Royal New Zealand Navy

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN; ) is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. The fleet currently consists of eight ships. The Navy had its origins in the Naval Defence Act 1913, and the subsequent acquisition of the cruiser , which by 1921 had been moored in Auckland as a training ship. A slow buildup occurred during the interwar period, and then in December 1939 fought alongside two other Royal Navy cruisers at the Battle of the River Plate against the German ship, '' Graf Spee''.

History

Pre–World War I

The first recorded maritime combat activity in New Zealand occurred off the northern tip of the South Island in December 1642. Māori in war canoes attacked and killed four seamen from Abel Tasman's party, who were at the time in low boats between the main ships.

The New Zealand Navy did not exist as a separate military force until 1941. The association of the Royal Navy with New Zealand began with the arrival of James Cook in 1769, who completed two subsequent journeys to New Zealand in 1773 and 1777. Occasional visits by Royal Navy ships were made from the late 18th century. The Royal Navy played a part in the New Zealand Wars: for example, a gunboat shelled fortified Māori pā from the Waikato River in order to defeat the Māori King Movement.

World War I and the inter-war period

In 1909 the New Zealand government decided to fund the purchase of the battlecruiser for the Royal Navy, which saw action throughout World War I in Europe. The passing of the Naval Defence Act 1913 created the New Zealand Naval Forces, still a part of the Royal Navy. The first ship given by the British government for the New Zealand Naval Forces was the cruiser , which escorted New Zealand land forces to occupy the German colony of Samoa in 1914. ''Philomel'' saw further action under the command of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf. By 1917 she was worn out and was sent back to New Zealand where she served as a depot ship in Wellington Harbour for minesweepers. In 1921 she was transferred to Auckland for use as a training ship.

The New Zealand Naval Forces passed to the control of Commander-in-Chief, China, after the Royal Navy forces in Australia came under Canberra's control in 1911. From 1921 to 1941 the force was known as the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. The cruiser ''Chatham'' along with the sloop ''Veronica'' arrived in 1920, ''Philomel'' was transferred to the Division in 1921, as was the sloop ''Torch'', arrived in 1922 and then in 1924. and the minesweeper HMS ''Wakakura'' arrived in 1926. Between World War I and World War II, the New Zealand Division operated a total of 14 ships, including the cruisers HMS ''Achilles'' (joined 31 March 1937) and HMS ''Leander'', which replaced ''Diomede'' and ''Dunedin'' (replaced by ''Leander'' in 1937).

World War II

When Britain went to war against Germany in 1939, New Zealand officially declared war at the same time, backdated to 9.30 pm on 3 September local time. But the gathering in Parliament in Carl Berendsen's room (including Peter Fraser) could not follow Chamberlain's words because of static on the shortwave and waited until the Admiralty notified the fleet that war had broken out before Cabinet approved the declaration of war (the official telegram from Britain was delayed and arrived just before midnight).

participated in the first major naval battle of World War II, the Battle of the River Plate off the River Plate estuary between Argentina and Uruguay, in December 1939. ''Achilles'' and two other cruisers, and , severely damaged the German pocket battleship ''Admiral Graf Spee''. The German Captain Hans Langsdorff then scuttled ''Graf Spee'' rather than face the loss of many more German seamen's lives.

''Achilles'' moved to the Pacific, and was working with the United States Navy (USN) when damaged by a Japanese bomb off New Georgia. Following repair, she served alongside the British Pacific Fleet until the war's end.

The New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy became the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) on 1 October 1941, in recognition of the fact that the naval force was now largely self-sufficient and independent of the Royal Navy. The Prime Minister Peter Fraser reluctantly agreed, though saying "now was not the time to break away from the old country". Ships thereafter were prefixed HMNZS (His/Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship).

escorted the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to the Middle East in 1940 and was then deployed in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean. ''Leander'' was subjected to air and naval attack from Axis forces, conducted bombardments, and escorted convoys. In February 1941, ''Leander'' sank the Italian auxiliary cruiser in the Indian Ocean. In 1943, after serving further time in the Mediterranean, ''Leander'' returned to the Pacific Ocean. She assisted in the destruction of the and was seriously damaged by torpedoes during the Battle of Kolombangara. The extent of the damage to ''Leander'' saw her docked for repairs until the end of the war.

