Leading Hospitality Specialist Karen Brown has come home for Christmas in Gisborne, after much of the year deployed overseas with the Navy. Photo / RNZN
Leading Hospitality Specialist Karen Brown has come home for Christmas in Gisborne, after much of the year deployed overseas with the Navy. Photo / RNZN
Leading Hospitality Specialist Karen Brown has come home to Gisborne for Christmas after most of the year deployed overseas with the Royal New Zealand Navy.
LHS Brown arrived back in Devonport Naval Base, Auckland, on maritime replenishment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa this month.
The sailor’s return marked the conclusion of ademanding operational year for the ship and its 80-strong crew, who had been deployed since late March.
An RNZAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flies over HMNZS Aotearoa during surveillance and deterrence activities. Photo / RNZN
The vessel spent 307 days away from home and sailed more than 31,000 nautical miles as it conducted exercises and operations.
Three months were an Indo-Pacific deployment, which included defence engagements and exercises with key countries and partners, including port visits to Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam.
The Aotearoa also carried out enforcement of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea, undertaking surveillance and deterrence activities in the international waters of the East China and Yellow Seas during November.
The ship was shadowed at different points in time by seven different People’s Liberation Army (Navy) warships from China.
HMNZS Aotearoa arrived back at the Devonport Naval base in Auckland last Friday. Photo / RNZN
Brown said she always wanted a job where she could make a difference.
After finishing at Campion College, she worked in hospitality while completing a Diploma in Business at the Eastern Institute of Technology and six years ago joined the Navy.
“I wanted to experience life out of home,” she said.
“That included travelling, getting opportunities like no other and making a difference. I’ve always had a passion for helping others.”
She was previously a lifeguard with the Dawson Building Midway Surf Club. She completed the Youth and Emergency Service programme and was a volunteer firefighter at the Eastland Rural Fire Station.
RNZN hospitality specialists work in the officers’ wardroom at sea and ashore, providing table service, bartending, setting up and servicing official functions and providing VIP support to high-profile diplomatic functions in New Zealand and overseas.
Brown posted to the Aotearoa 18 months ago.
As well as her core duties, hospitality specialists have auxiliary roles and are also trained in ship refuelling and damage control.
Brown is a member of the Aotearoa’s Standing Sea Emergency Party, ready to be called on to tackle fires, water ingress or toxic gas.
“The best thing about this deployment has been [that] I got to do roles that support the operation of the ship depending on the priorities of the mission at the time.
“There are also the new places, cultures and food I get to see and try.”
