HMNZS Canterbury’s fourth capital visit this year highlights ship’s critical Defence role

In what has been a complex three-month deployment, HMNZS Canterbury has clocked up more 16,730 nautical miles, or three-quarters of the way around the circumference of the world, all while doing the mahi in the Tasman and South Pacific.

This week’s Wellington visit is the last of Canterbury’s movements between the capital and Northern Queensland to transport in stages more than 150 personnel, four helicopters and close to 35 New Zealand Army vehicles in support of Talisman Sabre.

Wellington is a handy onload and offload port of call for Canterbury, allowing Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters to fly in and out from RNZAF Base Ohakea. It’s also within reach for NZ Army equipment, vehicles and personnel from Linton Military Camp in the Manawatū.

As well as Talisman Sabre logistics, Canterbury’s deployment, which concludes on August 29, supported high-profile activities in the South Pacific.

It included a diplomatic visit to New Caledonia, support to the Fiji Navy’s 50th anniversary, support to the South-West Pacific Heads of Maritime Forces meeting in Suva and delivery of two of the Navy’s new uncrewed surface vessels to assist with Fijian Navy-led border protection activities.

Complement-wise, Canterbury on deployment is a ship in constant churn. It maintains an average of 145 crew members, but this latest deployment has included over 700 movements of embarked force personnel, all of whom must be accommodated, fed and looked after. The ship’s bunk occupancy rates ranged from 39 percent to 81 percent during this time.

That’s because when the ship is not acting as a transportation or amphibious warfare platform, it has a role as a vital training vessel. The ship’s command team isn’t shy about offering up bunks for training and experience purposes when things get quieter.

The call had gone out to New Zealand Defence Force personnel – from all three services – who needed specific sea time, qualifications or simply to experience a deployment aboard an RNZN  ship. This offer was even extended to the Royal Australian Navy, with around 20 officers and sailors boarding the ship in Cairns for a voyage to Noumea and Fiji and back, and a group of Fijian Navy chefs and stewards on board for galley and hosting experiences.

Adding to the mix at various times were chaplains, psychologists, Maritime Training Group instructors, public affairs personnel, the Royal New Zealand Navy Band, Babcock engineers and intelligence specialists.

In keeping the ship’s service and hospitality expertise, Canterbury hosted the Fijian Prime Minister, Members of Parliament and dignitaries and guests from across the South Pacific for a diplomatic function in Suva.

It was able to coordinate a tricky transport of journalists by seaboat as Canterbury entered Wellington Harbour, leading two Japanese naval vessels.

The ship has even provided sea experience to its future Commanding Officer, Commander Wayne Andrew, who will take over from Commander Bronwyn Heslop on 11 September after three years and five months in the role.

It’s a culture embedded in the ship’s motto – Kotahitanga (unity). The ship’s company is proud of its diversity and touts Canterbury as the Navy’s truly ‘joint’ ship. The standard ship’s company includes the SALT, the Ship’s Amphibious Load Team of NZ Army personnel who are just as entitled to receive the coveted ‘Sailor of the Quarter’ Award for exemplary performance on board.

The ‘joint’ aspect entitles Canterbury personnel to wear the Combined Operations badge, worn around the world by amphibious personnel or on those who are involved in tri-service duties. Dating back to the Second World War, the badge combines an unfouled anchor, a Thompson submachine gun and the RAF eagle with a reversed head.

CDR Heslop says the ship’s company doesn’t get to miss a beat this year.

“I hand over on 11 September, but under CDR Andrew the team keeps charging for readiness for the tropical cyclone season.”

Canterbury is the on-call ship over the 2025/26 summer for search and rescue or humanitarian relief in the South Pacific, in the event of a cyclone or natural disaster.

“Canterbury is definitely the ship that ‘Can’,” says CDR Heslop.

“It is the most useful, utilised ship, with an amazing group of people. It has been privilege to serve on board alongside such a fabulous team.”