Professional Documents
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NavyToday Issue254
NavyToday Issue254
NavyToday Issue254
2
5
4 ON STAGE AT
M
A EDEN PARK
Y
2 ANZAC DAY
1
EVOLUTION OF
THE UNIFORM
AOTEAROA’S
HOME PORT VISIT
Contents
04 AOTEAROA’s ceremonial home port visit 26 Evolution of the working uniform
24 14 26
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NZDefenceForce are not necessarily those of the HMNZS AOTEAROA arrives at her
Printed by: ceremonial home port, New Plymouth.
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Phone: 0800 1FORCE PO Chris Weissenborn
Distribution: (0800 136 723) Back cover:
Email: navytoday@nzdf.mil.nz www.defencecareers.mil.nz LT Megan Mashali drums alongside
Six60 lead singer Matiu Walters at
Changing Address? Eden Park.
To join or leave our mailing list,
please contact: Photographer:
Email: navytoday@nzdf.mil.nz CPL Dillon Anderson
It is May and the days are notably It is clear we will be very busy in our
shorter; indeed, it is less than six mission ‘to advance New Zealand’s
weeks from the winter solstice and interests from the sea’. And it is also
our shortest day. This time of the year clear sailors will be honing their skills
also sees Government signaling its as warriors of the sea... doing what we
investment priorities. Budget 2021 all joined the Navy to do, serving the
will undoubtedly see a deliberate nation and going to sea in ships.
response to the impacts of the
Acknowledging the traditional role
pandemic; the impacts have been
of Navy sailors as defenders of the
significant both internationally and
oceans, I am also so very proud of our
here at home in Aotearoa. How the
many comrades who are keeping us all
investment priorities affect the Navy
safe as they work at the border. The
will be discussed in future editions of
MIQF and MIF staff, NZDF personnel
this magazine. However, day to day,
and others, are undoubtedly saving
I still expect ships will go to sea, and
lives and delivering essential time for
sailors will continue to contribute to
vaccinating the population. This work is
the defence of New Zealand, both at
critical, especially in the darker winter
home and abroad.
months, when our most vulnerable
We will continue to introduce and citizens are most at risk. I thank all who
unlock the modern capabilities have served at our border.
resident in our new and upgraded
While I am excited as I look ahead
ships. Some of these ships, along
a few months to the work we will
with one of our hardest working ships,
be doing at sea, I am probably most
“Graduations have already started preparing to
deploy offshore. In only a few months,
excited about the newest sailors in
Te Taua Moana o Aotearoa who will
are a fantastic three ships and well over three
hundred sailors will be representing
graduate from initial training early next
month. Graduations are a fantastic
celebration of New Zealand in South East Asia.
Working alongside friends and
celebration of our people, just as
Anzac Day is a fitting commemoration
our people, just
partners, they will be demonstrating
of those sailors who set such a high
our commitment to the maintenance
bar for us all to aspire to. It is about the
as Anzac Day
of international law, maritime security,
people, ‘he tangata’, so please enjoy
and the availability of the global
reading the articles in this magazine
maritime commons to all nations for
is a fitting trade and prosperity.
that, amongst other things, cover
reflections from our newest comrades,
commemoration At about the same time those ships
will be in oceans and seas to the
Anzac Day and managing a MIQF.
Yours Aye,
of those sailors west, I expect at least one ship will be
working with partners in the Pacific He heramana ahau.
Ngāmotu.
locals who had gathered on the Lee task of training for the Charter
Breakwater and Ngāmotu beach to ceremony on the Friday. Making sure
see their ship come in. the Royal New Zealand Navy Band,
home!
time coming and we’re thrilled and
ship's Executive Officer, Lieutenant
proud to be here”.
Commander Nikki Fox and Chief
After the commissioning of a new Bosun’s Mate, Chief Petty Officer
Navy vessel, receiving the Charter Seaman Combat Specialist Taff Morris.
from the Mayor of its home port After three hours of drilling, command
The welcome that is the most important ceremonial calls and achieving near perfect
occasion for the ship and her synchronicity, Nikki and Taff declared
HMNZS AOTEAROA crew. For AOTEAROA, which the task a success.
commissioned in July last year, a
received on her first number of dates had been pencilled “You are now our whānau.”
in to visit New Plymouth to receive
visit to her home port her Charter. A range of factors
In front of over 500 locals and
dignitaries at an event that combined
including the ship’s communications
of New Plymouth and weapon militarisation
Māoritanga customs with naval
tradition, His Worship the Mayor,
programme plus her sea trials in
in mid-April was New Zealand and Replenishment
Neil Holdom, presented AOTEAROA's
Charter to CAPT Rooke. In his
at Sea exercises in Australia, meant
certainly warmer it was only now that the decks had
speech, the Mayor talked about
the privilege that had been granted
cleared and allowed her to sail
and brighter than the south. The opportunity to combine
to the City previously by being the
home port of HMNZS TARANAKI
the home port visit with Anzac
conditions. commemorations played a significant
and HMNZS ENDEAVOUR,
and now with AOTEAROA. He
role in choosing a date in April.
finished his address by speaking
directly to the Ship’s Company.
