Navy ships at Waitangi
01 February 2010
This year the Royal New Zealand Navy will send two ships to the Bay of Islands to mark Waitangi Day.
Amphibious Sea Support Ship, HMNZS CANTERBURY, will anchor off Waitangi from 4 – 6 February.
Inshore Patrol Vessel, HMNZS TAUPO, will be berthed in Opua from 3 February and will join CANTERBURY on the morning of 6 February.
The Royal New Zealand Navy first paraded at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in 1947, and the tradition is still lives on in 2010 in spectacular fashion.
The Navy has been invited by the people of Tai Tokerau to continue its proud history of playing a major part in the commemorative ceremonies at Waitangi during the 170th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty.
There are two Ceremonial Beat Retreat Ceremonies scheduled for 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm on both Friday 5 February and Saturday 6 February with His Excellency the Governor General and the Chief of Navy reviewing the ceremonies respectively.
During the ceremonies the public will entertained by the Navy Band before a hundred man Royal Guard of Honour march on to conduct the ceremonial lowering of the white ensign.
Throughout the celebrations there will be performances by the Navy Maori Cultural Group and Navy Band with public concerts in Kerikeri, Paihia and Russell.
Navy Programme
Wednesday 3 February
PM HMNZS TAUPO berths at Opua
1800 - 1930 Navy Band Concert at the Kerikeri RSA
Thursday 4 February
0700 HMNZS CANTERBURY arrives and anchors off Waitangi
0900 Powhiri at Te Tii Marae
1000 Navy Band Concert at ‘The Green’ Russell
1400 – 1500 Navy Band Concert at the Village Green- Paihia
Friday 5 February
1000-1430 HMNZS TAUPO open to the public at Opua Wharf
1030 - 1300 Ten School children from local schools hosted onboard HMNZS CANTERBURY (prizewinners)
1315 - 1500 Beat Retreat and Ceremonial Sunset Rehearsal at Treaty Grounds
1400-1430 Navy Kapa Haka performing onstage at Waitangi
1730 - 1800 Beat Retreat and Ceremonial Sunset Ceremony at Flagpole – evening gun fired from HMNZS CANTERBURY - Treaty Grounds – reviewed by His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand, The Honourable Anand Satyanand.
Saturday 6 February
0500 Dawn Karakia at Whare Runanga Treaty Grounds
0800 Navy Colours Ceremony – Treaty Grounds
1030 - 1130 Church Service – Whare Waka
1130 - 1200 Navy Band performing at the Flagpole
1200 21 Gun Salute is fired from HMNZS CANTERBURY – Official Navy Party takes the salute from the Flagpole
1300-1330 Navy Kapa Haka performing at the Whare Waka
1530-1600 Navy Kapa Haka performing at the Whare Rununga
1730 - 1800 Beat Retreat Sunset Ceremony at Flagpole – evening gun fired from HMNZS CANTERBURY Treaty Grounds – reviewed by Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Tony Parr
PM HMNZS CANTERBURY sails from Paihia
PM HMNZS TAUPO sails from Paihia
ENDS
For further information, including requests for interviews at Waitangi please contact Lieutenant Sarah Campbell, Senior Media Adviser (Navy) 021 244 0638.
www.navy.mil.nz
www.waitangi.net.nz
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