Navy joins Anzac events

There'll be a larger than usual naval presence at Anzac Day commemorations in Whangarei and Bay of Islands today, with two NZ Navy ships berthed in the region.

The navy's offshore patrol vessel, HMNZS Wellington, arrived in Whangarei earlier this week and its crew will be taking part in Anzac Day commemorations in the district today.

The Wellington is due to leave Port Nikau, in Whangarei, tomorrow.

The Navy's inshore patrol vessel HMNZS Taupo is in Opua today and its crew will take part in Anzac Day commemorations throughout the Bay of Islands before leaving tomorrow.

The 55-metre Taupo was one of four 340-tonne inshore patrol vessels - alongside the Rotoiti, Hawea and Pukaki - built at the Port Rd, Whangarei, yard of Australian shipbuilding firm Tenix and launched in 2009.

Whangarei is Taupo's home port and several Northlanders are among its 26-strong crew, including the vessel's captain, Lieutenant Damian Gibbs.

Part of the 85-metre HMNZS Wellington was also built at Tenix's Whangarei yard as part of the Government's $550 million Project Protector scheme to build a new fleet of ships for the New Zealand Navy.