DRUMS BEATING,
BAND PLAYING AND
COLOURS FLYING
Led by the Royal New Zealand
Navy Band, the Ship’s Company
then conducted the ceremonial
Charter Parade along Ariki,
Egmont, Devon and Liardet
Streets to the warm applause
of locals who had attended
the event and lined the streets.
The Parade arrived back at
the Puke Ariki Landing where
a Civic Reception was held
with a barbecue, entertainment
and opportunities for those
gathered to mix and mingle
with the crew of AOTEAROA.
LEST WE FORGET
For Anzac Day, the ship sent
contingents of sailors to attend
Dawn Services in New Plymouth,
Waitara, Inglewood and Hāwera.
They were humbled by the
numbers who turned out to
remember those who had fought
and fallen, and enjoyed immensely
their time in the RSAs after the
Services, meeting past and
present NZDF personnel and
swapping stories. Contingents
also attended the 10am Civic
Services in New Plymouth, Urenui
and Okato.
HAERE RĀ
NEW PLYMOUTH
The motto of AOTEAROA is
Kokiritia (Onward) and so it was
that the ship sailed to prepare
for future operational taskings.
The memory of their time in
Ngāmotu New Plymouth will
live long in the memories of the
crew who got to enjoy what few
sailors do – the first ceremonial
home port visit. They now
look forward to their return.
to showcase ship
UK Defence Advisers and UK-based
RNZN personnel at the Westminster
Abbey Anzac Day service in London.
puāwaitanga o
event was the Kawe Mate, when In the mid-nineties two buildings (the
whānau whānui (extended family) wharenui – Te Whetu Moana and the
members of sailors come to the marae
ngā whakaaro.
wharekai – Hinemoana) were placed
with photographs of their recently on the site at Ngataringa Bay, but
departed loved ones. “That was huge,” behind that moment were decades
he says. Other stand-outs for him were
having the Chief of Navy and Deputy
of gatherings, celebrations, funerals
and Iwi Hēramana Hui, all highlighting
Dreams become
Chief of Navy staying for the duration
of the anniversary, and “just the sheer
the dream for a future Navy marae.
The need was raised in a Fleet hui in
reality when we
take action.
amount of people that came to the 1984, with the project manager for the
marae to partake in the ceremony”. new Basic Common Training facilities,
“The anniversary went through at Lieutenant Commander Karl Hutton, ~ Navy kaumatua Kairo McLean,
presenting a concept plan for a marae 15 April 2000.
a nice pace,” he says. “The Māori
King really enjoyed the pōwhiri on at Ngataringa.
Thursday and the official function at Today, the marae is honoured as
the Navy Museum.” Ngā hau e whā, welcoming all sailors
from “the four winds”.
Covid in Canada
A small COVID outbreak among the Royal
New Zealand Navy personnel in Canada in
April temporarily suspended work on HMNZS
TE MANA’s Frigate Systems Upgrade.
5 6
8 9
11 12
Our
People
7
WOCWS Crosby found around 25 “It’s also about the opportunity to Able Seaman Combat Specialist
musicians from the Navy and Air place the NZDF into different areas Mikayla Moore, drummer, said she was
Force Reserves, plus Regular Navy of society that we wouldn’t ordinarily speechless when she was first told
personnel who were also training as feature locally and globally. what the project was. “I was jumping
drummers. around. I had no words.” It was ‘crazy’
“A big ‘shout out’ must also go to
on the night, she says. “You could
The team worked hard, rehearsing and Six60 and their production crews for
really feel the energy, the atmosphere.
pre-recording portions of their music, the invitation and for the wonderful
You just can’t explain these moments.
and attended a dress rehearsal to iron hospitality throughout the planning,
We had a little karakia before we went
out the ‘look’. They were initially going rehearsing and the concert itself. On
on, just to settle our nerves. But once
to be placed on a catwalk, but in the behalf of the NZDF we wish them
we got up there, we were so in the
end everyone agreed the main stage every success on their upcoming
zone. Everything worked out perfectly.”
worked best. Australian tour.”
