RNZN
RNZN MUSEUM has reopened
If you are visiting the Naval Museum please check out the hours. There have been some major changes as a result of COVID 19 and civil staff cuts. Currently the Museum is open as follows: Monday to Friday 1000 – 1630. The museum remains closed over weekends although the cafe is open 7 days per week.
Operation HIKI ANO
Concentrated training period for our sailors and officers. HIKI ANO has been designed to accelerate Navy’s readiness prior to the introduction of the Dive Hydrographic vessel (MANAWANUI), Polar-class sustainment vessel (AOTEAROA) and the return of the modernised Anzac frigates (TE KAHA and TE MANA). HIKI ANO is taking place over the period 29 April to 14 June 2019. HMNZ Ships CANTERBURY and WELLINGTON along with shore establishments like the Devonport Naval Base will be platforms for training our sailors and officers. Focussed training will include enhance promotion flow, leadership workshops, weapon familiarisation, refresher courses, and dedicated activities at sea to up skill and qualify personnel.
BOOST FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
The Minister for Veterans Ron Mark has today (24 April 2019) announced additional funding to support the wellbeing of New Zealand’s veterans and their families. The funding will go towards health and wellbeing assessments for veterans to ensure that when they leave the Defence Force they are linked to the right support services. “The review of the Veterans’ Support Act 2014 published by Professor Ron Paterson identified that we need to do more for our veterans and their families,” says Ron Mark. This new funding package will address some of his key findings, and help meet increasing demands for services.”We now have upwards of 31,000 contemporary veterans in New Zealand. These younger veterans need early interventions to prevent service-related mental and phy...
NAVY TRADITION OF SPIT POLISHING BOOTS/SHOES
(Supplied by Jack Donnelly (WOGI Rtd) Do our young sailors of today still spit polish their naval footwear? As Seaman Boys we were issued with 2 pairs of boots, one for working in and the other for guard/ceremonial duties. The art to spit polishing one’s footwear is very time consuming and requires a lot of patience, concentration, radio, TV or a good ‘talking’ mate. Ensure you have a good comfortable place to sit, and away you go. As for the perfect technique to spit polishing boots/shoes they are many and varied so I will explain how we were taught by our instructors at Tamaki on Motuihe island. You will require polish, a soft clean cotton rag, water or alcohol and an old toothbrush at the ready. The use of alcohol may well have been a sailors ‘dit’ neve...
WREATH LAYING PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOL
RNZRSA CEREMONIAL GUIDE Former Gunnery Instructors Warrant Officer Jack Donnelly, BEM, RNZN and Chief Petty Officer Tony Lewis, RNZN have written a Ceremonial Planning, Procedural and Protocol Guide for the RNZRSA. The fourth chapter is reproduced below: “Our tribute to the fallen” A very solemn and formal military ritual in which the wreath symbolizes remembrance. The type of flowers making up a wreath have different meanings, and there are various types of wreaths that may be laid on ANZAC Day/Remembrance Day. Planning and organising the wreath laying ceremony begins at the committee meeting with your nominations of whom to invite to lay a wreath. Once your list has been finalised the next consideration is to arrange the order of precedence. Each RSA orga...
Presentation of Bosuns Call by The Navy Club
President of The Navy Club Fred Wilson presenting OMED Amberleigh Shields with a Bosun’s Call. Amberleigh was the winner of the Navy Club Trophy.
2018 Winner of the Royal New Zealand Navy Club Trophy
Winner of the Royal New Zealand Navy Club Trophy is OMED Amberleigh Shields for Basic Common Trainee who displays the greatest application, perseverance and adherence to the Navy Creed.
The Navy Club Trophy presentation to RNZN
Presented by the Royal New Zealand Navy Club and awarded to the Basic Common Trainee who displays the greatest application, perseverance and adherence to the Navy Creed. The recipient will be selected jointly by staff and Basic Common Training Recruits themselves. Photo of Navy Club President Fred Wilson presenting Assistant Chief of Navy (Personnel and Training), Capt Dave Fairweather with the trophy
ANZAC DAY PARADE – DNB
The Commanding Officer, HMNZS Ngapona, has extended an invitation to all ‘Old Salts’ to join with HMNZS NGAPONA on Anzac Day at HMNZS PHILOMEL memorial wall starting at 0730 through to 0830 to commemorate those who names which served. On completion there will be light refreshments served in the Vince McGlone Galley. Please advise your intention to attend by return email so numbers can be finalised. editor@ngapona.org.nz
75 year of Memories from Women in the RNZN
From July 1942 until today thousands of woman have taken the pledge to serve King (Queen) and country. A fascinating new book has been released of theindividual memories of woman who have served in the Royal New Zealand Navy. Compiled by published author Anne (Ashby) Hine, a long serving naval woman, Anne realised “with our older membership numbers diminishing we stood to lose much of our history.” This book contains recollections of fun filled days and nights, stories of escapades up or down the fire escapes at Elizabeth House! Good times, some bad times, and most of all the important bond of camaraderie that still exists today. Book available at the Naval Museum or contact Jill 09 836 5191.