BalancI nG career WITH sporT · ordnance three kilometres away. Her father had sent her to the village to find them. “The team set off, following the little girl into the jungle

# 2 3 9 D E C 1 9

BomB disposal in the solomons

opeRation endURanCe

Women’s seVens defeat aUstRalia

BalancInG career WITH sporT

2 | Navy Today #239

contents

Cover: LSTD Deena-ranginui Puketapu, nominated for NZDF Person of the Year.

photographer: CPL Sean Spivey

04 Bomb disposal in the Solomons

08 Operation Endurance

11 Training for warfare

16 Manawanui Manoeuvres

20 A gift of a coin

21 Battle of the River Plate

24 Navy psychology

26 Surviving ‘the Rock’

32 PTI of the Year

34 Women’s 7s defeat Australia

Navy Today is the official magazine of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Established to inform, inspire and entertain serving and former members of the RNZN, their families, friends and the wider Navy Community.

published by:Defence Public Affairs HQ NZ Defence Force Wellington, New Zealand

editor:Andrew Bonallack Email: [email protected]

design and layout:Defence Public Affairs

printed by:Bluestar Private Bag 39996, Wellington

distribution:Email: [email protected]

Contributions are welcomed, including stories, photographs and letters. Please submit stories and letters by email in Microsoft Word or the body of an email. Articles up to 500 words welcomed, longer if required by the subject. Please consult the editor about long articles. Digital photos submitted by email also welcomed, at least 500kb preferred. Stories published in Navy Today cannot be published elsewhere without permission.

Copy deadline is the 15th of the month for the following issue. Subject to change.

Views expressed in Navy Today are not necessarily those of the RNZN or the NZDF.

defence Careers:Phone: 0800 1FORCE (0800 136 723) www.defencecareers.mil.nz

Changing address?To join or leave our mailing list, please contact: Email: [email protected]

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~ Lieutenant Emily Keat, on a career as a warfare officer

“ You can’t plan too far ahead, but that makes it exciting – you might now know what you are doing in a week’s time.”

NZDefenceForce

NZNavy navy.mil.nz

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Navy Today #239 | 3

“ To all you ship mates, and equally importantly to your family who sacrifice and support you in your service to the nation, thank you.”

2019... been there, done that... almost.

It is December and the end of another busy year in the Royal New Zealand Navy is upon us. A quick reflection reminds me of some of the high points. We received HMNZS MANAWANUI into the fleet. She will be a huge addition and improvement in military effect for New Zealand once we have introduced her and all her associated capabilities. AOTEAROA, our biggest ship ever, was launched and named in South Korea. When she is delivered and commissioned next year AOTEAROA will be a fantastic asset for use not only in supporting our interests in the Antarctic, but also regionally and globally. And albeit a bit later than expected, HMNZS TE MANA arrived in Canada to begin her upgrade, and HMNZS TE KAHA’s ships company joined her in Canada to begin final training and preparations in readiness to bring her home and begin introduction into service and reintegration with the fleet and wider NZDF.

On the people capability front, OP HIKI ANO delivered a massive boost in catch-up training for many of us, leading to increased overall Fitness For Sea Service across the navy as well as improving fleet readiness at the military capability level. OP HIKI ANO represented a return to regular, annualised, individual readiness and professional training for us all as ‘women and men at arms’. I also note the introduction of a First Class Pass for physical fitness in our Navy. I think the opportunity for us to demonstrate an element of individual ‘excellence’ in this area is great. I am almost there myself... should crack a first class pass by the New Year!

In addition to this ‘deck plate’ personnel development activity, the Navy Future Personnel team have been doing the mahi in relation to designing a strategy and setting the plan for how we are going to develop

Rear Admiral David ProctorChief of navy

Yours ayeChief of Navy

a more resilient and sustainable workforce. With approval to grow the navy by 100 in the current year, and indications of future growth in the next few years, the work of the Navy Future Personnel team is critical to focusing the investment for best effect in our ships and on military outputs.

2019 has also seen us make great progress toward being a ‘smoke free’ Navy. The support available for this initiative, as well as support via ‘STAND’ in relation to substance abuse, and delivery of significant resource in the mental health arena, has gone some way toward enabling a lift in our overall health and wellbeing at the individual level and as a workforce.

And of course, we have still had sailors deployed away from home, serving the nation, in our ships, on partner navy ships, and on missions and operations on land and sea all around the world. To all you ship mates, and equally importantly to your family who sacrifice and support you in your service to the nation, thank you. Your contribution to New Zealand’s efforts in support of peace and prosperity is very much appreciated.

In closing, again, I thank you all for your sacrifice and great effort and results through 2019. From me and my family, to you and your family, I wish you compliments of the season and a happy New Year.

4 | Navy Today #239

There’s a buzz at a village in New Georgia Islands as the soldiers and sailors step off their landing craft and walk up the beach.

A Royal Solomon Island Police Officer makes the introductions, but everyone knows why the personnel are there. The villagers surround them, eager to help, eager to provide the answer to that one vital question: where are the bombs?

Last month, 21 New Zealand Defence Force personnel joined an Australian Defence Force-led operation, called Render Safe, to find and destroy World War II munitions on the Solomon Islands. The team included Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts and divers from HMNZS MATATAUA, headed by Senior National Officer and

clearance diver Lieutenant Shaun Heaslip.

Based off HMAS ADELAIDE, around 70 EOD personnel were split up into dedicated Areas of Operation. For LT Heaslip’s team, that included Kolombangara Island, famous as the site of the near-sinking of torpedoed cruiser HMNZS LEANDER in 1943.

New Zealand and Australia have been to the islands numerous times before, for a task that has years to go. The teams draw on their EOD training and what they have learnt from previous experience, tackling stockpiled or

Matataua clears the way in the solomons

Navy Today #239 | 5

Bomb disposal in the Solomons

unexploded shells and rounds from both Allied and Japanese stock. They could be lying benignly in the shallows of the bay, embedded in the ground with tree roots entangling them, or buried lethally close to village houses.

“It’s long, hot days,” says LT Heaslip. “Plus 30 degree heat, and over 80 per cent humidity. We’d arrive in a remote village and ask, have you got any bombs? They are really receptive, really quick to come forth. They want these things gone. It could be a 45-minute walk to find a munition, render it safe, and carry it back for disposal.”

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The ordnance might look like rusted and eroded junk, but the danger is real. “Stuff that’s been stockpiled, that was generally safe, but anything that had been fired and not functioned correctly, that’s not safe. Depending on the fuse, the internal workings could still be fine, and if exposed to certain movements…”

The locals seemed to know what bombs could be handled, and what couldn’t, although it was clear that tragedies had happened. “Every now and then you would come across someone with one arm. A lot of stuff they won’t touch, and they leave it to us, but then you find a garden has grown around it.” In one instance, a local villager ran into a house and brought out a 40mm high explosive projectile. “That was a surprise. From then on we would ask the locals if they had any in their homes.”

In another village, a small girl told the team she knew of some WWII ordnance three kilometres away. Her father had sent her to the village to find them. “The team set off, following the little girl into the jungle. To their surprise, they found a Japanese 70mm anti-aircraft gun position with three guns intact. Placed around the guns were three live 70mm high-explosive shells and one hand grenade.”

