Commanding Officer - HMNZS TE MANA F111
Commander John Butcher, MNZM, RNZN
Commander John W. Butcher was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. Educated in Invercargill and Dunedin, John joined the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) in 1989 as a General List Executive Officer [GL(X)]. During his first five years of service, John progressed and completed his initial Naval Training at the RNZN Officers’ Training School prior to attending Auckland University thence posting for sea service. John served onboard HMNZ Ships WAIKATO, SOUTHLAND, MANAWANUI, ENDEAVOUR and CANTERBURY prior to gaining a Bridge Watch Keeping Certificate in 1993.
In January 1995, he completed a Frigate Navigation Officers’ Course in New Zealand and subsequently, during the period 1995 – 1997, served in HMNZ Ships TUI, MONOWAI, CANTERBURY, ENDEAVOUR and HMA Ship GLADSTONE as the Navigation Officer. During this period John was also appointed as Navigation Training Officer.
John successfully completed the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Advanced Navigation Course (N+) in April 1998, which dictated further Navigation Training duties, and included service as the Officer in Command of HMNZS KAHU; an Inshore Patrol Vessel; primarily associated with the training of junior officers and ratings. Further service followed involving Navigational Training duties prior to being appointed as the Navigation Officer in the final ANZAC Class Frigate for the RNZN, HMNZS TE MANA, in July 1999.
Attending the RAN Principal Warfare Officers’ Course in Australia during the period March – December 2001, John graduated, specialising in Above Water Warfare [PWO (A)]. He was awarded the Saint Barbara Prize for the Highest Proficiency in Gunnery and upon returning to New Zealand; John was appointed as the Operations Officer in TE MANA. This appointment included an operational evaluation, deployments in support of defence diplomacy, exercising with regional navies, and notably, participation in Operation Enduring Freedom during the period February – July 2003.
John was appointed as the Navigation Training Officer and Fleet Navigation Officer for the RNZN in Dec 2003 where he spent two years instructing students at various levels in Navigation and Bridge Watch Keeping. He was also responsible to the Maritime Component Commander for implementing and maintaining high standards throughout the RNZN’s fleet. John also served as the Executive Officer of HMNZS TE KAHA during the period January – March 2005.
John was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 2006 New Years Honours List for services to the New Zealand Defence Force and in recognition for his work as the Navigation Training Officer. During the period January – June 2006, he attended the United States Naval War College in Newport Rhode Island, graduating from the Naval Staff College.
In Dec 2005 John was selected as the commissioning Commanding Officer of the first Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMNZS OTAGO to be delivered under Project Protector. He stood by this appointment during the period November 2006 to January 2009; however delays in the ship’s delivery dictated that he should forgo this appointment and John was subsequently promoted to Acting Commander and assigned project duties with the Chief of Navy. In July 2009 John was appointed as the Military Assistant to the Chief of Navy and Career Manager for GL (X) Officers and confirmed in the rank of Commander.
He assumed command of TE MANA on 27 August 2010.
John and his wife Susan live in Devonport, Auckland; their interests include sailing, gardening and property development.