HMNZS ''Wakakura'' (P3555) was a
''Moa''-class inshore
patrol vessel
A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. There are many designs for patrol boats, and they ...
of the Royal New Zealand Navy. It was commissioned in March 1985 for the
Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Service
''Wakakura'' was attached to the
Wellington
Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...
division of the Naval Volunteer Reserve from her commissioning until 2005, when she returned to the fleet base in
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
.
''Wakakura'', in company with , carried out farewell manoeuvres on 29 November 2007, flying a paying-off pennant, in Waitemata Harbour prior to decommissioning on 11 December 2007.
''Wakakura'' was the second ship of this name to serve in the New Zealand Navy. The first ship was the training minesweeper (1926–1947). ''Wakakura'' is a
Māori
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...
word which could mean "precious canoe" or could mean "training boat".
Decommissioning
After decommissioning the ''Wakakura'' was put up for sale by tender. The vessel was acquired by the owner of Helipro, Rick Lucas, under the Lucas Family Trust. With the receivership of Helipro in 2014, the vessel was sold in February 2015 to Jason and Clayton Knowles and moved from Queens Wharf Wellington to the Marlborough Sounds.
[Fallout from failed chopper firm continues, Dominion Post, 19 November 2014] As of 2020 HMNZS ''Wakakura'' (P3555) remains tied to a jetty in Kaipapa Bay in the Marlborough Sounds at 41°13'36.5"S 174°04'37.2"E. In July, 2022, the ship was purchased by Maria Kuster and Sean Liam Ellis who own and operate Pure Salt; a charter company who operate the sister ship "Flightless". M.V. Flightless is based in the coastal waters of Fiordland and Stewart Island. It is understood Wakakura will operate as a charter vessel for Pure Salt.
See also
*
Patrol boats of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Commissioned patrol boats of the Royal New Zealand Navy from after World War II.
Class types
''Lake'' class patrol vessel
''Moa'' class inshore patrol boats
Lake class inshore patrol boats
Protector class offshore patrol boats
See a ...
Notes
References
* McDougall, R J (1989) ''New Zealand Naval Vessels.'' Government Printing Office.
Ships built in New Zealand
Moa-class patrol boats
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