Kia ora, Aotearoa
The Royal New Zealand Navy’s newest and largestever ship, HMSNZ Aotearoa, sailed into her ceremonial home port of New Plymouth yesterday for the first time. Crew member Steven Wereta was particularly pleased – Taranaki is his home, too.
As HMNZS Aotearoa entered her home port for the first time, Steven Wereta watched the New Plymouth coastline with growing anticipation – the vessel was entering his home, too.
The 20-year-old is the only crew member of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s newest and largest ship to hail from its ceremonial home of Taranaki.
‘‘I’m glad to be going home with this ship,’’ Wereta said. ‘‘It’s a real privilege.’’
As the 173-metre HMNZS Aotearoa got closer to Port Taranaki yesterday morning for its week-long visit, a crowd of people could be seen waving from the lee breakwater, while rows of cars filled the parks near Nga¯motu Beach.
One of those cars would have been owned by Wereta’s family.
‘‘I’m trying to keep it in because I’m in the bridge,’’ he said, standing amid the quiet area where the navigational decisions are made.
Wereta grew up in South Taranaki, went to Tawhiti Primary School and Ha¯wera intermediate and high schools, and was a swimming champ in his teenage years.
He took the opportunity to leave the ‘‘small town’’ scene as soon as he could and has ‘‘loved’’ his decision to join the navy.
Wereta is an ordinary rate logistic supply specialist who works mainly in distribution.
He said in the two years of his career, being on his first ship as it sailed into his home was the highlight.
‘‘It’s got to be this – and going to Ha¯wera for Anzac Day, standing in front of my family and friends,’’ Wereta said. ‘‘I won’t ever get over that.’’ Lieutenant commander, and second in charge, Nikki Fox, said she’d had a lot of high points in her 25 years in the navy, and tomorrow’s charter parade, where the ship is to be formally welcomed to New Plymouth, will be one of them.
‘‘It’s a once in a lifetime thing,’’ Fox, who calls Wellington home, said. ‘‘We get the feeling New Plymouth is pretty excited to see us.’’
It took just one trip as a young sea cadet out on the now-decommissioned HMNZS Endeavour, which also had New Plymouth as its ceremonial home port, for Fox to decide she wanted to join the navy. ‘‘It’s just such a cool lifestyle,’’ Fox said. ‘‘You get so much out of it.’’
At 43, the mother-of-three is the oldest female on board, but she doesn’t let that bother her.
She said it’s ‘‘just cool’’ being on board the 26,000 tonne ship, which was arriving in New Plymouth after three-day voyage from Devonport, Auckland.
Giving a tour of the vessel, Fox points out most of its features are a luxury compared to older ships in the fleet.
There are still plenty of stairs, which