HMNZS Taupo leaves for Fiji mission
Royal New Zealand Navy’s inshore patrol vessel HMNZS Taupo left Auckland today to spend the next three months conducting maritime patrols in Fiji.
CAPTION: New Zealand’s Chief of Navy Rear Admiral John Martin watches as Royal New Zealand Navy inshore patrol vessel HMNZS Taupo leaves Auckland on a three-month mission to conduct maritime patrols in support of the Republic of Fiji Navy. NZDF photo.
The New Zealand Defence Force, with support from the Ministry for Primary Industries, will help Fiji patrol its vast Exclusive Economic Zone and train its Navy sailors for the second consecutive year.
Patrols by HMNZS Taupo, in support of the Republic of Fiji Navy, will involve compliance-monitoring activities, which include two fishery officers from New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries assisting with boarding and inspection of vessels.
In 2017, the NZDF sent inshore patrol vessel HMNZS Hawea to Fiji on a similar mission, which encompassed more than 1.1 million square kilometres.
Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major General Tim Gall said the combined maritime surveillance operations with Fiji would contribute to the multinational effort to ensure sustainable management of fishery resources in the south-west Pacific.
“We also expect the patrols to deepen collaboration between New Zealand and Fiji government agencies and strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries,” Major General Gall said.
Royal New Zealand Navy Captain Dave McEwan, the Maritime Component Commander, said learning was a two-way process and the New Zealand sailors learnt as much from their Fiji Navy partners.
“We hope to replicate the success of last year’s combined patrols and contribute to Fiji’s maritime security,” Captain McEwan said.
The combined maritime patrols with Fiji last year achieved strong results, with about 550 vessels boarded and 110 alleged infringements detected.
About 50 Fiji Navy sailors, 27 Customs Officers and 19 Fishery Officers also trained on Hawea.
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