New Zealand Defence Force Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa
Thursday 26 January, 2006
NAVAL ship sails for ceremony, operations and diplomacy
The 177 men and women onboard Navy frigate HMNZS TE MANA will commence a six month deployment when she sails from
Devonport Naval Base at 10:00am Tuesday 31 January.
With a varied range of challenges ahead, the crew's first task is to provide a naval presence during Waitangi Day events
at Waitangi where they will participate in ceremonial events and host a function onboard TE MANA.
The ship will participate in three operational exercises with sister ship HMNZS TE KAHA and the Royal Australian Navy
off the East Coast of Australia during February. The exercises involve two Royal New Zealand Air Force P3-K aircraft, up
to 11 Australian ships, one submarine and aircraft of the Australian Defence Force.
TE MANA will then conduct a 4 ½ month deployment to South East Asia and India, completing a series of defence diplomacy
visits before returning to New Zealand on 21 July 2006.
ENDS