December 2010 LTCDR Jonathan Clarkson

relinquished command of HMNZS TAUPO and

LT Luke Taylor assumed command.

Luke Taylor joined the Navy as a General

List Seaman Officer in 2002 after attending

Middleton Grange High School in Christchurch.

After completion of his Initial Officer training,

and Basic Bridge Watch-Keeping course, Luke

studied at Auckland University graduating with

a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Physical

Geography.

LT Taylor then joined the fleet serving in HMNZ

Ships KIWI, TE MANA and TE KAHA where he

qualified as a Bridge Watchkeeper in 2006.

Remaining in TE KAHA as a Watchkeeping

Officer, Luke visited ports in East Asia before

returning to Auckland to complete his Major

Fleet Unit Navigators Course in mid-2007

and being promoted to his current rank of

Lieutenant.

Passing out as Dux of his MFUNO course, LT

Taylor was posted to the Navigation Training

Centre where he worked on the development

of a competency based framework for the

qualification of Seamen Officers. This framework

aligned Naval training with recognised civilian

qualifications and international standards; for

his work LT Taylor was awarded a Maritime

Component Commander’s commendation.

In early 2008 LT Taylor joined TE KAHA as the

Navigating Officer, which deployed to South

East Asia, Australia, and the sub-Antarctic

islands. Following this, LT Taylor joined the staff

of the Captain Fleet Personnel and Training to

lead a project for the recruitment of university

graduates into the RNZN.

In January 2010 LT Taylor was seconded to

the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric

Science for a 46-day voyage to Antarctica

onboard the Research Vessel TANGAROA [see

NT 155 June 2010] before completing his Minor

War Vessel Command Course and being posted

as the commissioning Navigating Officer for

HMNZS WELLINGTON. Luke took command

of HMNZS TAUPO on 9 December.

TAUPO is under tak ing mul t i -agency

operations and patrolling the Marlborough

Sounds and North Island coasts this month

and into March.

HmNZS HAwEAHAWEA attended the Waitangi Day

celebrations, before undertaking a series of

patrols off Northland and the Bay of Plenty

this month.

Service provided fire pumps and boundary

cooling to the ship. It all went really well.

That afternoon we went to the Fire Station

and the Brigade put us through our paces,

climbing their 17m ladders, entering smoke-

filled compartments, rescuing casualties,

and dragging a large fire hose up a 6 story

building while being blasted by water. Everyone

really enjoyed what for us was a very different

exercise, and we all got something out of it.

Afterwards, the Brigade hosted us to a few

beers and a BBQ at the station.

During its visit our team also sent working

parties to paint and tidy-up the Cross of

Sacrifice at the Wakapuaka RSA Cemetery and

the RSA block at the Marsden Valley Cemetery.

Another working party went to Victory School

to help set up for the new school year.

PUKAKI was also open to the public one

day, giving the public of Nelson a chance to

look around their ship and meet the sailors. A

fundraiser BBQ was run in conjunction, raising

nearly $300 for Victory School.

PUKAKI sailed on 26 January, to resume its

EEZ and Customs patrol.

HmNZS TAUPOchange of coMMand: LT LUkE TAYLOR RNZN

cLEaNING up cOOk’s mONumENT IN shIp cOvE (L TO r): amEd saffILL, LT haNsEN, amT juLIaN, acO pEEbLEs, Oscs rIdGEWELL, aET mOOImaN & amT LambErT.

TaupO’s cOmpaNy ON ThE day Of ThE shIp’s chaNGE Of cOmmaNd



H M N Z S C a n t e r B u r Y

by sLT bErENd TEr brakE aNd mId

LOuIs muNdEN-hOOpEr rNZN

This month CANTERBURY is taking part in

Exercise SOUTHERN KATIPO, after attending

the Napier Art Deco celebrations (a first for our

ship). It is good to be back at sea again, after

nearly two months in a Selected Restricted

Availability (SRA) period.

The SRA was incredibly busy, especially

for our Engineer, LTCDR Tony Masters,

who had only taken over a few weeks prior

to the moment when contractors started

pouring aboard. The ship quickly began to

look significantly different, with scaffolding

covering the upper decks, ceiling panels being

moved to access wiring, and the occasional

door being removed completely. The Junior

Officers conducted Colours in hard hats.Our Sewerage Treatment Plant was shut

down, meaning all heads, showers and sinks were out of action throughout December—Porta-Loos lined up on the jetty, and a Porta-Shower block occupied the flight deck. The Galley was also closed, meaning bagged lunches and hot meals from the PHILOMEL Chefs. But we also noticed an increase in pie consumption!