As the war progressed, the size of the RNZN greatly increased, and by the end of the war, there were over 60 ships in commission. These ships participated as part of the British and Commonwealth effort against the Axis in Europe, and against the Japanese in the Pacific. They also played an important role in the defence of New Zealand, from German raiders, especially when the threat of invasion from Japan appeared imminent in 1942. Many merchant ships were requisitioned and armed for help in defence. One of these was , which saw action against the off Fiji in 1942. In 1941–1942, it was decided in an agreement between the New Zealand and United States governments that the best role for the RNZN in the Pacific was as part of the United States Navy, so operational control of the RNZN was transferred to the South West Pacific Area command, and its ships joined United States 7th Fleet taskforces.

In 1943, the light cruiser was transferred to the RNZN as HMNZS ''Gambia''. In November 1944, the British Pacific Fleet, a joint British Commonwealth military formation, was formed, based in Sydney, Australia. Most RNZN ships, including ''Gambia'' and ''Achilles'', were transferred to the BPF. They took part in the Battle of Okinawa and operations in the Sakishima Islands, near Japan. In August 1945, HMNZS ''Gambia'' was New Zealand's representative at the surrender of Japan.

Post-World War II

During April 1947 a series of non-violent mutinies occurred amongst the sailors and non-commissioned officers of four RNZN ships and two shore bases. Overall, up to 20% of the sailors in the RNZN were involved in the mutinies. The resulting manpower shortage forced the RNZN to remove the light cruiser , one of their most powerful warships, from service and set the navy's development and expansion back by a decade. Despite this impact, the size and scope of the events have been downplayed over time.

RNZN ships participated in the Korean War. On 29 June, just four days after 135,000 North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel in Korea, the New Zealand government ordered two frigates – and to prepare to make for Korean waters, and for the whole of the war, at least two NZ vessels would be on station in the theater.''Korean Scholarships'' – ''Navy Today'', Defence Public Relations Unit, Issue 133, 8 June, Page 14-15

On 3 July these two first ships left Devonport Naval Base, Auckland and joined other Commonwealth forces at Sasebo, Japan, on 2 August. These vessels served under the command of a British flag officer (seemingly Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet) and formed part of the US Navy screening force during the Battle of Inchon, performing shore raids and inland bombardment. Further RNZN ''Loch''-class frigates joined these later – , , and , as well as a number of smaller craft. Only one RNZN sailor was killed during the conflict – during the Inchon bombardments.

The Navy later participated in the Malayan Emergency. In 1954 a New Zealand frigate, HMNZS ''Pukaki'', carried out a bombardment of a suspected guerilla camp, while operating with the Royal Navy's Far East Fleet – the first of a number of bombardments by RNZN ships over the next five years. Jack Welch, later to become Chief of Naval Staff decades later, wrote that in 1959, the RNZN "was still very much part of the Royal Navy supported by New Zealand tax-payers. The officer corps and senior specialist ratings were very dependent on loan and exchange RN personnel, while our own ew Zealandofficers and senior ratings were almost exclusively trained in the UK. We simply borrowed the RN's administrative regulations and amended them to local conditions. The Empire was alive and well. Operationally we were still very strongly tied to the UK."

Later the Navy return to Malayan waters during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation. These operations were the RNZN's last large-scale operation with the Royal Navy. In a security crisis and threat to Malaysia and Sarawak and Brunei, two-thirds of the Royal Navy's operational warships were deployed from 1963 to the end of 1966 with , , and , heavily involved in boarding ships, shore patrols, presence, maintaining the use of seaways and support of the RN's amphibious carriers. The commitment, wrote Welch, "involved the whole fleet, as ships rotated though Pearl Harbor for workup with the USN before deploying on to the Far East to relieve ships on station."

Until the 1960s the RNZN had, in common with other Dominion navies, flown the White Ensign as a common ensign. After 1945, the foreign policies of the now-independent states had become more distinctive. There was a growing wish and a need for separate identities, particularly if one Dominion was engaged in hostilities where another was not. Thus, in 1968, the RNZN adopted its own ensign, which retained the Union Flag in a top quarter but replaces the St George's Cross with the Southern Cross constellation that is displayed on the national flag.

Since 1946 the Navy has policed New Zealand's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone for fisheries protection. It also aids New Zealand's scientific activities in Antarctica, at Scott Base.

One of the best-known roles that the RNZN played on the world stage was when the frigates and were sent by the Labour Government of Norman Kirk to Moruroa Atoll in 1973 to protest against French nuclear testing there. The frigates were sent into the potential blast zone of the weapons, where both ships witnessed one airburst test each which forced France to then change to underground testing.