Navy Today #239 | 7

Bomb disposal in the Solomons

A lot of the ordnance had to be transferred to a safe spot. “You don’t know in what state the fuse is. But we’ve done this operation before, and it’s something we’re trained to do. We’ve got tools that can take the fuse clean off, so it can’t fire.” All the removed ordnance handled by the RNZN team was eventually blown up.

One day, after the team had disposed of several items, they had some hours to wait before pickup. “So we challenged the locals to a soccer game. It was a Saturday and all the kids were off school, so the word got out quickly, and all their mates arrived. It quickly became 100 local children versus nine members of the Navy team, so the teams were quickly split to even the numbers.”

LT Heaslip says there is years of work ahead in clearing WWII materiel. “It’s not just here. It’s Bouganville, PNG, it’s rife throughout the islands.” However, the forces disposed of 1059 items, a “great success”, he says.

“The locals have welcomed us everywhere we’ve worked and they’ve helped us locate some really interesting finds. Being challenged on a daily basis with different munitions and tricky working conditions is all worth it when we know the people we’ve met will be safer for it.”

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It takes a lot of “movement” to get 45 scientists and researchers – and four dogs – to the Subantarctic Islands.

HMNZS CANTERBURY’s annual visit to the World Heritage Sites of Auckland Islands and Campbell Island over November and December has been described as “unique” in terms of the contingent deployed this year.

The scope of the work, to resupply and undertake maintenance alongside the Department of Conservation and MetService, involved an Air Force NH90 and Navy Seasprite SH2-G(I) helicopters to help with the scale of the operation.

With the Navy providing the seaborne platform, RNZAF air crew and maintenance personnel were embarked as the air component, along with members of New Zealand Army’s

5 Movement Company to assist with the transfer of supplies between ship and shore.

It’s a mission the Navy takes seriously, says Commodore Tony Millar, Maritime Component Commander. “We’ve never embarked personnel from all three of our Services, the wider NZDF, and our government agency partners to the islands before, so this is an indication of the importance we have given this operation,” he said.

“New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands are a World Heritage Site, so ensuring they are pest and predator free and continuing to provide a rich and pristine environment is vital. They also act as a sort of early warning

canterbury backs resupply mission to subantarctic Islands

8 | Navy Today #239

Navy Today #239 | 9

system for New Zealand in terms of meteorological forecasting and oceanographic research.”

DOC expedition lead Kirsten Rodgers said the task was substantial. “The staff and dogs check the island to ensure it remains pest free, as well as undertaking important species monitoring work.’’

She says it is a privilege to work with Navy. “None of this work could be conducted without the assistance of NZDF personnel and helicopters – not to mention HMNZS CANTERBURY.”

“ New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands are a World Heritage Site, so ensuring they are pest and predator free and continuing to provide a rich and pristine environment is vital.”

Navy Today #239 | 9

Operation Endurance

10 | Navy Today #239

naVosH Team Member additions

Working to keep navy safe to fight

For new readers of Navy Today NAVOSH is the Naval Occupational Safety and Health Section and is tasked with the promotion of a healthy and safe working environment and the minimisation of injuries, occupational illnesses and environmental pollution across the naval system.

Gwynn rees – Maritime Safety Investigations Manager (MSIM)

Mr Rees has joined NAVOSH in the newly-established Maritime Safety Investigations Manager position. The MSIM role will help to mature current safety investigations and their management. This will in turn lead to further investigation growth and an optimisation in the promotion of operational safety and other lessons learnt.

The role fills a key opportunity to support both the NZDF and the RNZN to obtain further gains in operational safety and capability.

Mr Rees has an extensive Safety, Security and maritime experience, obtained from working at a number of Ports both internationally and within New Zealand. He has developed a strong network and skillset through managing a large family, coaching a college rugby team, playing in a Ukulele Band and sailing yachts within the Hauraki Gulf.

adi storey – Safety Data Coordinator (SDC)

Adi Storey has moved to NAVOSH recently from DSSG and takes on the role of the Safety Data Coordinator SDC. She has recently completed her Health & Safety Rep Initial Training. The Safety Data Coordinator supports NAVOSH and other units with the provision of safety data, analysis and reports.

chief petty officer Medic Jo Dixon – Fleet Operational Safety Officer (FOSO)

CPOMED Jo Dixon is the most recent addition to NAVOSH, taking over the FOSO role from WOWT Nick Rowe. The FOSO assists Naval Force elements to develop, maintain and increase operational capability through the application of safety standards and procedures. The FOSO also supports the Maritime Operational Evaluation Team (MOET) and Chief of Staff CFOS for such purposes as Safety and Readiness Check SARC(S), Command Inquiry, Court of Enquiry COI, Audit, the Exercise Safety Officer and operational evaluation.

CPOMED Dixon joined the RNZN in 2000 as an Ordinary Medical Assistant and worked in trade for 10 years. She has enjoyed postings to

HMNZ Ships CANTERBURY (F421), RESOLUTION and CANTERBURY (L421) as well as various roles at the Naval Health Unit. More recently she has worked in Defence Careers as a Recruiter in both the Auckland and Nelson regions.

This article is an update on recent team member and establishment changes in NAVOSH since the NAVOSH team introduction in Navy Today March 2018 (Issue 218).

Unit location

The NAVOSH team is now located in the William Sanders Building on The Promenade near the PHILOMEL Management Office. The team look forward to meeting you in the Fleet or please feel free to pop in and have a chat with us if you have any health and safety questions.

Contact

NAVOSH can be contacted by telephone and email, the main contact details are:

[email protected] or 09 445 5614

After Hours – 021 241 8480

Above: From left, Adi Storey, CPOMED Jo Dixon and Gwynn Rees.

Navy Today #239 | 11

Training for warfare

Becoming a

Warfare officer

Warfare Officers ‘drive’ and command the warships. They work on the ship’s bridge, control the ship’s manoeuvring, are responsible for the safe passage and navigation of the ship at sea, and manage the bridge staff. What does it take to become a warfare officer?

Year 1:Junior officer common Training (JocT)

Duration: 16 weeks

All Naval Officers must complete this course before they can advance. The course aims to introduce the basic level of military skills required for a career in the Defence force.

Basic officer of the Watch (ooW(B)) course

Duration: 16–20 weeks

Learn the basic principles and processes of navigation and bridge watchkeeping, with classroom, bridge simulator work and time at sea on an Inshore Patrol Vessel. This course is considered the “litmus test” for an officer’s future potential as a Warfare Officer.

Year 2:continuation training at sea

Post to a ship for approximately one year for development and platform endorsement, learning duties and responsibilities that are expected of a Junior Officer.

Year 3:Diploma in nautical science bridging course

Duration: 12 weeks

This course bridges the gap between RNZN training and the training required to achieve a Diploma in Nautical Science Level 6 qualification.

Bridge Warfare officer (BWo) course

Duration: 28 weeks

Learn advanced principles of navigation, including flying operations, celestial navigation and the principles of warfare. Receive the Officer of the Watch (Warfare) qualification on completion.

other qualifications:

Divisional Management course

Incident Managers Damage Control Course

Lead Leaders Course

Year 4:Post to sea and continue to consolidate skills as a watchkeeper, passing on knowledge to trainees. Start exploring opportunities to specialise within the warfare trade, such as: Navigating Officer, Principal Warfare Officer, Pilot, Observer, Mine Clearance Diver, Meteorologist or a Hydrographic Officer.



