Can’t beat Wellington on a good day  HMNZS Aotearoa sailed into Te Whanganui–a-Tara this morning on her maiden voyage to the Capital for a week of official engagements.

The 26,000 tonne vessel, Aotearoa, is the newest in our fleet and, at 173 metres in length, the largest-ever to have flown our Navy’s White Ensign.

While in Wellington, the ship and the crew will host visits by parliamentarians and staff from government agencies we work with on a regular basis including Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, GNS Science and MetService New Zealand.

Because she will be berthed at CentrePort, security restrictions means that a public open day can’t be held to tour the ship.