In May 1982 Prime Minister Rob Muldoon seconded the frigate ''Canterbury'' to the Royal Navy for the duration of the Falklands War. ''Canterbury'' was deployed to the Armilla Patrol in the Persian Gulf, to relieve a British frigate for duty in the South Atlantic. ''Canterbury'' was herself relieved by in August.

Post-Cold War

At the close of the Cold War the RNZN had an escort force of four frigates (, , , and HMNZS ''Southland'' (F104)). Due to the cost of replacing four ships, the force was downsized to two. However, there was considerable political debate at times during the mid-1990s about whether a third and fourth Anzac-class frigate should be procured.

Since the 1990s, the RNZN has operated in the Middle East on numerous occasions. RNZN ships played a role in the Iran–Iraq War, aiding the Royal Navy in protecting neutral shipping in the Indian Ocean. Frigates were also sent to participate in the first Gulf War, and Operation Enduring Freedom. The RNZN has also played an important part in conflicts in the Pacific. Naval forces were utilised in the Bougainville, Solomon Islands and East Timor conflicts of the 1990s. The RNZN often participates in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The hydrographic survey ship of the RNZN until 2012 was , succeeding the long-serving . ''Resolution'' was used to survey and chart the sea around New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. A small motor boat, SMB ''Adventure'', was operated from ''Resolution''. ''Resolution'' carried some of the most advanced survey technology available. HMNZS ''Resolution'' was decommissioned at Devonport Naval Base on 27 April 2012, and was replaced by , which was commissioned on 7 June 2019.

In October 2021 the Defence Force contributed to the UK Carrier Strike Group's transit through the South China Sea. This deployment sought to reiterate New Zealand's support for free international passage through the South China Sea, which has been claimed by China as part of its territorial waters. In June 2023, was confronted by two People's Liberation Army Navy frigates, helicopters, and four other vessels near the disputed Spratly Islands.

In late September 2024 Defence Minister Judith Collins confirmed that HMNZS ''Aotearoa'' had sailed through the disputed Taiwan Strait with . In response, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that China "handles foreign warships' transit through the Taiwan Strait in accordance with laws and regulations". On 29 September HMNZS ''Aotearoa'' took part in a joint maritime patrol with Australian, Filipino, Japanese and United States warships and aircraft in the disputed South China Sea, which has also been claimed by China.

On 5 October 2024 HMNZS ''Manawanui'' ran aground and sank off the coast of Siumu, on the south coast of Upolu island, Samoa, while surveying a nearby reef during a storm. HMNZS ''Manawanui'' became the first RNZN vessel to be unintentionally sunk since the Second World War and the first to be lost in peacetime. On 4 April 2025, a naval court of inquiry concluded that the warship sank due to a series of human errors and launched a disciplinary inquiry. On 19 January 2025, Judith Collins confirmed that ''Manawanui'' would not be replaced, with '' HMNZS Otago (P148)'' taking on the ships role, though lacking the working space and specialized equipment.

On 6 May 2025, Defence Minister Collins confirmed that the Government would allocate NZ$2 billion (US$1.2 billion) from its four-year NZ$12 billion defence funding allocation to purchasing new maritime helicopters for the Navy.

File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg, White Ensign 1945–1968
File:Naval Ensign of New Zealand.svg, White Ensign 1968–present

Ships and aircraft

Current

Naval Combat Force

The Combat Force consists of two ''Anzac-class'' frigates: HMNZS ''Te Kaha'' and HMNZS ''Te Mana''. Two more frigates were planned, but were cancelled due to political pressure surrounding defence expenditure following the New Zealand breakup of military relations with ANZUS in 1986. HMNZS ''Te Kaha'' was commissioned on 26 July 1997 and HMNZS ''Te Mana'' on 10 December 1999. Both ships completed the frigate systems upgrade in 2020 and 2022 respectively.

Naval Patrol Force

The Patrol Force consists of two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and two inshore patrol vessels (IPVs). The Patrol Force is responsible for policing New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone, one of the largest in the world. In addition, the Patrol Force provides assistance to a range of civilian government agencies, including the Department of Conservation, New Zealand Customs and Police, Ministry of Fisheries and others. Originally two OPVs and four IPVs were acquired under Project Protector, but two of the four were sold to Ireland in 2022. The Patrol Force in 2025 consists of:
* 2 s ( and )
* 2 s ( and )

Naval Support Force

* , a multi-role vessel that entered service in June 2007.
* , a replenishment oiler commissioned in 2020.