Contractors from Wartsila took over the Engine Room for planned maintenance on the main engines, lifting the cylinder heads and opening up the bearings.

Work on our cranes was a critical item, as they are a major part of CANTERBURY’s capability, especially with Ex PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP fast approaching [in April and

May]. Both cranes were held up with their own scaffolding as the work was done on them; the two LCMs also had work done.

The ship’s Local Area Network was completely replaced, and the LAN Administrator, LET Sam Beachen, had a tough time keeping the network downtime to a minimum. Most of the ship was without any computers for four days solid. It was interesting to see people struggling to complete day-to-day work without emails or meeting reminders and only pen and paper at their disposal!

Changes were made to the ship’s hangar in preparation for the future NH-90 helicopters. The ship’s elevator (of critical importance, as anyone who has had to walk repeatedly from the Stores Flat on 4 Deck to the Cabin Flat on 03 Deck will know) was repaired.

Meanwhile the Ship’s Boarding Party underwent training—they spent days learning to defend themselves, shouting at each other, and demonstrating wrist locks on the rest of us.

Damage Control t ra in ing cont inued throughout. A few whole-ship exercises were scheduled around Stand-easy to minimise interruptions—typically the contractors would stand on the jetty with cups of coffee, observing the ‘entertainment’.

So, an eventful period, with frantic work one minute and waiting for computer access the next. In late January we had our Safety and Readiness Check (Harbour) and this month we returned to sea!

H M N Z S e n d e a v o u r

ENdEavOur IN ThE caLLIOpE dOck ON 7 NOvEmbEr. ThE shIp rEmaINEd IN dry dOck uNTIL EarLy dEcEmbEr aNd Is cOmpLETING ITs maINTENaNcE pErIOd ThIs mONTh. sEa accEpTaNcE TrIaLs WILL bE uNdErTakEN IN EarLy march.

ThE ausTraLIaN NEW ENTry OffIcErs (sEE NT 158 dEcEmbEr) maNNEd ThE raILs fOr prOcEdurE aLpha, as caNTErbury ENTErEd harbOur LasT NOvEmbEr


S P O R T

champion of the navy te kaha

helmsman award te kaha

dcn pennant eod squadron

cockerel award for best dressed ManawanUi

courage award damage control school

commitment award otago & weLLington combined

comradeship award navpac

by cpOpTI mIkE kENNEdy

Champion of the Navy was our final event of

last year; it kicked off with off with the parade

including plenty of dance scenes and mock

fights—MANAWANUI won the ‘best dressed

team’ as Luke Skywalker dispatched Darth

Vader and his storm troopers.

With the rain just holding off, the tabloid

sports got under way in earnest. Then the rain

started to set in, but our sailors’ competitive

streaks kicked in until the final hooter. The

overall champion, for the second year running,

was TE KAHA.

After an excellent BBQ from the Chefs and

some smooth sounds from the Band everyone

moved upstairs to escape the rain. However

the PTIs braved the conditions to put on an

impressive display of Club Swinging. Then

the “Urban Beat” dance group took the floor

and put together an outstanding display.

They dragged some of our local talent onto

floor for the ‘Dance-off’, with some of our

sailors putting together some interesting but

entertaining routines. The event ended with

a full-on Gladiator Battle, then it was time to

relax and catch up with our oppos over a few

beverages and BBQ.

Congratulations to all who competed, and

‘thank you’ too, to the Welfare Committees,

Messes, Armed Forces Canteen Council, the

Naval Sports and Recreation Council Trust

and the Ngataringa Sports Complex for your

support.

CHAmPION OF THE NAVY 2010

TE kaha’s TEam WErE ThE OvEraLL WINNErs. mc 10-0427-082

sLT Tamara Tarr accEpTs ThE hELmsmaN aWard fOr TE kaha frOm cdrE smITh. mc 10-0427-080

LT jONO bENTIN accEpTs ThE ‘bEsT drEssEd’ aWard ON bEhaLf Of maNaWaNuI’s TEam. mc 10-0427-078

ThE Navpac pLaTOON IN ThE faNcy drEss paradE. mc 10-0427-007

LT asTON TaLbOT accEpTs ThE cOmmITmENT aWard fOr ThE OTaGO & WELLINGTON cOmbINEd TEammc 10-0427-077


JOCT was our introduction to the Navy and the emphasis was on

developing leadership and preparing us for the fleet. JOCT 10/01 began

in January, when 24 civvies started out on their naval careers; JOCT

10/2 began in July—another bunch of enthusiastic civilians with no idea

of what we were really in for.