Lieutenant Emily Keat wanted to be a pilot as a youngster – now she is happy on a different path as a fully trained Warfare Officer and serving as the Executive Officer in HMNZS WELLINGTON.

“I may have wanted to fly them, but instead I get to control helicopter launching and recovery off ships. It’s been great fun,” she says.

Next she has her sights set on a Principal Warfare Officer course.

LT Keat, now 24 years old, is from Trentham and attended Heretaunga College in Upper Hutt where she had a good academic record, but wasn’t convinced that university was right for her.

“Like a lot of New Zealanders, I have a family history of relatives serving in the military so it was no surprise that I joined the Navy, and I’m glad that I did.”

She joined the Navy as a Warfare Officer in 2013 and did her Officer of the Watch courses, learning the basics of how to drive a ship. As a reward for a top performance in her Navigation class, she was soon at sea – on a navigation trip to Antarctica with the crew of HMNZS OTAGO.

“We had a great time – we got onto the Antarctic Continent and visited Shackleton’s Hut and had a couple of hours to explore the area,” says LT Keat.

Over the next few years she completed more courses and was able to consolidate her training with postings on board ships.

In mid-2015 she was given the opportunity to do the Junior Warfare Application Course at HMAS WATSON in Sydney and had what she described as “an awesome experience”.

After graduation, LT Keat served in the flagship of the Australian Navy, HMAS CANBERRA, including “driving the ship to Hawaii for Exercise RIMPAC” with 1200 personnel on board and being in charge of launching and landing up to six helicopters at once, and amphibious landing craft all at the same time.

“In 2017, I was the Operations Officer in HMNZS ENDEAVOUR as an Acting Lieutenant for Op Crucible, and helped programme and plan the deployment where we were joined by HMNZS TE MANA and HMNZS TE KAHA,”

she says. “It was a huge learning curve going from a junior officer to Operations Officer, but a highlight of my career for sure!”

Her toughest role so far is her present role as Executive Officer on board HMNZS WELLINGTON, with a busy programme that has seen the ship achieve a lot in a short space of time.

Her advice to anyone considering a Navy career as a Warfare Officer would be you cannot base your career plan off anyone else's.

“If you got a group of 20 Warfare Officers in a room, they would all have a different path - the career is so diverse,” she says. “You have to be very flexible and good at coping with change – you can’t plan too far ahead.

“That also makes it exciting– you might not know what you are doing in a week’s time,” says LT Keat.

In the executive chair

By suzi phillips Senior Communications Advisor


Sub Lieutenant Cameron Jamieson joined the Navy four years ago straight out of Upper Hutt College to become a Warfare Officer.

After training for a year, he experienced a three-month posting in RSS ENDURANCE in the South China Sea with the Royal Singapore Navy.

“An Officer of the Watch runs everything from the ship’s bridge - including safety of navigation, launching boats, launching flying elements and day-to-day operations of the ship,” he says.

“You are also in charge of the execution of navigation as the Captain’s delegate. It was a very busy time on watch around South East Asia and the highlight of my career so far.”

After Junior Officer Common Training, SLT Jamieson began his Officer of the Watch training which involves three courses (basic, advanced and warfare). These involved six months spent on Inshore Patrol Vessels, and two months in HMNZS CANTERBURY.

For his Junior Warfare Application Course, SLT Jamieson spent seven months based in Sydney at HMAS WATSON, the Australian Navy’s warfare training centre.

“WATSON was a great place to be based and it was an intensive course with 24 assessments to pass in the bridge simulator – each one a typical watch at sea, stepped up each time with more warfare

elements introduced to complicate the scenario,” he says.

That was the highest qualification for an Officer of the Watch.

He returned to New Zealand and was posted in HMNZS WELLINGTON in mid-2018 as a boarding officer for offshore fisheries patrols, working with Ministry for Primary Industries and leading the boarding teams.

By January this year, he was on board HMAS SUCCESS for a trip from Sydney to Perth for a sea-going submarine searching exercise with the United States Navy, followed by a South East Asia deployment.

“When I was in my final year at Upper Hutt College, I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a career,” he says. “My stepbrother was a Leading Marine Technician in the Navy and he suggested I give it a go as a Warfare Officer, and that’s what I did.”

“Probably the hardest aspect of the job is the time spent away from home, your partner and family,” says SLT Jamieson. “It can be quite challenging, often going away at short notice, sometimes with only a day’s notice.”

Despite that, he says it’s an amazing job to get straight out of college with on-the-job training and lots of travel.

“The travel is amazing, but the downfall was that you don’t have any formal civilian qualifications at the end of it. Now they are proposing a new scheme where we will get a National Diploma in Nautical Science.”

Now 22 years old, SLT Jamieson is looking forward to a posting as commissioning crew of the new Australian Naval tanker HMAS SUPPLY next year and then hopes to join the New Zealand’s new tanker, AOTEAROA.

success In Warfare

By suzi phillips Senior Communications Advisor

Training in warfare



Navy officers train in warfare principles day in and day out, but there is nothing quite like working with real assets to put into perspective just how challenging, and awesome, a warfare officer’s job is.That’s according to Lieutenant Trent Nancekivell, HMNZS TE KAHA’s Principal Warfare Officer. He was part of the Royal New Zealand Navy contribution to the Battle Staff to command Maritime Task Group 657.1, as part of Exercise Bersama Lima 19 on the eastern seaboard of Malaysia last month.

LT Nancekivell joined Lieutenant Commander Matt Kaio and Commander Brock Symmons, HMNZS TE KAHA’s Commanding Officer. The team also had a Chief of Staff from the Royal Malaysian Navy, and Battle Watch Captains from the Singaporean and Royal Australian Navy.

Based out of Royal Malaysian Airbase Butterworth in Penang, the team had to plan and execute a two-week sea phase to mould ships KD LEKIU and KASTURI from Malaysia, RSS PERSISTENCE, VALOUR, and

VIGOUR from Singapore, and HMAS SIRIUS from Australia, into an effective task group.

“The maritime task group then proceeded to Kuantan where we delved into the depths of the maritime plan. It was reassuring to witness the similarity in our procedures and the naturally-aligned thought process of our partners during this period.” As they planned, a multitude of fast jets and aircraft touched down, ready to go to battle.

The task group had to get used to operating together, so the battle staff embarked on RSS PERSISTENCE to direct the Combat Essential Training/Force Integration Training (CET/FIT) phase of the exercise. “During this phase the aim was to build the trust and confidence of the new task group working together and to generate combat capability in support of the overarching mission as part of Bersama Lima.”

After anchoring at Tioman Island, the staff debriefed and moved into the War Exercise (WAREX) phase. With the assets split into opposing Red and Blue forces, both sides were tasked with plotting the destruction of the other.

“As Commander Blue Force, we came up with a cunning plan. We fused traditional and modern warfare techniques to exploit the natural and traffic environments to cause the enemy to second-guess our intentions. We only had three ships – one Mission Essential Unit (MEU) – PERSISTENCE, one corvette and one general-purpose frigate. We detached the frigate to conduct a restricted Emission

exercIse BersaMa lIMa:

A BATTLEWATCH CAPTAIN’S EXPERIENCE

Control patrol to the far north while PERSISTENCE and the corvette escort made a deliberately visible transit to the south.”

