Scores of Army light-armoured vehicles, transportation Unimogs and heavy trucks and trailers assembled at the Port of Napier yesterday for export to Australia.
But the exportation will be temporary - they will return to New Zealand after taking part in a major military exercise alongside Australian forces, based around Townsville, this
month.
Part of the preparation yesterday before being loaded aboard the navy's sea-lift ship HMNZS Canterbury saw the crews of the Linton-based 1 Battalion light-armoured vehicles water-blasting their machines as part of biosecurity requirements.
The early morning rain helped.
An army spokesman said the Port of Napier was the most suitable to carry out the shift, given its relative proximity to Linton and Waiouru.
Only one glitch cropped up in the otherwise slick move - a box of blank ammunition fell off a truck on the Taihape Rd, and was rounded up by Army staff and a police highway patrol officer.
The arrival of the Canterbury yesterday also created the opportunity for a gathering of the services which pitched in to help at the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake and the recent Christchurch earthquake.
With next February's Geon Art Deco Weekend heralding the 80th anniversary of the Hawke's Bay earthquake, the Art Deco Trust took the opportunity to promote the "Tribute to the Services" theme with the arrival of the 9000-tonne transport ship.
Trust general manager Sally Jackson said having the Navy in town, within a fortnight of the Christchurch quake, was a reminder of how the naval service had stepped in to assist back in 1931. As it had in 2010 in Christchurch, where naval reserve personnel from HMNZS Pegasus joined in the clean-up and recovery operations.
Army and Air Force personnel had also stepped in to assist in Christchurch.
Mrs Jackson said representatives from the Army, Police, the Fire Service, St John Ambulance and Red Cross met the Navy crew today to promote next year's commemorations. Adding to the occasion was the fact the HMNZS Canterbury was aligned to Christchurch as its "home" port.
The ship arrived in the Port of Napier about 10am yesterday and was set to sail again today about 3pm. The visit was originally planned for three days but the earthquake and other commitments had cut the visit back.
HMNZS Canterbury was the second of the seven new ships commissioned as part of the Navy's Project Protector.
