Dutch to build Navy ship for New Zealand

New Zealand's newest and most expensive Navy ship will be built in the Netherlands.

Tenix, the Australian defence contractor named preferred bidder for the $500 million contract to build Navy ships, said it would contract out construction of an 8000-tonne multi-role vessel to a Dutch shipyard.

Tenix will also build a further six ships - two 1500-tonne offshore patrol vessels and four 350-tonne inshore patrol ships - for the Navy.