“It was amazing on the night, in front Lieutenant Megan Mashali, a musician
of 50,000 people, and streamed who commissioned from the ranks,
to thousands more’” says WOCWS coordinated the drummers. “It was
Crosby. “The team delivered. They a really cool experience, a very
looked fantastic on stage, they energetic atmosphere. We started with
were having a lot of fun at the a military drum beat, which fitted really
same time and I’m really proud of nicely with their song Fade Away. We
them all. It was great to see the stayed quite regimental for that, then
transition of the military image that with their next song, White Lines, we
everyone expects of the uniform to relaxed, and got dancing on the stage.”
someone that is able to really enjoy
the moment, lose themselves in
the moment and having a lot of fun
speaks volumes to those considering
the NZDF as a career option.
Pointed in the
and you get in there and fix it.”
He’s served on and off sister frigate
right direction
HMNZS TE KAHA since 2014, and
considers 2015 one of the high points
of his career. “Our ship was part of
Combined Task Force 150, involved
in counter-narcotics operations in
the Indian Ocean. Being part of the
Casey Namana describes himself His cousin and mother suggested the boarding parties was amazing. The
as having no direction as an Navy, and he went on a course called whole trip was everything you would
unemployed teenager. He walked Fitting the Bill at People Potential want from an operational deployment
through the Devonport Naval in Kensington, Whangārei. “It was around the world.”
Base gates in September 2012 designed to get people ready to do
He helped bring TE KAHA to
and doesn’t plan on leaving. Defence Force and police testing.
Esquimalt, Canada, in 2018 for her
They helped me get my NCEA Level
That big step forward has led him Frigate Systems Upgrade. It’s now
3 and complete my testing for the
up the ranks in Navy engineering, TE MANA’s turn, which means he’s
Defence Force.”
including his recent promotion to been in Esquimalt on and off for 21
Acting Petty Officer Marine Technician Before his testing, he did a months. “This is my fourth stint in
(Propulsion) while serving on board Limited Service Volunteer course Canada and it is definitely different to
frigate HMNZS TE MANA. in Hobsonville, Auckland, to see the other pre-COVID times I was here.
if a Defence Force environment It’s a big adjustment from New Zealand
Born and raised in Whangārei, he and the only thing making it bearable
was for him. The six-week course,
attended Whangārei Boys’ High is the crew and your mates.”
run by the New Zealand Defence
School and at six feet five inches tall
Force, is for unemployed 18 to 24
found a love for basketball. It was a His advice to others, if they are
year olds who are not in study or
passion that was competing with his interested in a Defence Force career,
training. It teaches teamwork, job
motivation to find an apprenticeship is to message the Defence Careers
skills and life skills, with a high
when his school years were over. website and see what is out there.
emphasis on fitness and activities.
“I didn’t look into it very hard after “Even if you’re not interested and want
finishing school,” he says. “I wanted to “A big shout out to my Platoon a life change that’s out of your comfort
be an electrician like my best mate’s Sergeant, Petty Officer Youth zone, stay a few years and decide if
old man but I just wanted to play Development Specialist Te-Huki you want to continue. There’s plenty
basketball.” McDonald. He’s still there at the Youth of opportunities in the Navy if you
Development Unit today, helping apply yourself. It’s not just a job – it’s a
people like me who had no direction, lifestyle.”
THE WORKING
UNIFORM
From its introduction in the 1850s, But, as the Navy has become more
the naval uniform for ratings has in technical, the major change has
many ways remained the same, and been the introduction of the “working
if you compare a rating from the 19th rig”. Today, while the formal rig still
century to our sailors today, they are distinguishes between officers, senior
very similar. The impact of the First rates and junior rates, our sailors and
and Second World Wars meant the officers now share a single uniform as
uniforms of the Royal Navy were a working rig.
closely followed in the Commonwealth.
Under Chief of Navy Rear Admiral it was very clear the reverse was One specific requirement is that
David Ledson, Navy Order 2007/32 true.” He thought about the publicity during Action and Emergency
was promulgated on 11 June, photographs of Navy personnel in Stations, the sleeves are fully
announcing the intention to replace coveralls. “The recruiting bus had extended and the shirt is tucked
the GPSC and Boarding Party photos of sailors on its outside. It into the trousers.