With the enemy forces distracted, Blue’s frigate got behind Red Force and “caused mayhem”, says LT Nancekivell. That allowed PERSISTENCE to manoeuvre and deliver her land and mine countermeasure elements, successfully achieving the mission.

“It was really cool to be involved in such a dynamic exercise where the assets that we rarely get to play with were available in abundance. The other awesome thing was the ability to just give things a crack. We could come up with a plan that was a bit different, get the units to buy into it, and then execute it and see how it went.”

He would encourage any warfare officer to grab these opportunities and have a go, “in an environment where you get to make plans and see them put into effect. There’s no better place to learn”!

Members of the Maritime Task Group 657.1 during Exercise Bersama Lima 19.



By asCs Joanna Brown

Op Antarctica

I never thought I’d call -20 degrees a warm day at work, but in just a month’s time in Antarctica my perspective of a good day has drastically changed. This year I was privileged to get the confirmation that I was going to Scott Base, Antarctica to be part of the NZDF team supporting Antarctica NZ. As a small tri-service team of nine we are working in Antarctica for five months in various positions to keep Scott Base running for the summer season.

My journey started in Christchurch as we conducted pre-deployment training at Antarctica NZ, Fire Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) – Woolston Fire Station and Burnham Military Camp. I then loaded onto the Airbus and amazingly with no delays flew in to my new home. The views were breath-taking as we flew over the ice. We were warmly welcomed by the winterers, took many photos, piled into the vehicles and headed for the “only green thing in Antarctica”, Scott Base.

My role here is a Communications Operator. I work in a team of four working closely with the Scott Base leadership team to ensure the safety of our teams in the field. My job includes keeping radio communication with anyone off base – knowing their locations and return times, monitoring helicopter and fixed wing operations, supplying relevant weather reports, and various other bits of administration. We work eight-hour rotating shifts.

The coldest Mission

Before we can venture out anywhere we all have to complete the Antarctica Field Training. We all learnt how to build snow shelters and we camped out in -35 degrees – next to an active volcano. In between shifts I have already had the opportunity to go to two historic huts, walk the pressure ridges – which are home to multiple seals and their pups – explore ice caves, and visit McMurdo Base.

On base we live in rooms of two and get three cooked meals a day, plus morning and afternoon tea. In our time off, Scott Base has many recreational activities to choose from, a shop, and various themed events. Scott Base is a home to people from all around the world and supports many scientific events every year. My first month on ice has been epic and I look forward to the rest of this adventure.



HMNZS MANAWANUI

ManawanuiManoeuvres

HMNZS MANAWANUI can fit in the Calliope Dry Dock – but only just.

Engineering staff picked the best of the tides to bring MANAWANUI into the dry dock last month for a maintenance evolution. Keith Gilchrist, Ministry of Defence Acquisition Lead for the Dive Hydrographic Vessel Project, reckoned there was about a metre either side of the entrance to the dock, and about a metre between the floor of the dry dock and the sonar bulb.

“We had the best tide, and it was the right time of the year,” he said. “The ability to dock the ship at the dry dock is ideal, it provides the Navy with the flexibility to dock MANAWANUI throughout her service life.”

The docking allowed engineering staff views of the equipment that makes MANAWANUI the most manoeuvrable ship in the fleet. Instead of the conventional shaft, propeller and rudder system, she has azimuthing thrusters down aft and tunnel thrusters up forward. These are controlled by a Dynamic Positioning system that allows the ship to manoeuvre in any direction the crew require.

Mr Gilchrist says the ship is nearing the end of its modification work at Devonport. “This docking proves a significant aspect of its integration with the shore support facilities.”

Among HMNZS MANAWANUI’s first significant outings will be a shakedown voyage to Napier in February to participate in the Art Deco Festival.

model ships moUld minds

With no traditional “steering wheel” or helm, HMNZS MANAWANUI is manoeuvred by manually controlling the direction and power of each thruster independently. This method is very intuitive for the operator and renders the standard method of driving the ship ineffective for Naval operations. A solution to this challenge is to train and have the Officers of the Watch (Warfare Officers) manually conduct much of the hands-on “driving” or manoeuvring of the ship themselves.

The bridge team of HMNZS MANAWANUI grappled with the principles of ship manoeuvring over a week at the Port Ash Ship Handling facility in Newcastle, Australia, last month. Port Ash utilises scaled-down models of ships with accurate hydrodynamics, which enables an exaggerated effect of how a ship handles and interacts with its surroundings.


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1. WOSCS Henry Matangi (left) and CPOMAA Trevor Smith greet Prince Charles at Government House in Auckland.

2. Left, WOCSS Cory King (HMNZS TE MANA Command Warrant Officer) CDR Mike Peebles (CO TE MANA), with recipients of the New Zealand Service Medal: ALSS Tyler Gray (TE KAHA), AET Won Jun Lee (TE MANA) and ALSS Kerimay Malcolm (TE MANA).

3. LSCS Sloan Paniani takes part in a ship’s tour of AOTEAROA in Ulsan, South Korea.

4. Chief of Navy RADM David Proctor, with WOET Te Kani Te Wiata, is welcomed onto Raketapauma marae by Ngāti Rangi as part of the vesting and gifting back ceremony of the Irirangi Communications facility to Ngati Rangi.

5. HMNZS WAKEFIELD staff and friends compete in Wellington’s Corporate Challenge 5km fun run.

6. HMNZS MANAWANUI Movember Winners AMT Cole Rumsey and LTCDR Cam Field.

7. The wardroom of HMNZS HAWEA, taken in the Bay of Islands during Officer of the Watch (Basic) training, while the ship was at anchor.

8. The midshipmen of JOCT 19/02 on Exercise Storm aboard tall ship Spirit of New Zealand.

9. Navy sailors ALSS Anita Berry, AWTR Taiwa Tamaki, MID Kate Williams and ACH Caroline Sio, as part of the successful NZDF Womens Sevens Rugby Team.

10. Contractors and ship’s company pose in front of HMNZS MANAWANUI at Devonport’s dry dock.

11. Brendon Oakley is promoted to Captain, with his twin daughters, doing the rank slide change.

our people

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A young visitor to HMNZS WELLINGTON has researched the meaning behind a ship’s coin – and says she’ll treasure hers forever.

The Commanding Officer received a thank-you letter from Lauren Cooper last month, complete with a sketch of the ship’s heraldic badge, taken from the coin she was gifted. Lauren was travelling the world on a family yacht, which happened to be berthed at Opua, near WELLINGTON. The ship was in town for Waitangi Day support and Lauren approached the ship to ask about the flags being flown.

The Officer of the Day, Sub Lieutenant Jack Walters, explained the flags, and could see Lauren was excited about the warship. So he invited her on board for a tour. She then met the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Tim Hall. The pair exchanged sea stories, which included a tale of how Lauren was once ship-wrecked in the Pacific. At the end Lauren was presented with a Ship’s coin.

In the letter, written from New Caledonia, Lauren expresses her gratitude for the day and the realisation of what the coin means.

