One of two scheduled Royal New Zealand Navy ships which was on its way to Napier for the Tremains Art Deco Festival has been called to do what the navy did back in 1931 — assist and aid.
The offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Otago had been on its way to Napier and had been due to dock on Wednesday morning — but the destructive forces of nature stepped in.
Hawke's Bay Regional Naval Officer Lieutenant Commander Neville Smith said HMNZS Otago had been recalled to Devonport Naval Base in the wake of Cyclone Gita striking Tonga and leaving a massive trail of destruction.
Crew from the Protector Class vessel, captained by Lieutenant Commander Lorna Gray, would need to be redeployed as the navy stepped in to provide humanitarian aid.
"As it has always been the saying — thank God for the navy," Smith said.