The Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Mana is currently working off the coast of Somalia, where she is part of a Combined Maritime Forces counter-piracy campaign.
And while the crew are happy to be there, and the Somali fishermen they have encountered have been grateful for the security the CMF warships are providing, thoughts are beginning to turn to home and Christmas.
And so Aimee Morrissey (who describes herself as the short one in the second row wearing the red Santa hat) organised a photo and messages to loved ones who will be far away on Christmas Day.
Christmas will be celebrated aboard Te Mana, starting with carols and multi-coloured glowsticks at midnight on Christmas Eve, then a big Christmas lunch and the opening of what Aimee described as heaps of presents from family and friends back home.
Meanwhile their Christmas messages are as follows.
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Tyler Simeon (Pamapuria): 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 you all in the new year (with my sack of kinas and pauas waiting for my return!!) Love & miss use heaps, Tyler xxx.
Aimee Morrissey (Pamapuria): 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. I'll be home next year for Christmas. Love you heaps an heaps, take care. xoxo.
Tony Dudley (Pamapuria): 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): Merry Xmas to all the Parewhero and Harihona whanau, living it up in Paradise (the Real Far North).
To all our family and friends, we hope you have a merry Christmas and an awesome New Year's. Have lots of fun over the holidays and be safe. See you soon! Love Shayna & Dwayne xx.
Brent Tayler (Doubtless Bay): Merry Christmas family! Happy birthday as well to Luke! Have a great Xmas/New Year's 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): Hey whanau, hope everyone has a safe holiday. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Missing you all, love Kylee.
James McGuinniety (Takahiwai): 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?
Marc Cooper (Whangarei, not in the photo): 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 (Cooper's Beach, not in the photo): Mum and Dad, nanas and grandads, aunties, uncles and cousins, and of course annoying sisters, be seeing you all shortly in the New Year. Always thinking of you all, love Sean.
Zane Korewha (Kaikohe, not in the photo): To all my family and friends, love you and miss you all!! Have a merry Xmas, and a happy New Year's.
Also in the photo: Panapa Davis (Kawakawa), Antony White (Whangarei), Aisha Robust (Kaikohe) and Tehamana Maxwell (Whangarei).