Uniform with a new two-piece struck me that the public should
This time, New Zealand was ahead
universal uniform – the General view the Navy as a mechanics-based
of Australia with this new style
Work Dress. At 190gsm thread, the organisation was unsurprising. So
of rig. Australia adopted their
inherent flame-resistant polyamide Un-Disrupted Pattern Uniforms were
patterned working rig in 2008.
fabric was lighter than the GPSCs. the obvious way to go.” The dark
blue for the uniform and gold for
Enhancing the Navy’s professional
insignia ensured consistency with
corporate image was a theme with
principle Navy colours. “The NZ flag
the design of the new working rig.
and kiwi badge made the point that
RADM Ledson had spent a lot of
everyone who served in the Navy in
time at Joint Forces New Zealand,
uniform deployed – it wasn’t a case of
a tri-service environment, and
waiting to be dispatched for a specific
was comfortable with the idea of
operation.”
service people wearing Disrupted
Pattern Uniforms. “Then as Chief The wearing policy was that they
of Navy I read a survey that the could be worn in “every reasonably
NZDF had conducted. It showed practical way”, he says. “Throughout
the public viewed the Navy as a my career I found people in the Navy
very low-tech organisation, when who thought their principal purpose
was to walk around, especially in
Above: Junior Officers enjoy a
HMNZS PHILOMEL, looking for sailors game of ukkers in the wardroom
not wearing uniform in accordance in HMNZS CANTERBURY
with the regulations.” (October 2020).
The Able Rate rank symbol is a figure- The slides were generally issued from
of-eight knot. In Australia it’s a reef 1998 but Chief Petty Officer Combat
knot, while in the United Kingdom System Specialist Aaron Pau (pictured
the equivalent rank is a blank rank left in AWDs), in a post on Navy
slide with the words “Royal Navy”. By Facebook, recalls getting the slides in
the time a sailor becomes a Leading November 1997 after returning from
Hand, a “killick”, the anchor symbol is HMNZS CANTERBURY’s deployment
consistent across RN, RAN and RNZN, in Bougainville. He thinks they were
and the consistency continues through the first Able Rates to be issued them.
the ranks. “We were all handed them in the little
brown envelopes, the same ones used
In 1996 the need for an Able Rating
to get paid cash when we were at sea.
rank slide was raised during retention
I remember opening the pay packet to
reviews. As can be seen in the
find these rank slides inside, and was
photographs of sailors in Action
gutted that no cash was inside…”
Working Dress, Ordinary Rates and
Able Rates simply didn’t have a rank The reasoning for the figure-of-eight
slide. Chief of Naval Staff approved as the chosen design is not explained.
the development and introduction of Some have speculated on Facebook
a rank insignia for Able Rates and the that this particular knot was used to
fleet were invited to submit designs. stop a rope running through a block,
Navy Today records that “many varied the idea being that Able Rates are the
and interesting” designs were received ones on the end of the rope where the
for consideration, with the successful work gets done.
design being the figure-of-eight knot.
Defence Force
at the heart
of historic
Women’s Super
Rugby match
By Simone Millar
Senior Communications
Adviser (North)
It’s been a long time coming, but the “It’s a surreal feeling being a part of Women from all levels of the Defence
first Women’s Super Rugby match both the lead up and the game itself. Force have really welcomed having
was finally held in Auckland this May, It’s the first of its kind so it was pretty the team.
and two New Zealand Defence Force special to be directly involved. Being
“The ladies absolutely love the team
women had their hearts in the game. among a team of amazing athletes. It
environment and strive to be the best
was pretty exciting and hopefully in the
It was with great pride that 21-year- team they can be. They really are a role
near future we will see a competition
old Sub Lieutenant Kate Williams model team with the NZDF,” he says.
of the like,” says CPL Hutana.
stepped out on to the pitch at Eden
The Chiefs ended up taking the game
Park to represent the Blues, in the Both SLT Williams and CPL Hutana
this time around, but they all hope
number 7 jersey. play in the Defence Ferns Women’s
players from the Defence Force will
Rugby team, which supports and
“When our team ran out at the stadium be part of a new tournament, featuring
promotes women’s rugby across all
the bar was set, I don’t think I’ve ever the Super Rugby Blues in the future.