Littoral Warfare Support Force

The Littoral Warfare Support Force consisted of , a dive and hydrographic vessel commissioned in 2019, which sank off the coast of Samoa on 6 October 2024, and HMNZS ''Matataua.''

= Hydrographic survey and clearance diving

=
HMNZS ''Matataua'' was a land-based unit (a stone frigate) commissioned in 2017 (previously the Littoral Warfare Support Force, the Littoral Warfare Support Group, and most recently the Littoral Warfare Unit) with two operational groups, one for military hydrographic survey and the other clearance diving, and a logistics support group. Detachments from ''Matataua'' embarked on ''Manawanui'' when the ship was conducting survey and/or diving operations. ''Matataua'' was responsible for ensuring access to and the use of harbours, inshore waters and associated littoral zones through shallow water and coastal survey, mine-countermeasures and explosive ordnance disposal, beach survey and reconnaissance in support of amphibious operations, and underwater engineering. ''Matataua'' also provided underwater search and recovery support to the NZ Police, and other government and civil agencies as requested and approved through Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand.

Aviation

The Royal New Zealand Air Force operates eight Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite helicopters. These aircraft are part of No. 6 Squadron RNZAF based at RNZAF Base Auckland. The aircraft are operated by RNZN aviators and are assigned to RNZN ships as required. The roles of the helicopters include:
* Surveillance
* Surface warfare
* Underwater warfare
* Helicopter delivery services/logistics
* Search and rescue
* Medical evacuation
* Training
* Assistance to other Government agencies

Non-commissioned vessels

A number of non-commissioned auxiliary vessels are used for a number or littoral, support and training purposes.

* Three Chico 40 sail training yachts (''Manga II, Mako II, Paea II).''
* Two Landing Craft Mechanised landing craft (''LC01, LC02) -'' Used aboard '' HMNZS Canterbury.''
* Three Littoral Manoeuvre Craft.
* Two Surtees Workmate hydrographic and diving support launches (''Pathfinder'', ''Hammerhead'').
* One VIP (Admiral's) Barge.
* Nine Zodiac Hurricane RHIBs.
* 26 Zodiac Milpro J3 RHIBs.

Unmanned vehicles

The RNZN operates a small number of autonomous underwater vehicles, as well as two uncrewed surface vessels.

The RNZN does not operate any ship-based unmanned aerial systems. However, according to a recent tender document, there exists some considerable scope for the acquisition of new systems.

Future

Role

Defence

In its Statement of Intent, the NZDF states its primary mission as:

:"to secure New Zealand from external threat, to protect our sovereign interests, including in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and to be able to take action to meet likely contingencies in our strategic area of interest."

The intermediate outcomes of the NZDF are listed as:
# Secure New Zealand, including its people, land, territorial waters, exclusive economic zone, natural resources and critical infrastructure.
# Reduced risks to New Zealand from regional and global insecurity.
# New Zealand values and interests advanced through participation in regional and international security systems.
# New Zealand is able to meet future national security challenges.

The role of the navy is to fulfil the maritime elements of the missions of the NZDF.

International participation

The RNZN has a role to help prevent any unrest occurring in New Zealand. This can be done by having a presence in overseas waters and assisting redevelopment in troubled countries. For example, any unrest in the Pacific Islands has the potential to affect New Zealand because of the large Pacific Island population. The stability of the South Pacific is considered in the interest of New Zealand. The navy has participated in peace-keeping and peace-making in
East Timor, Bougainville and the Solomon Islands, supporting land-based operations.

Civilian roles

The 2002 Maritime Forces Review identified a number of roles that other government agencies required the RNZN to undertake. Approximately 1,400 days at sea are required to fulfil these roles annually.

Roles include patrolling the exclusive economic zone, transport to offshore islands, and support for the New Zealand Customs Service.

The RNZN formerly produced hydrographic information for Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) under a commercial contract arrangement, however with the decommissioning of the dedicated hydrographic survey ship HMNZS ''Resolution'' this has lapsed and the Navy now focuses on military hydrography. Hydrospatial information is still provided to LINZ but on an ad-hoc basis.

Deployments

Since 2001, both ''Anzac''-class frigates have participated in the United States' Operation Enduring Freedom in the Persian Gulf and have conducted maritime patrol operations in support of American and allied efforts in Afghanistan.