“I am so very grateful to have had the opportunity to board HMNZS Wellington and to have met the Captain. On receiving the Navy coin, I didn’t have any understanding of value, or what it meant, until I did a

a special Connection

little research. And I must say, I cannot express how thankful I am to have been given this treasure. I will keep it for the rest of my life.”

A Ship’s coin is a medallion that bears the badge, name and motto of the ship. They are a type of ‘challenge coin’, which traditionally were produced when challenged to prove you belonged to a unit or organisation. Today they are presented by commanders as a thank you for good service to a ship, or as a comment on a person’s skills, integrity or good character.


At 0618 on 13 December 1939, cruisers HMS AJAX, EXETER and ACHILLES (the last of which was from the New Zealand Division) took on the German armoured cruiser KMS ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE, off the mouth of the River Plate close to the coast of Uruguay in South America.

Following the declaration of war in September 1939, GRAF SPEE had been attacking merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean and off the coast of South Africa but the search for her had stepped up considerably when it was learned she was heading towards South America and, possibly, the River Plate estuary – the most congested part of the South Atlantic shipping routes where she could inflict the greatest losses.

The South American Cruiser Squadron of the Royal Navy was under the command of Commodore Henry Harwood and comprised CUMBERLAND (under repair in the Falkland Islands) EXETER, AJAX and ACHILLES. ACHILLES was captained by William Parry RN and had a total complement of 567, of which five officers and 316 ratings were New Zealanders.

At 0530 on the 13th, smoke was sighted on the horizon and the GRAF SPEE was positively identified. A fierce battle ensued. AJAX and ACHILLES each mounted eight 6-inch guns while EXETER had six 8-inch guns. GRAF SPEE, known as a 'pocket battleship', was armed with six 11-inch and eight 5.9-inch guns. The British ships, however, had a four knot speed advantage but the German ship had a longer range with her guns.

Commodore Henry Harwood split his ships, ACHILLES and AJAX attacking from one side and EXETER from the other. This divided the fire of GRAF SPEE, which concentrated on the more heavily armed EXETER, causing major damage and heavy casualties. ACHILLES and AJAX were also damaged.

Although not seriously damaged, GRAF SPEE's inferior speed meant that she could not escape and later in the day she entered the neutral port of Montevideo. While in port, her captain, Hans Langsdorff, was given the directive that a break-out from the port was authorised, but that he was not to allow the ship to be interned.

80TH ANNIVERSARY

Four days after the battle GRAF SPEE left the harbour and was scuttled by her crew, who were then interned in Argentina. Langsdorff’s reasoning is not known, but one of his crew quotes him as saying "To me a thousand young men alive are worth more than a thousand dead heroes". Following the scuttling Captain Langsdorff laid down on the GRAF SPEE's battle ensign in his hotel room in Buenos Aires and shot himself.

During the battle, 61 sailors lost their lives on EXETER, seven on AJAX and four on ACHILLES. The deaths on ACHILLES were caused by shrapnel when an 11-inch shell fired from GRAF SPEE fell short and exploded on hitting the water. The four dead were buried at sea at 1000 the following day. In a tragic postscript, two of the bodies were washed ashore and subsequently re-interred at the Buceo British Cemetery in Montevideo.

By michael Wynd



Our ‘closest’ neighbour to the east, Chile, is a vast 10,000km away, but we’re close when it comes to common interests at sea.

Commodore Mat Williams, Deputy Chief of Navy, with Commander Andrew Law, visited Chile recently for Navy Bilateral Talks, as well as visits to the Chilean Naval Academy, the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Centre (including the National Tsunami Warning Centre), the Chilean Marine Corps, and to ships of the Chilean Fleet.

“Our navies have much in common,” says CDR Law. “We share common interests in the South Pacific and Antarctica, and our Search and Rescue regions border with each other.” The Chilean Navy have plans to upgrade their frigates and are watching the RNZN’s Frigate System Upgrade with strong interest. Chile is also taking delivery of an ice-capable resupply vessel, paralleling the construction of AOTEAROA in Korea.

Greater cooperation with chile

CDRE Mat Williams, DCN, is welcomed onboard the Chilean Navy’s surface fleet flagship ALMIRANTE WILLIAMS (FF-19).

RNZN officers already attend the Chilean Navy’s Antarctic Operations Course, and the possibility of greater cooperation in Antarctica was welcomed, says CDR Law.

“The Chilean Navy are also interested in the amphibious capabilities of the NZDF, and there are opportunities for the Chilean Marine Corps to engage with the NZ Army. And noting the similarities in coastlines, both navies expressed an interest in better understanding each other’s hydrographic capabilities.

“As result of the talks, a number of opportunities were identified for future engagement, including short-term personnel exchanges and professional interactions. The future relationship with our neighbours to the east looks set to grow, and we can expect to see Chilean Navy sailors around Devonport on a more regular basis in the future.”


capability realignment

Capability Review

Making sure the right tools are available to the right people at the right time and to the right standard is the driver behind a Capability Branch realignment.

Assistant Chief of Defence Capability, Air Commodore Darryn Webb, says the realignment has been nearly two years in the making and will be in place early next year. Staff numbers will stay about the same but the structure is changing to become domain-based.

Key features of the new organisational design are:

• Alignment to our traditional three domains: maritime, land and aerospace as well as the inclusion of a fourth domain, ‘information’, led by directors who have end-to-end responsibility.

• Improved capacity to effectively engage with single Services and other stakeholders, manage finances and undertake performance and reporting analysis work.

• Strengthening our ability to make the best investment choices across the entire portfolio.

• An enhanced Programme Management Office with sufficient capacity to support the vast number of project activities across all domains.

By sharon lundy Team Leader Communications

“We’re very conscious that the primary purpose of the Branch is to deliver capabilities to the Services, to the men and women of the Defence Force, through the Capability Owners, who are the Service chiefs,” AIRCDRE Webb said.

“So that’s what’s been in the front of my mind all the way through – how do we better support those capability owners and line up all aspects of capability, from the early thinking in the definition phase, through the procurement and delivery phase, and then critically, introduced into Service.”

Capability Branch is responsible for spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year and has 200-plus projects on the go at any one time. While each project is important in its own right, managing the entire portfolio is a vital part of optimising the very scarce resources assigned to Defence.

That meant balancing competing demands, and making a call on what and who was needed most at any one time across the portfolio so priorities were hit most effectively, AIRCDRE Webb said.

“Ultimately it’s about ensuring our men and women are able to safely and effectively do what’s asked of them on operations. That really sits behind the realignment. That’s the heart of it.”

“ We’re strengthening and improving that journey, from start to finish.”

From left, Mr Pete Hanrahan, COL Karyn Thompson, AIRCDRE Darryn Webb, CAPT Karl Woodhead RNZN, GPCAPT Leanne Woon.



A psychologist who wanted to do more for military personnel in arduous parts of the world has trained as a naval officer to earn the right to deploy.

Lieutenant Commander Juliet Battersby has been a civilian psychologist with the New Zealand Defence Force since 2012. She took on 16 weeks of officer training last year because she wanted to be a psychologist that could support NZDF personnel anywhere in the world.

“I wanted to be deployed,” she says. “I wanted to be ready to go wherever our people are - the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands. It’s a goal I really wanted, as well as career development.”

