Four Navy ships to visit

Press, 23 February 1987, Page 7

Four Navy ships to visit

A large contingent of, the Royal New Zealand Navy, including the Navy Band, will pay a six-day visit to the Port of Lyttelton from March 18. The anti-submarine frigate H.M.N.Z.S. Southland and three fast patrol craft, H.M.N.Z.S. Rotoiti, Taupo, and Hawea will arrive on March 19. The 24-member Royal New Zealand Navy Band will arrive in Christchurch the day before and will give a public concert in Cathedral Square after a march through the streets starting at midday on March 18.

The band, under the control of the new Director of Music, Lieutenant Garry Brownrigg, will also play at several schools and public venues in the Christchurch area during the visit. There will be more than 330 sailors, all wearing uniform during their shore leave in the Christchurch area.

The visit is part of a New Zealand development aimed at promoting public awareness of the Navy and to encourage recruiting. The port visits will also give the Christchurch public the chance to become involved with

the Navy though sports fixtures, receptions, and ships’ open days.

H.M.N.Z.S. Southland and a patrol craft will be open for public visitors from 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 21 and 22. All ships involved will do training, exercises, and manoeuvres during the sea passages between ports. After leaving Lyttelton on March 23, H.M.N.Z.S. Southland and H.M.N.Z.S. Rotoiti will sail for Nelson. The other patrol craft will sail for a port visit at Timaru.