Navy life great for Northland woman

Northlander Te Aumihi Woodhead on the bridge and at the helm of the Inshore Patrol Vessel Hawea. Photo / Supplied

When it comes to communication, Able Rate Te Aumihi Woodhead is one of the best in the business, with the Northlander mastering morse code as well as signalling with flags.

The 25-year-old, who has specialised in communications, has sailed the high seas for three years and last week was part of the crew aboard Inshore Patrol Vessel Hawea that cruised the Northland coastline as part of a Ministry of Primary Industries operation targeting commercial fishing vessels.

Two fishery officers boarded 12 commercial vessels off the coast to check paper work and catches, with no breaches detected.

The former Kerikeri High School student, of Ngapuhi and Ngati Hine descent, always wanted to join the New Zealand Royal Navy, but delayed her naval career to complete a sport and recreational qualification at Whangarei's NorthTech campus first.

"I always wanted to do something military and when I moved to Auckland I tried for the navy and got straight in."

Since joining she has been deployed on missions to Seychelles Islands, India, Dubai and Abu Dhabi which included a seven month trip on frigate Te Kaha.

She explains as a "communicator" she has learnt morse code and signalling to other warships purely using flags. Another form of "comms" is by flashlights.

"I'm still learning but morse code was pretty easy. The navy is such a great place to start your career."

She has managed to save a deposit for a house and is currently looking for a property in Kerikeri.

"You have your ups and downs but it is certainly a well paid job for what we do. Being able to travel is such a bonus, we get paid to be overseas."

The longest time she has spent at sea has been 36 days. Miss Woodhead admitted the hardest part was being away from family while at sea.

She is fine tuning her communication skills and is only one paper short of completing a certificate in communications and public relations.

"That's the other great thing about the navy you can study as well," she said.

Anyone interested in joining the navy should checkout the website www.defencecareers.mil.nz.