Happy Birthday, Royal New Zealand Navy

The Royal New Zealand Navy celebrates 82 years old this year.

In 1941, at the request of the New Zealand government, the King approved a proposal to make New Zealand’s Naval Forces the Royal New Zealand Navy. This was passed on October 1, making New Zealand ships “HMNZS”.

This year’s celebration included a morning Church Service at St Christopher’s Chapel at Devonport Naval Base and an evening function at the Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy in Torpedo Bay.

A Sunset Ceremony, the lowering of the flags, was performed, supported by the Royal New Zealand Navy Band.

As is tradition, the birthday cake is cut with a sword, with the most junior and most senior persons present doing it together.

The service was repeated in Wellington, involving the Naval staff of HMNZS WAKEFIELD from Headquarters Defence Force and naval personnel based at Joint Forces Headquarters. The service, at St Andrew’s on The Terrace, had another cake cutting and featured presents of artwork, courtesy of official Navy Artist Colin Wynn.

We’ll explore the artworks in more detail in the November edition.