Once we had signed on, the mild-mannered Directing Staff morphed

into creatures who instilled fear whenever they drew near. Our names,

clothes, privacy, attitudes, and individualism were taken with one stroke

of a pen. ‘You’re in the Navy now!’

THE INDUCTION PHASE was conducted at Whangaparoa, TAMAKI

Leadership Centre (TLC). But ‘tender loving care’ was far from our reality,

with regular fire runs, parades, PT and some of the steepest hills we have

encountered. ‘Dems Range’ became a location to instil fear. We also

had our introduction to formal rounds—our civilian standards were not

up to scratch, with numerous ‘ship rolls’ to demolish our kit.

We learnt to be early (but never early enough for our instructors), we

entered tunnels in the dark, dhobi’ed by the numbers, marched in the

bullring, ate dinner in a rush, rolled socks, cleaned, folded, ironed, made

pits and, most importantly, learned team work. With only each other to

rely on by the end of the stint we were a tired but tight unit.

We returned to Whangaparoa for weapons training on both the IW

Steyr and the 9mm Sig Sauer. Learning to properly handle weapons

proved that we were in a military environment and competition was high

to determine our crack shots.

The pinnacle of Phase One (our first nine weeks) was the Efficiency

Cup. The two training divisions, BELLONA and ROYALIST, faced each

other in an endurance event that became a neck and neck race!

kAImAIS ExPED. This was an exercise in team-building, problem-

solving, orienteering and physical endurance. We covered a good

distance over four days and three nights; we crossed rivers, climbed

mountains, and washed in puddles—good for the complexion! We were

given basic leadership evolutions to complete: navigation, casevacs

(the biggest team member mysteriously ‘tripped on a kiwi’ and ‘broke

their leg’) and lit fires with soggy wood—Bear Gryls [in Man vs Wild]

eat your heart out. Littering was not tolerated—enforced by pack push

ups and squats!

We developed our Divisional identities, as ROYALIST and BELLONA

took opposite routes to meet in the middle for an evening of competitive

entertainment.

JOIST. In April each year the three Services compete in a sporting

competition known as JOIST, Junior Officer Inter-Service Sports

Tournament. In 2010 the competition was hosted by JOCT 10/1 and

held at the Ngataringa Sports Field. We competed against the Army

and Air Force in five events,

a Mud Run, •

an endurance event, •

mixed deck hockey, •

female soccer and, •

rugby. •

There are three JOIST trophies: the Female Sports Cup, the overall

JOIST Cup and (the most important) the Weka Trophy, awarded to the

top rugby team. In 2010 the Army won the hockey and female soccer and

claimed the Female Sports Trophy. Air Force shocked us by coming from

behind and winning the endurance event. Navy won the Mud Run and

were champions on the rugby field to claim the Weka Trophy. However

Army retained the overall JOIST Trophy.

JOIST 2010 was a successful weekend. The true aim is not the

competition but to build tri-service relationships. Two evening functions

held at the Narrowneck Gunroom were successful networking

opportunities for us all.

UNDER SAIL. We sailed in the SPIRIT OF NEW ZEALAND as our

introduction to life at sea. For many of us, the SPIRIT was our first

experience at sea—trust and comradeship proved essential. We learnt

how to hoist and trim the sails, we stood Watches day and night. We

were accompanied by pods of dolphins frolicking on our bow wave.

Launching RIBs and paddling ashore to Great Barrier Island despite

high winds also proved exhilarating!

A few weeks out from graduation, we spent a week in the Navy’s Sail

Training Craft on the Hauraki Gulf. We all refined our sailing skills and

by the end of the second day we were taking charge entirely, leaving the

staff to hone their ‘fisheries management’. The sailing exped culminated

in a BBQ ashore on Kawau Island (appreciated by those who had to

endure sea sickness!)

SEA SAFETY TRAINING SqUADRON. Phase Two began with

damage control training at the Sea Safety Training Squadron. These were

a challenging couple of weeks but the school has exceptional facilities.

We learnt how to use Breathing Apparatus and fire extinguishers, to

be part of a single hose attack team, to conduct 4- and 5-person

compartment entries, to conduct boundary cooling and how to respond

to emergencies such as toxic gas and floods. At first, being driven by your

team leader into a pitch-black room with nothing more than a hose until

you’re only a few metres away from a fire seemed daunting, but by the

end of the week we couldn’t wait to get in there. The staff are very good

and we all enjoyed the legendary soups prepared daily by Steve!

