The Royal New Zealand Navy Inshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Hawea is scheduled to leave the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland today bound for Fiji to help patrol the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone over the next six months.
The deployment was announced by Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee earlier this month.
Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Major General Tim Gall says that as part of their renewed engagement with Fiji, they will be conducting maritime surveillance and supporting the Fijian Navy’s capability development.
He adds that Hawea would help the Republic of Fiji Military Forces patrol Fiji’s territorial seas and Exclusive Economic Zone, which encompass more than 1.1 million square kilometres.
This will be the first time that a Navy Inshore Patrol Vessel has been deployed to the South Pacific.
Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Jim Gilmour says personnel from New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries, Fiji’s Department of Fisheries and the Fijian Navy would join the patrols and Fijian personnel will also play a role in planning the patrols.
Gilmore adds that operating in a combined way on these patrols provides an opportunity to support the Fijian Navy and learn from them in developing their capability in a range of general mariner skills.
New Zealand has offered assistance in maritime surveillance due to Fiji’s limited patrol capability this year.
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