The RNZN routinely deploys within its primary area of operations of the Southwest Pacific and Southern Ocean down to Antarctica as directed by government, and to meet New Zealand's responsibilities in its search and rescue area. Deployments further afield are conducted as required to meet the strategic intent of the Government of New Zealand.

Personnel

As of 30 June 2022, the RNZN consisted of 2,219 Regular Force personnel and 611 Naval Reserve personnel.

Reserves

Naval Reserve

All regular force personnel on discharge from the RNZN are liable for service in the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve. The Reserve has an active and inactive list. RNZN personnel can choose to serve four years in the Reserve on discharge.

Volunteer Reserve

The primary reserve component of the RNZN is the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR), which is organised into four units based in Auckland (with a satellite unit at Tauranga), Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin:
* HMNZS ''Ngapona'': Naval Reserve, Auckland
* HMNZS ''Olphert'': Naval Reserve, Wellington
* HMNZS ''Pegasus'': Naval Reserve, Christchurch
* HMNZS ''Toroa'': Naval Reserve, Dunedin

At present civilians can join the RNZNVR in one of three branches: Administration, Sea Service (for service on inshore patrol vessels), and Maritime Trade Organisation (formerly Naval Control of Shipping). In addition ex-regular force personnel can now join the RNZNVR in their former branch and, depending on time out of the service, rank.

Training

Naval Ratings begin an 18-week basic training course (Basic Common Training (BCT)) prior to commencing their branch training (Basic Branch Training) which focuses on their chosen trade.

Naval Officers complete 22 weeks of training in three phases (Junior Officer Common Training (JOCT)) before commencing specialist training.

Finance

Routine funding

The RNZN is funded through a "vote" of the Parliament of New Zealand. The New Zealand Defence Force funds personnel, operating and finance costs. Funding is then allocated to specific "Output Classes", which are aligned to policy objectives.

Funding allocation in each Output Class includes consumables, personnel, depreciation and a 'Capital Charge'. The Capital Charge is a budgetary mechanism to reflect the cost of Crown capital and was set at 7.5% for the 2009/2010 year.

Large projects

The Ministry of Defence is responsible for the acquisition of significant items of military equipment needed to meet New Zealand Defence Force capability requirements. Funding for the Ministry of Defence is appropriated separately.

Shore establishments

The Navy Museum

The Navy Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy is located at 64 King Edward Parade, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand
and contains important collections of naval artefacts and extensive records.

Naval Communications Facility ''Irirangi''

HMNZS ''Irirangi'' was a Naval Communication Station at Waiouru from 1943 to 1993.

Uniforms and insignia

Uniforms of the RNZN are very similar to those of the British Royal Navy and other Commonwealth of Nations navies. However, RNZN personnel wear the nationality marker "NEW ZEALAND" on a curved shoulder flash on the service uniform and embroidered on shoulder slip-ons. Also, the RNZN uses the rank of Ensign as its lowest commissioned rank and five-pointed stars for Flag Officers.

Rank structure and insignia

See also

* Military history of New Zealand
* New Zealand Sea Cadet Corps
* New Zealand military ranks
* New Zealand Defence College
* Logistics ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy
* List of individual weapons of the New Zealand armed forces
* List of ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy

References

Further reading

* Defence of New Zealand Study Group, Ramparts on the Sea.
* Howard, Grant. ''The Navy in New Zealand: An Illustrated History,'' AH & AW Reed, 1981.
* Terence Herrick, Into the blue : a New Zealander in the Royal Navy (1997; memoirs). Herrick was NOIC Auckland, 1954–56 (Dreadnought Project).
*
*
* Commodore J O'C Ross, The White Ensign in New Zealand
* Rear-Admiral Jack Welch, "New Zealand's navy seeks 'credible minimum'", ''International Defence Review'' 9/1995, Vol. 28, No. 9, pages 75–77.
* Gerry Wright, ''The Story of HMNZS Blackpool.'' 478 pages.

External links

*

Royal New Zealand Naval Association website


* ttps://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy-a1.html#n522 The First New Zealand Navy in the Maori Wars (Appendix to WWII History above)
Now-HMNZS Matataua

Books written by Sailors – RNZN Communicators Association
– Books written by Sailors

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1941 establishments in New Zealand
Organizations established in 1941
New Zealand Defence Force
Organisations based in New Zealand with royal patronage