O F F I C E R T R A I N I N G

22 Midshipmen began Junior Officer Common Training (JOCT) last month,a five-month course to induct them into our Navy and begin the process of training and educating them as officers. In the meantime, the 25 Midshipmen who graduated from both JOCT courses in 2010, are under further training in the fleet. Here, members of JOCT10/1 and 10/2 look back at their Common Training courses of last year.

JUNIOR OFFICER COMMON TRAINING


O F F I C E R T R A I N I N G

SEA ACqUAINTANCE. JOCT 10/1 joined

HMNZS CANTERBURY at Lyttelton, to sail

up the east coast to Devonport. This was an

opportunity for us to engage with senior and

junior ratings in their working environment. The

biggest cheers were awarded when the ‘Killer

Tomato’ was despatched by accurate gunfire

from the 25mm Bushmaster!

Due to other commitments for the fleet, JOCT

10/02 travelled overland to visit the NZDF’s

Camps and Bases; during their tour they gained

a good overview of all three Services and the

NZDF’s operational commitments.

LEADERSHIP EVOLUTIONS. Leadership

is the fundamental theme of JOCT and we

underwent three leadership assessment

weeks, SQUALL, STORM and CYCLONE,

which were each progressively more intense

and demanding.

Exercise SQUALL was a practice week up

at TLC and our first exposure to assessed

leadership evolutions. The week involved a lot

of humping of equipment over steep terrain but

we gained the chance to use the leadership

skills we had been taught.

Then was Exercise STORM—the once

“friendly” TLC was ‘invaded’ by a terrorist

group; JOCT was deployed to neutralise

them. Armed with Steyrs and our enthusiasm,

the team spent the week engaged in fierce

fire fights while battling the elements. The

emphasis was on proving our leadership

abilities under pressure. Each individual was

given a task, a team, timing and the opportunity

to show what they’re made of. We were put

on a ‘food management program’, one night

receiving our rat packs at about 0001 with a

100m swim offshore to retrieve them.

Exercise CYCLONE, our final test. Deployed

in an unfamiliar environment JOCT set about

a new tasking—disaster relief. Three islands,

one of our ships, plus vehicles and RHIBs;

the exercise tested our leadership on a much

larger scale.

CONCLUSION. Over those 22 weeks each

JOCT course faced many challenges, which

bought us together as tight-knit groups.

Starting as total strangers, we ended up

depending on each other for support, friendship

and guidance. Facing up to heights, swimming

in freezing cold water, or running around with

rifles at night, JOCT has been an eye-opening

experience. Friendships and bonds have been

forged that will last throughout our careers.

jOcT prEparE TO paddLE OuT TO spIrIT Of NEW ZEaLaNd

jOcT 10/01 sEEN IN march 2010

ExErcIsE sTOrm. mc 10-0163-057

jOcT 10/01 maN ThE yards Of spIrIT Of NEW ZEaLaNd ON 3 juLy 2010

N T 1 5 9 F E B R U A R Y 1 1 37

S P O R T

RNZN Sportsperson of the Year, LTCDR Mike Hester, International Football Referee

RNZN Team of the Year, the RNZN Netball Team

RNZN Club of the Year, the RNZN Softball Club

RNZN Civilian Sports Person of the Year, Katrina Meri-moi Hiku, Navy Softball club.

RNZN Manager of the Year, WO Debbie Wareham, Netball team.

RNZN Coach of the Year, WO Skinny McKinney, Rugby League

RNZN Sports Administrator of the Year, CDR Sean Fogarty, Rugby

RNZN Sports Colour CPOPTI Ray Climo, RugbyWO Dion Edwin, Softball

RNZN Sports Excellence WO Skinney McKinney, Rugby League

RNZN Excellence Cup The RNZN Rugby League Team

RNZN Young Sports Person of the Year, OMT Tex Ngarongo-Porima (Rugby League)

RNZN Pocket for Administration LTCDR Mark Hooper (awarded for Rugby)

The Navy’s annual sports awards ceremony was held on 25 November, just as NT December was on its deadline. And the Winners are...

