Navy in port

Ships from around 15 countries, including Australia, Canada, the Cook Islands, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Samoa, Singapore, South Korea and the United States are visiting Auckland to help the Navy celebrate its milestone this week with a series of events collectively known as Operation Neptune.

The New Zealand ships involved are HMNZS Canterbury, Otago, Wellington, Te Kaha, Te Mana, Endeavour and Manawanui as well as two inshore patrol vessels, a P-3K2 Orion and two Seasprite helicopters.

Exercises are taking place in the Hauraki Gulf and around the East Coast, culminating, on Thursday November 17, with the biggest event of the Navy’s birthday celebrations, the International Naval Review.

These photos of a Japanese ship, and HMNZS Canterbury, were taken by local residents who went out on their boat to take a closer look last weekend.

They were approached by officers aboard a NZ Navy tender, which advised them that boaties have to stay at least 100m from the bow of the naval ships, when those ships are stationary.

Some Japanese sailors also came past on a tender, waving a greeting as they passed.

The celebrations mark 75 years since the approval of King George VI, on October 1 1941, of the designation ‘Royal New Zealand Navy’ for the regular element of the New Zealand Naval Forces.