She trained as a midshipman at Devonport Naval Base during the second half of 2018. She says she didn’t dole out professional advice to her comrades, but at 36 she was the oldest female and occasionally took on the role of “mum” when needed.

After four weeks' training she was able to go home at weekends. “At the time, my daughter was four, turning five, and my son was two, turning three. We told them I was going to ‘Navy School’.”

She loved the training, she says. “Someone told me, training is a great equaliser, and it is. There were some tough bits, like pushing a four-wheel

drive truck up a hill. And there was a day when my husband’s and daughter’s birthday was on the same day, and I knew that was going to be the hardest thing. My family understood, absolutely. The training staff are hugely supportive, and that made things manageable.”

After graduating, and receiving an automatic promotion to Acting Lieutenant because of her qualifications, she went back to her original job as the Head of Navy Psychology. She travels to Navy, Air Force and Army bases in New Zealand, but now also heads overseas on missions. This year she has deployed to the Middle East twice. As a naval officer, she and her Navy Psychology team provide ongoing support to Navy shore units and ships.

“A lot of what I do is support. Missing family is a big part of what people struggle with when they’re away from home. People can struggle with re-integrating, going from a deployment-based mindset back into normal life. And occasionally you deal with critical incidents.”

She undertakes research with Navy recruits, looking at ways to build resilience in sailors. “For a lot of our younger recruits, military training is the first time they have ever been challenged. It can be a really steep learning curve and it’s our role to support them to learn and adapt.”

Lieutenant Commander Battersby took up undergraduate study and completed a masters in psychology at Massey University in Palmerston North and Wellington after finishing at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School in Karori.

“For me it was a genuine curiosity about people. The idea of being able to work with people to understand all their unique strengths, limitations, and experiences seemed like such a privilege, and it is.”

navy psychologist keen to support missions overseas

By andrew Bonallack Editor


Self-reflection

Helping our people develop their ability to bounce back from challenges is a core role of NZDF Psychologists. This year the Navy Psychology team have been working with the Junior Officer Common Training (JOCT) intake to develop this ability through a new initiative called guided self-reflection. The initiative is based on research done by Macquarie University in Sydney with the Australian Royal Military College.

In the NZDF all recruits and junior officers are given important skills and tools as part of the Hardiness package of the NZDF Resilience Framework. Guided self-reflection builds on these initial skills by helping personnel understand what tools have or haven’t worked for them during physically and mentally challenging situations.

The latest research into resilience suggests that people who are mentally well and high performing

(the majority of our personnel) tend to have good strategies, whether they are those learned in the Hardiness package, or through their own experience. For most people the process of developing these strategies happens over a lifetime. In a military context we need our personnel to develop these skills at the start of their careers and often over a short time frame. We now know the process of developing resilience can be sped up by actively reflecting back on our actions and responses to situations using a series of guided questions.

For JOCT 19/01 the opportunity to learn this skill was seen as hugely beneficial. With one Midshipman saying, “I found self-reflection useful as I could reflect on strategies to manage stress and over the 16 weeks it became very easy to find the ways I work mentally to avoid that stress.

“It was also useful to see how much my resilience has grown over that time”.

Another Midshipman noted that it “was also useful to look at stressful situations objectively (in terms of behavioural, emotional, mental and physiological responses) and to reflect on how I did (or more commonly didn't) respond to the situation, and come up with solutions to improve the reaction if a similar stressful situation occurred”.

Guided self-reflection is now being piloted with BCT 19/02, and is being used on RNZAF Initial Officer Training. If you are interested in learning more about a six-week guided self-reflection programme to develop your own performance under pressure, or that of your unit, please contact the Navy Psychology Team.

Building resilience through self-reflection

By ltCdR Juliet Battersby



M o T U I H e I s l a n D

Jack Donnelly was a Seaman Boy when he arrived at Auckland’s Motuihe Island – “The Rock” – on 11 May 1960. His story echoes thousands of trainee sailors who will be honoured at the former HMNZS TAMAKI base during a reunion in February.

Surviving ‘The Rock’

Fifty-six years ago, HMNZS TAMAKI training establishment on Te Motu-ā-ihenga – Motuihe Island – was decommissioned, ending its twenty-two-year history. It is estimated that over 15,000 men were trained on the island.

“My first impression as I stepped onto of this idyllic island in the middle of the Hauraki Gulf was one of beauty, isolation, uncertainty and you could almost ‘smell’ its historical traditions,” says former Gunnery Instructor Jack Donnelly. He was 15 years old. Ahead of him was 12 months in an establishment steeped in Royal Navy traditions and instructional techniques. Many of the staff were World War II veterans, known for being staunch disciplinarians. He remembers the first night on the island in the dormitories, and the muffled sounds of sobs and crying.

On the parade ground, the barked orders of Petty Officer Gunnery Instructor Jack Baigent put the fear

of God in every young sailor. “He stood there like a colossus, a tall man, straight as a dye, with piercing green eyes, which were the only part of his body to move as he surveyed the trainees on parade for the first time.”

Mr Donnelly remembers ‘Jock’ Kerr, a huge, red-faced Scotsman who was in charge of the kitchen. “Every meal time Jock would stand there with his large wooden spoon at the ready, and standby if you took just one tiny additional piece of food. Wham! Down on your hand it would come. His favourite saying at every meal was, ‘Eat it and beat it, you Bums’”.

There was Padre Harry Taylor, a celebrated World War II veteran. “Our father figure, best friend, mentor, a great teller of stories, and rugby coach.”

Mr Donnelly was selected as a Captain’s ‘house boy’, which came with privileges. “My main duties were to polish the Captain’s shoes daily,



Our History


shine up his medals before a parade, sweep up the leaves, clean out the shed, paths and then it was time for a ‘cuppa’ and biscuit with the Captain and his wife. Commander Bardwell was a very kind and compassionate man.”

Among Mr Donnelly’s circle, stories vary on whether the training was hard but fair, or cruel and harsh. “All would agree that it turned us from boys into men in a matter of months.”

There was the famous 150-metre steep hill called Gentle Annie, the “punishing ground” where trainees carried their hammocks, rifles, projectiles or large steel buckets of sand while “frog hopping” up and down. “The blood, sweat and tears that were left on that hill will be forever engrained in the minds of all those who trained and survived on the island.”

Naval punishment was at that time quite severe, he says. “The ‘No. 9’ punishment was the most used to deter trainees. It was stoppage of leave, being woken at 0500 for one-hour rifle drill doubling around the

‘bull-ring’ (parade ground) followed by one hour working in the galley every morning seven days of the week. This routine was repeated again at night.” When things were this hard, being on an island increased the sense of isolation. “At times you wondered if you were forgotten by the world.”

But it was not a complete horror story, he says. “The annual Instructors vs Trainees rugby match was just a huge ‘punch up’, giving the trainees the opportunity to “hang one” on an instructor. We had a movie every Sunday. There was cheap duty-free tobacco and every Sunday throughout the summer months we had “Free to Roam” which meant that for five hours (1100–1600) we could go anywhere on the island.” The trainees would wait in anticipation for the ferries from Auckland, full of women keen on meeting young sailors. “Many an acquaintance, romance, or dating which led to engagements and even marriages came to fruition from these visits to the island.”