2010 sports person of the year awards

cN prEsENTs LTcdr hEsTEr WITh hIs aWard

ThE rNZN NETbaLL TEam: back rOW: LTcdr fITZELL, WOWTr WarEham, Lsa LEEf, aEWs TuuTa, LT bIss. frONT rOW: WOmaa mckINNEy, LTcdr barkEr, Ocss smITh, pONp maTOE, LpTI pauL, LT huNT rNZN cLub Of ThE yEar, ThE rNZN sOfTbaLL cLub

cIvILIaN spOrTs pErsON Of ThE yEar, kaTrINa mErI-mOI hIku, Of ThE Navy sOfTbaLL cLub.

rNZN maNaGEr Of ThE yEar, WO dEbbIE WarEham, NETbaLL TEam

rNZN cOach Of ThE yEar, WO skINNy mckINNEy, ruGby LEaGuE


m A I N N O T I C E B O A R D

REUNIONS

The way Navy personnel manage their HR admin and pay is changing on 28 February. From that date, Navy personnel will need to do most of their basic HR administrative tasks, like leave bookings, themselves online using KEA. If you have an HR admin query you can’t resolve yourself you will be able to get information from the Military Pay and Admin site (http://org/dpe-hrsc/lp/maphome.aspx) and you will be able to get help from staff in the new Defence Force HR Service Centre by email or phone. Shore-based personnel are to attend a briefing about the changes on 17 February and ship-based personnel on 18 February.

The times and venues are:Shore-based personnel Thursday 17 February @ PHILOMEL Seminar Centre1100; 1315; 1430

Ship-based personnel Friday 18 February @ PHILOMEL Seminar Centre0900; 1030; 1315

LTCDR Julie Fitzell, who is leading the NAVPAC transition to the HR Service Centre, says to prepare for this change, NAVPAC closed to ‘drop-in’ enquiries last November. “We initiated this to encourage personnel to get used to managing their HR admin using KEA, with email and phone as a back up,” she says. And she reminds personnel who are still unsure about using KEA to contact NAVPAC and ask for help before the end of February. “This change is also an ideal opportunity for everyone to make sure that their details are up-to-date in KEA,” LTCDR Fitzell says.The Defence Force HR Service Centre is consolidating and centralising HR administration to reduce overheads and free up resources to be redeployed.

Navy persoNNel:HR Admin And PAy CHAnges

We hold a model day for the public once a

year, at Highbrook Park, Otahuhu.

These models are radio controlled and

average around 2 metres in length; the

model makers come from all over the upper

North Island. There will be various RNZN

ships represented: OTAGO, CANTERBURY,

TE MANA, the new IPVs, plus various

international ships.

Sailing starts 10am; there is no entry fee.

mODEL wARSHIP SAILING DAY

27 March 2011

UNITY LOYALTY COmRADESHIP

We invite those currently serving in

the Royal New Zealand Navy to join our

Association, which is also open to those

who have served under any White Ensign

(for a minimum period of 3 months).

W i th Branches th roughout New

Zealand, we offer the comradeship of

past and present sailors. To find a Branch

near you please visit our Web Site:

www.rnzna.org.nz

A new Branch has opened on the North

Shore, Auckland, thanks to the efforts of

their President, Shipmate Rear Admiral

Fred Wilson (Rtd). They hold their meetings

alternately around RSA’s in the North

Shore area. We also have a new Branch

opening in the Hawkes Bay.

Brian Gill

National Secretary

ROYAL NEw ZEALAND NAVAL

ASSOCIATION

HMNZs TaraNaKi reuNiON 201150th Anniversary of “The Homecoming”To be held in New Plymouth.28th – 30th October 2011Contact for Registrations .Reunion 2011 PO Box 3250New Plymouth 4341.E: [email protected]

rP/sN (aKa Css) reuNiON 2012Crowns and aboveDevonport Naval BaseQueens Birthday Weekend 2012Contact CPOCSS (A) Anaru MoaTo register:[email protected]

rNZN eNgiNe rOOM braNCH

reuNiON

30 March–2 April 2012, Masterton,

Contacts:

Malcolm Harris

90 Cameron St

Masterton

P: 06-377-1606

Dennis R Bell

P: 06-370-1901

F: 06-370-1902



DEFENCE FORCE

HR SERVICE CENTRE

YOUR ADMINISTRATION AND PAY SUPPORT IS CHANGING ON 28 FEBRUARY

DEFENCE PERSONNEL EXECUTIVE

Change your personal details• View your payslip and change • your bank account detailsChange or stop your allotments• Request leave•

Use KEA to:

If you have a question about your HR administration and pay, or you don’t have access to KEA, contact the:

DEFENCE FORCE HR SERVICE CENTREBy phone: 4777, select Option 30800 DFHRSC

By email: internal hrsc.adminexternal [email protected]

Check out the new Military Admin and Pay site http://org/dpe-hrsc/lp/maphome.aspx

visit oUr website navytoday: vy.MiL · three services as one force, being the best in everything we do navy visit oUr websitetoday: vy ... early December the new Offshore Patrol Vessels

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