Commandant's Travels to Auckland, New Zealand: In front of the Te Taua Moana Marae after the Wero Ceremony
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We concluded a very busy day in Auckland, New Zealand on Thursday. We arrived from Ningbo, China just after midnight and grabbed a few hours of sleep.
I had breakfast with the American Charge d'Affaires, David Keegan, and CAPT Dawn Driesbach (USN) the Defense Attache, along with our Director of International Affairs, Kirsten Madison and our Asia Desk Chief, Dr. John Manza. We discussed the trip and our objectives for the meetings over the next several days.
I then met with RADM Tony Parr, Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), in advance of a meeting with New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, the Honorable Doctor Wayne Mapp. The meeting with Minister Mapp was wide-ranging and very valuable in setting a context for my visit.
We then proceeded to the Auckland waterfront where we took the RNZN Barge to Her Majesty’s New Zealand Naval Base where the RNZN provided arrival honors.
The next event was one I have been looking forward to. Please see my earlier post regarding the traditional wero ceremony that was held at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington several months ago.
The RNZN has reserved a portion of their base for the Te Taua Moana Marae. The "marae" is the focal point for formal and informal life for the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. These communal houses are very similar in construction and symbology to the large or great houses of our indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. The wero is a symbolic ceremony that originated with visitors arriving by sea. It is a tradition whereby the Maori could ascertain the intentions of those coming ashore. We were honored to be part of this very important Maori and maritime tradition with our partners from New Zealand. At the conclusion of the ceremony which conducted in Maori, and as is the custom, I gave brief remarks and led our delegation in a short song (Semper Paratus).
Returning to the piers at the Naval Base we visited HMNZS CANTERBURY, commanded by CDR James Gilmour, RNZN. CANTERBURY is an interesting ship that serves many purposes. It is based on a commercial car ferry designed used in the Irish Sea but can carry multiple helicopters, has two landing craft, deploys Zodiac small boats for boardings, and can accommodate several hundred personnel for combat, humanitarian assistance, or other operations. The tour concluded with a buffet luncheon on the bridge (it is larger than the bridges on our ice breakers).
Following lunch we visited HMNZS TAUPO, the newest of the RNZN Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV). These vessels are about the same length as our FRC, powered by two MTU engines (two shafts), operate at 25 knots, with a crew of 21, and have a 7-10 day endurance. Our thanks to LCDR John Clarkson for the tour and discussion.
RADM Parr then suggested we play "hooky." We drove to the summit of Mount Victoria, an extinct volcano, and surveyed beautiful Auckland Harbor on a glorious winter day (clear and temperature in the 50’s).
We ended the day with an "All Hands" meeting with junior enlisted personnel that was coordinated by members of the Personnel Development Board (PDB). The PDB are senior enlisted personnel that mentor and guide junior personnel. They have permanently assigned personnel and those that participate as a collateral duty. Something looked familiar about them and it was their PDB badges. They were modeled after our Gold and Silver Badge CMC insignia. When I asked about the badges, Warrant Officer Mick O’Carroll told me that the idea came from their interaction with our senior enlisted leaders, in particular Master Chief Bowen, who have sponsored international non-commissioned officer conferences in Hawaii and New Zealand. Way to go Chiefs Mess!
Back at the hotel RADM Tony Parr hosted a dinner for our delegation. We thank them for the hospitality.
Thanks also for the excellent work of CAPT Dawn Driesbach the hard working Attache.
Despite the importance of this visit, the number one topic in New Zealand is Saturday Night's rugby game between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies.
ADM A