The 48th Seaman Boys Class. Jack Donnelly is 3rd from left in the rear.




He says the other option was to get older-looking trainees to buy flagons of wine, or ‘snibbos’, a sailor’s term for rough red wine. “We’d then congregate in Victoria Park or under the Grafton Bridge.”

Then it was back on board the TAMAKI Motor Launches, worse for wear, for the dreaded 40-minute trip back to the island.

The duty Petty Officer had no sympathy for alcohol and seasickness. He rubbed his hands in anticipation as the boat pulled up. “Get fallen in, you horrible lot, double march!” Up the hill they went, for an hour or more, in their number one uniforms. The relief of crawling into the hammocks, sweating and exhausted, was enormous, says Mr Donnelly. “There were times when we would be woken again in the early hours of the morning and it was back down the hill.”

They learnt a lot about themselves, he says. “The training we received and values such as discipline, team-work, leadership and self-preservation set us up for life.”

Those who graduated were relieved to have survived the challenges and tough training environment. “Most of us knew that we would never return to the island. That is why this reunion, after almost 60 years, is so important to those of us who will return. We take with us the wairua (spirits) of those who have “Crossed the Bar” and many a tear will be shed for them. To see, meet and hear from former matelots and friends who were there will be the highlight of this reunion.”

Liberty was also permitted for trainees to go to Auckland for a few hours in the weekend. “Many a trainee would get a tattoo from the renowned Auckland tattooist, ‘Tiger’ Mitchell. The punishment was 14 days number 9’s.”

Unsurprisingly, drinking was a sought-after release in the Auckland bars and pubs, even at 15 or 16 years old. Sailors would rush to consume as much alcohol as they could before the six o’clock swill ended. “It was a time when there were generally no bouncers or doormen to check ID. Between 4pm and 6pm the public bars were full to the brim, so it was easy to walk in and be part of the crowd. Sailors in uniform generally arrived in numbers and were accepted by most of the pubs.”

The Gleesons Family Hotel was a supporter of the Navy and operated ‘after-hours’ drinking on Sundays. “Three knocks on the rear entrance and if you were in uniform, you were in.”

reUnIon

14–16 February 2020

For more information see www.therockreunion.org



Taekwondo

Taekwondo champion joins the navy

By suzi phillips Senior Communications Adviser


A strong family environment in the Royal New Zealand Navy and support for sports attracted East Coast Taekwondo champion, Tiahuia Turei, to join.

Ordinary Writer Turei, aged 20, is from Rangitukia, a small Maori community about 150km north of Gisborne where she lived until joining the Navy in July to complete her Basic Common Training course.

“I opted for the Navy because I had heard from my ex-Navy Taekwondo instructor that it was a good family environment. She said the Navy also had a good strong community of Maori and Pacific people, and coming from a small Maori community, that was appealing.

“I was also attracted by the Navy’s willingness to help by giving me time to train for tournaments that are coming up – allowing me time in the gym and working around my branch training”, she says.

From the age of 14, OWTR Turei has trained in Taekwondo at her uncle John Grace’s Tikitiki/Ruatoria Taekwondo Club at the Rahui Marae in nearby Tikitiki.

“What I like about Taekwondo fighting is that the sport focuses on kicking techniques to the body and head while making sure that flexibility, power and speed are all being used,” says OWTR Turei. “And my best kicks are a hammer kick to the head, roundhouse kick and back kicks.”

After failing her first military admission attempt in 2017, OWTR Turei travelled to Gisborne to take a 17-week careers preparation programme for joining the military that was run at Tairawhiti Polytechnic, and was focussed on the academic and physical side of the military.

She followed that up with a Level 4 Fitness course, and passed her second admission, choosing to serve in the Navy.

OWTR Turei is a Senior Female Black Belt in Taekwondo and has many gold medals and trophies from regionals and North and South Island competitions.

Last year she won the Best Female Black Belt trophy at a Gisborne Taekwondo tournament, and at her local club she was Most Outstanding Student, three years in a row.

Her goal is to make the New Zealand squad to travel to the World Taekwondo Championships in Korea in 2020.

“While on BCT my instructors have allowed me to train on Base at the gym three times each week and also attend a tournament,” says OWTR Turei. “One of the reasons I joined the Navy was because they will support me in my sport. If I do really well I will be able to travel overseas and take up other attractive opportunities. I’d also like to join the Navy’s Maori Cultural and Kapa Haka group on Base.”


Able Writer Sheridan Wills is the NZDF Individual Sportsperson of the Year, the first time a male netballer has taken the award.

AWTR Wills has represented New Zealand, Waikato, NZDF and the Navy in netball in the past year, and has been selected for the NZ open men’s World Cup squad for the 2020 World Cup in Perth.

He said he tried to lead by example both on and off the court and hoped his being awarded the title would help grow the sport.

“I hope it encourages others to play as the more people we have, the better it is for netball as a whole.

“Mixed and men’s netball is not a very recognised sport in the Defence Force, so I hope this helps grow the sport.”

The Sports Team of the Year Award went to the NZDF Women’s Rugby Team, which won the 2018 Pacific Military Sevens Cup, the 2019 NZDF v ADF Fairweather/Jones 15s Cup and beat North Harbour in their build-up to the latter.

netballer takes a first

By sharon Crosby Senior Communications Adviser

“ Mixed and men’s netball is not a very recognised sport in the Defence Force, so I hope this helps grow the sport.”

– AWTR Sheridan Wills leading administrator



Sports Awards

lstd deena-ranginui puketapu

Leading Steward Deena-ranginui Puketapu is the NZDF Sport Committee’s Nominee for Person of the Year.

The nomination capped off a huge year for LSTD Puketapu, and one which has involved a lot of hard work and effort: she was a member of the NZ Open Mixed Touch Blacks World Cup silver medal-winning team, was offered a contract to play rugby sevens in Japan, is in the NRL Warriors touch squad, the winning Auckland Women’s touch team and has represented the Navy and the NZDF in netball, basketball and touch.

The talented sportswoman has some words of advice for young people: Never let anyone tell you’re not good enough and always strive for excellence.

LSTD Puketapu should know; at 161 cm tall she was constantly told growing up she wasn’t tall enough to play basketball yet she went on to represent New Zealand in the sport she considers her first love.

She said she had focused on her career and her sport this year.

“I wanted to excel in it and give back to the Navy, because of how much they’ve given me.

“I’ve been in eight years now and they’ve let me excel in the sporting arena so I felt like this year I really wanted to focus on my career, putting all my time and effort into our newest recruits to help them build successful careers within the NZDF and pushing them to be the best they can be. I also wanted to use the opportunity of being an instructor at the recruit school to develop my leadership skills and personal abilities not only physically but mentally, as well as doing my best in sport.”

Sport Committee chair Colonel Trevor Walker said LSTD Puketapu won her nomination thanks to her significant and noteworthy sporting contribution to the NZDF and for her contribution and commitment to everything she did in the work place.

“ I wanted to excel in it and give back to the Navy, because of how much they’ve given me.”

– LSTD Deena-ranginui Puketapu instructor, leadership development Group

These achievements came in the inaugural year for NZDF women’s rugby at a time when the game is one of the fastest-growing team sports in the world.

