North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Dogs give navy ship ‘all clear’
A pair of professional canines visited Devonport naval base on Friday, to give the HMNZS Canterbury the all-clear to depart for Raoul Island on February 26.
Pai and Indie are specially trained pest-detection dogs who work for the Department of Conservation.
HMNZS Canterbury is taking supplies to the scientists on Raoul Island. Because the island is pest free, Pai and Indie are employed to make sure there are no furry hitchhikers, like rodents, on board the ship.
The Government has invested millions in pest-free strategies, so these dogs are guaranteeing that investment.
The dogs, both fox terrier and Jack Russell mixes, took a year to be fully trained.
Not only are terriers naturally good at hunting small game but their small size means handlers can lift them into cupboards and up onto ledges.
‘‘Can you imagine picking up a German shepherd?’’ handler Finlay Buchanan asked.
HMNZS Canterbury provided humanitarian services, disaster relief and evacuated non combatants. It also dropped off supplies, such as Raoul Island.
‘‘The cool thing about this ship as their are always lots of different people on board,’’ Lieutenant Fletcher Dunning said.
‘‘For example, when Cyclone Gita was thrashing Tonga, we were on standby. Of course, Kaikoura earthquake last year and Fiji the year before that,’’ Dunning said.
The ship also moved the army around in times of disaster and it had helicopter capability too.
‘‘It is the only really genuine operational unit that has all three military units together.’’
DOC logistics ranger Jamie Carey said on this drop-off, the ship was primarily taking food supplies to the scientists. But there was engineering equipment too.
Raoul Island had a contingent of scientist that monitored pest eradication, as well as working with the Met Service, Ministry of Primary Industries and doing Co2 monitoring for a US research programme.
Minister of Defence Ron Mark said sometimes the public was not aware of just how heavily involved the New Zealand Navy was in environmental work.
Positively, according to the Pai and Indie, the HMNZS Canterbury ship is ready to go and ratfree.