Services in the Defence Force, and
been on a field with a crowd that has
say they couldn’t have got this far “It definitely was a really physical
made that much noise before – it was
without the team. match, but we expected that. I hope
unreal,” says the openside flanker.
rotating that we put on a spectacle for
“When I first joined the Defence
“The match is such a big opportunity those who watched live and through
Force it was a big dream of lots of the
because it’s putting women’s rugby in social media across the world,” says
women to form a rugby team. But it
the spotlight – it’s cool for all the young CPL Hutana.
wasn’t until 2018, with the hard work
girls to see it as well. It’s been a long-
of our manager, Joe, we started to get “People do love to watch women’s
time coming, this match,” she says.
our first games and first camps,” says rugby and come to the games. The
The event was an historic, competitive SLT Williams. more matches there are, the more
contest and was the first time young girls get to see their future
Squadron Leader Joe Tasker pushed
Women’s Blues and Chiefs Super selves. It shows them a pathway,”
hard for women’s rugby to be
Rugby sides were formed. says SLT Williams.
recognised and says the team is more
Manager of the new Blues team, than just about rugby. Until the team hears if there will be
Dean Watkins, hopes the game will go another Women’s Super Rugby game,
“Rugby is the vehicle for promoting
professional for women, giving them the Defence Ferns will be playing pre-
wāhine toa (strong women)
more time to train and grow as players. season games against two prestigious
leaders, focusing on being a
Farah Palmer Cup teams, so watch
“It was such a fantastic experience professional unit and trying to
this space.
and showcase for women’s remove barriers to support women
rugby at this level. And what an to go higher on to higher honours.
entertaining match with plenty The team aims to create value DEFENCE FERNS
of attacking flair and scoring for the NZDF and individuals UPCOMING GAMES:
opportunities,” says Mr Watkins. alike,” says SQNLDR Tasker.
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force He says the undefeated Defence Base Auckland
Corporal Hayley Hutana took the Ferns team always includes
field as fullback, and agrees, saying community engagement in its 29 June 2021
people should know more about programmes – like assisting to feed Defence Ferns vs North Harbour
women’s rugby. un-homed in Auckland, giving back 4 July 2021
to the community, engaging with the Defence Ferns vs Auckland
Pacific and promoting women leaders.
I took some military and annual leave. He yelled at me and the team quite We had to remove the luggage from
During my times off I was able to work a lot, but I spent time with him and the room and I had to give two sailors
from home and kept on top of my managed to help him turn things a pep talk and get them all kitted up in
council work as much as I could. around. When he left, he gave us all full PPE and send them into the room.
some chocolates and wine as a thank I was impressed with their courage
The leadership style I take at the
you gift, so that was nice. and commitment to the role.
council and in the Royal New Zealand
Navy is to ‘lead leaders’. Another time we had 54 guests When we transferred the family,
arrive at once. We had to put a bit everyone, including the family, was
This approach is not to tell people
of a team together and figure out wearing full personal protective
how to do their job, it’s about saying
how we were going to manage that. equipment (PPE) – gowns, face masks,
to them, “you‘re a leader in your role
Maintaining social distancing, there face shields, and gloves.
and empowered to do your job.” This
were hundreds of bags flying in all
enabled my council team to keep I really felt for the family because
directions and some of the returnees
functioning while I was away. when they saw us like this when they
didn’t speak English. It was a challenge
came out of the elevator – it looked
Q: What kind of training did you but afterwards we got really good
like something out of a movie.
receive beforehand? feedback from the team that it worked
really well, so I was happy with that. Q: What skill helped you the most
A: We received pre-deployment
during this time?
training before posting into the role. Q: What was one of your most
Various specialists took us through difficult days? A: When I was a lawyer, I was primarily
the various aspects of the mission involved with dispute resolution. I
A: We had a family who had been
including looking at it from a legal and managed hundreds of court cases
overseas for two years, and a member
psychiatric perspective. People share through alternative dispute resolution
tested positive the day before they
their own experiences, so you get an so I’ve got a lot of skills in that and was
were to leave isolation. Their family
idea of what to expect. able to use that in the hotel.
here had a BBQ planned and birthday
It’s not the type of thing you can to celebrate their return, and it was Q: Does life seem rather dull now in
get too much training for, but the very hard on them. comparison?
idea is that with your military skills
We had to put the hotel in lockdown, A: Yes, it can sometimes, especially
and training, you can go into any
cancel everyone’s exercise, send when you’re coming from that level of
environment.
people back to their rooms, print intensity back to your everyday life.
Q: What were some challenges you out a notice to guests so they were
informed and start a deep cleaning of I have talked with other people before
encountered?
the hotel. who have been on United Nations
A: We had a man who was having missions to places like Afghanistan and
mental health issues and wasn’t Everyone was on edge and it took Sudan and they say they get a buzz
coping too well. He had difficulty a lot of coaching and phone calls from it and I kind of understand that.
sleeping and was struggling with before the family was ready to leave
claustrophobia. and we could transfer them to the
quarantine facility.
15
ROUNDS
WITH CAPTAIN
SIMON ROOKE