Team coach Commander Mark Tapsell said one of the main differences between coaching women’s rugby at club or provincial level compared to the NZDF level was that Defence players started with a high level of fitness, stamina and resilience.

“They also have an ability to take in information quickly and adapt to it,” he said.



By andrew Bonallack Editor

A Navy Physical Training Instructor (PTI) is the recipient of the first New Zealand Defence Force PTI of the Year award.

In November LPTI Kauri Harema, the Navy’s PTI of the Year, topped out the Air Force, Army and Civilian nominees, announced during a PTI conference at Linton Army Camp.

LPTI Harema says it was a surprise but a very cool thing to be awarded. “I’m absolutely buzzing,” he says.

Health and fitness have always been passions in his life, he says. He joined the Navy in 2014, following his father’s footsteps, and was hooked on the idea of becoming a PTI after his first physical training session. “That sold it to me,” he says. As the Navy has no direct entry to PTI, he joined as an Electronic Technician and later transitioned over.

The PTI trade is already one that knows it has a lot to live up to. Members pride themselves on excellence, and push themselves and each other hard. It means the award is something of a standout moment in the trade. LPTI Harema, now back at work, says he’ll have to make sure he lives up to it. It’s easier when it’s a job you love, he says. “My work doesn’t feel like work.”

His last deployment was in HMNZS TE MANA, when the frigate travelled to Canada for her Frigate Systems Upgrade. “That was something different, when you’re trying to keep a Ship’s Company entertained while they are preparing to hand over a ship. It’s not always about the physical. We look at the holistic approach.”

It’s that people connection that’s one of the most important things about being a PTI. “This is a people-orientated trade. What you do is for people, you’re putting them first. You have to have the ability to connect with them, often standing in front of large groups. So you have to make the most of opportunities, and networking is a huge part of the job.”

a thirst for fitness

PTI of the Year


On the 25 October I was privileged to represent the New Zealand Defence Force at the Pacific Military (PACMIL) Sevens tournament in Canberra, Australia. The NZDF team consisted of 12 players, four of whom were from the Navy. These four players were selected from the NZDF 15s rugby team. The tournament is designed to promote and develop women’s rugby within the forces. It also enhances Pacific nation relationships by bringing the various defence and police forces together.

The entire trip was a six-day campaign which started with eight hours of travel, two hours of training to help us acclimatize and finally the opening ceremony where we met and engaged with the opposing teams. This was by far the longest day and by the time we got back to our accommodation it was lights out for us. Before the tournament started the organisers had set aside time for all teams to participate in community engagement activities. Some of us were fortunate enough to visit a local school where we shared our basic knowledge and rugby skills with the children. I loved being able to do this because I’m very passionate about giving back to the game. With the tournament fast approaching we managed to squeeze in four training sessions in two days. This mostly consisted of clarity of our offensive and defensive structures.

On the first day of the tournament we played against Tonga and the Cook Islands. We were nervous for these games as we knew they were both physical teams, however we trusted our game plan and skills. Not only did we beat both teams, but we did not concede any points, which boosted our confidence for the following day.

nZDF Women’s rugby

pacific Military 7s champions 2019

By aCh Caroline sio

Day Two saw a comfortable win over Vanuatu. This put us through to the semi-final against Fiji. Heading into the semi-final we were feeling somewhat confident, and as per NZ tradition we performed the NZDF haka, led by Private Hana Wainohu. This fuelled up the Fijian team whose response gave us that much more motivation to win. Being a more physical game, Fiji came at us with aggression and scored one try. We adapted to their play and came back even stronger, defeating them by 17–7. This secured our place in the final against Australia.

Not letting this get to our heads we kept our composure and went into the final with a clear game plan. This was evident through our play, as we dominated the whole game, winning 26–0. We were overwhelmed with joy and expressed our thanks to our supporters, management and sponsor (Hirtenberger) by performing the haka one last time.

As I look back and reflect over this experience I am extremely grateful to the NZDF for giving me this opportunity to travel, make new friends, share my passion, develop my skills, but most of all to represent my family, and above all my country.

He heramana ahau, I am a sailor.



Notices

Te Kiwi Māia | The Courageous Kiwi By able musician Rebecca nelson

Two years ago I was sitting in a cute little café in Camden, London, catching up with my dear friend Poppy Pawsey. I knew Poppy had left the Royal Marines Band, but I was not prepared for what she was about to tell me.

Poppy was medically discharged from the Royal Marines after 12 years of service. A back injury meant she was unable to stand on parade or march with her instrument. Her whole world turned upside down, she lost her purpose and spiralled into a deep depression. She also faced some challenges in her personal life which added further stress and intensified her situation. Thankfully, Poppy realised that she did not have to suffer alone and found the courage to reach out for help.

Poppy’s journey led me to Tedworth House, an incredible facility run by the charitable organisation Help for Heroes. Help for Heroes offer lifelong support to those who have suffered injury or illness while serving in the British Armed Forces and Tedworth House is the facility where they provide the majority of their recovery services. As I was walking around the grounds, I was inspired to create a similar facility here in New Zealand and this is where Te Kiwi Māia was born.

On my return to New Zealand I began talking to people about my idea. It soon became clear from various conversations that our First Responders/Emergency Services face similar challenges and would also benefit from this initiative. I set up meetings with the Police Commissioner, Senior NZDF personnel, Fire & Emergency, St John, Coastguard, Rescue Helicopters and various welfare specialists and the support has been overwhelming. Te Kiwi Māia was quickly gathering momentum and we soon gained charitable status.

The next step now is to start raising awareness of the charity and begin the fundraising efforts. So doing what I know best, I decided to record an album. I have formed a close relationship with The Band of the Welsh Guards so we discussed collaborating on this project, to benefit not just Te Kiwi Māia, but also raise funds for Help for Heroes through UK album sales. We began recording the tracks in London, then I returned to New Zealand to lay down the vocals and called on some special friends to help, including our very own RNZN Maori Cultural Group. Police Commissioner Mike Bush kindly offered the services of the Manukau Police Choir. The album also features Moses Mackay from

Sol3 Mio and Poppy Pawsey who inspired this whole initiative.

If you have been following my journey, you may know that I had the privilege of performing at Highgrove House for His Royal Highness Prince Charles and invited guests at a Royal Navy reunion. As I had teamed up with The Welsh Guards and Prince Charles is the Colonel of the Regiment, I reached out to his equerry to see if he would consider supporting this project. The response was very positive and so we managed to secure a royal endorsement from the future King!

The album is called “Reverence” meaning deep respect or admiration and is available at The Warehouse or online at www.rebeccanelson.co.nz & www.tekiwimaia.co.nz and would be a great stocking filler for Christmas!

All profits from NZ sales will go to Te Kiwi Māia. We have also set up a Givealittle page to accept donations https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/te-kiwi-maia. Keep an eye out for future fundraising initiatives, we have some exciting things in the pipeline.

“ I want my boy to look up to me. That’s why I gave smokes the flick.”

~ Lieutenant Commander Andre Davies

Quitline 0800 778 778

Whatever the reason, it’s a reason to stop.

Documents

BalancI nG career WITH sporT · ordnance three kilometres away. Her father had sent her to the village to find them. “The team set off, following the little girl into the jungle