Navy shipshape for Art Deco festival

HMNZS Hawera, one of two navy patrol vessels in port for the festival. Photo / NZ Defence Force

The Royal New Zealand Navy will again make its presence felt at the Tremains Art Deco Festival with two ships scheduled to make a seven-day visit.

HMNZS Hawea, one of the navy's four 340-tonne inshore patrol ships and the HMNZS Wellington, one of the two 1900-tonne offshore patrol ships, will arrive at 10am on February 14 - three days before the five-day festival is set to spark into life.

They are scheduled to depart at 10am on February 22.

The Hawea carries a core crew of 20 while the Wellington carries a core of 35 and a 10-strong flight crew.

Both ships were also part of last year's festival, with crews taking part in several events, including parades and the New Zealand Defence Force Commemorative Breakfast which will be staged at the Old Church.

The Hawea was also in port for the 2014 festival.

Hawke's Bay is also on the itinerary for one of the navy's two Anzac class frigates.

The 3600-tonne HMNZS Te Kaha, which was the first to be commissioned in 1997, is scheduled to arrive at Napier Port on March 16, for a five-day goodwill visit.

For the Tremains Art Deco Festival the army will also be in attendance, with the Hawke's Bay Wellington Battalion Band set to play a string of public concerts.