Christmas wishes from Northlanders on Te Mana

Some Northlanders are all at sea this Christmas aboard HMNZS Te Mana.

They are patrolling in the Gulf of Aden and want to send Christmas wishes to family and friends in Northland.

The crew have been deployed as part of international anti-piracy efforts.

The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a multinational naval partnership of 29 nations. It operates over 6.5million square kilometres of international waters, and encompasses some of the world's most important shipping routes.

HMNZS Te Mana completed nearly three months of specialist training in Australia in preparation for the deployment.

It will operate as part of Combined Task Force 151 for three months, returning to New Zealand in March next year.

Tyler Simeon, Pamapuria, Kaitaia:

Merry Christmas to all my whanau from Te Paatu and Whangape. Hope u all have an awesome day and mean feeds all round! I will see use all in the new year with my sack of kinas an pauas waiting for my return!! Love & miss use heaps, Tyler

Aimee Morrissey, Pamapuria, Kaitaia:

Merry Christmas Mum and Dad, and I better not forget Uncle Bruce. I miss you all very much and I hope you have a wonderful day. Ill be home next year for Christmas. Love you heaps an heaps, take care. xoxo.

Tony Dudley, Pamapuria, Kaitaia:

To all my friends and whanau in the Far North, be careful and stay safe over the Christmas/New Year holiday period. Hope to see you all next year.

Arohanui.

Rawiri Barriball, Ahipara, Kaitaia:

Merry Xmas to all the Parewhero and Harihona Whanau, living it up in Paradise (the Real Far North).

Dwayne and Shayna Kitchen, Kaitaia:

To all our family and friends, we hope you have a Merry Christmas and an awesome New Years. Have lots of fun over the holidays and be safe. See you soon! Love Shayna & Dwayne xx

Brent Tayler, Doubtless Bay, Mangonui:

Merry Christmas Family! Happy Birthday as well to Luke! Have a great Xmas/New Years everyone, my thoughts and love are with you all.

Louisa Broad, Dargaville, Opononi and Whangarei:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my friends and family back home, wish I could be with you at this time but I know you will still be there when we return. Enjoy the food, family and festivities, look forward to being with you all again in 2014.

Love always Lou

Dominique Ngawaka, Panguru:

Merry Christmas whanau Miss and Love you heaps.

Seagar Clarkson, Kohukohu and Whangarei:

Hi Mum.

Kylee Wiki-Law, Te Kao, Kaitaia:

Hey Whanau, Hope everyone has a safe holiday. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Missing you all, love Kylee.

James McGuinniety, Takahiwai, Ruakaka:

Kei te pirangi ahau i ki i Mehe Kirimete ki toku whanau. E ngaro ana ahau i te whanau katoa no Takahiwai me Te Whanganui a Tara. Na toku he, kaore te taea e ahau te kainga te taenga mai. Maku a koutou e kite ai e tetahi atu tau.

Ma te wa.

Darin Kauwhata, Kaikohe:

Hey mum, all is well on deployment and as always I'm keeping safe. Merry Christmas to you, grandad, papa, cheyne and all the family back home. Have a good holiday and keep safe. You know the kaupapa, love you mum! Love to my son Jaden, sorry I couldn't be there for christmas. Dad misses you a lot and loves you always. Merry christmas my son and a happy new year.

Te-Aumihi Woodhead, Kerikeri and Whangarei:

To all my family from Whangarei to Kerikeri and there is a lot of you, I wish you all a merry Christmas and a safe holiday, with love Te-Aumihi Woodhead x

Russell Gillbanks, Kerikeri and Matauri Bay:

To Dad, Nan, Jord and Little Lilly, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe fun summer holiday in the Bay.

Matt Kaio, Kaikohe:

Merry Christmas to Mum, Dad and my bro's Miss you all and see you when I get home

PS Dad, boil up and fried bread when I get home?

Northland crew members absent from the photo:
Marc Cooper, Whangarei

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family in the Whangarei heads region, have a great holydays in the hot summer sun. Also a special shout out to my home community of Waikaraka.

Sean Panther, Coopers Beach, Kaitaia:

Mum and Dad, Nanas and Grandads, Aunties, Uncles and Cousins, and of course annoying sisters, be seeing you all shortly in January when I get back. Always thinking of you all, love Sean.

Zane Korewha, Kaikohe:

To all my family and friends, love you and miss you all!! Have a merry xmas, and a happy new years.

Northlanders also in this photo: Panapa Davis, Kawakawa; Antony White, Whangarei; Aisha Robust, Kaikohe; Tehamana Maxwell, Whangarei.