Latest news with #HMNZSTeKaha
Scoop
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
New Zealand Warship Links Up With UK Carrier Strike Group For Combined Operation
The United Kingdom's Carrier Strike Group – spearheaded by the Royal Navy's flagship, HMS Prince of Wales – has been bolstered on the Indo-Pacific phase of Operation Highmast with the arrival of HMNZS Te Kaha. HMNZS Te Kaha, fresh from the New Zealand–led CTF 150 maritime security patrols, including counter narcotic operations, joined up with the multi-nation group in the Indian Ocean last week. Over the course of Operation Highmast, 13 nations will deploy vessels, aircraft and more than 4,500 military personnel to support the task group which formed in the English Channel in late April. The nations include NATO allies from Canada, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United States, and partners from New Zealand, Australia, India, Japan, and South Korea, operating alongside each other to build combat readiness and interoperability between the participating nations' navies at sea. The Royal New Zealand Navy's Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Shane Arndell, said being part of the strike group will provide Te Kaha with further opportunities to increase its combat readiness by testing its capabilities in a significant multi-nation strike group operation. 'The ship already has runs on the board since leaving New Zealand in February and successfully completing a two-month deployment working for the Coalition Maritime Forces Task Force 150 in the Arabian Sea, so they'll be hitting the ground running. Being able to work collaboratively with our global partners and demonstrate maritime interoperability is critical for us as a nation, and Operation Highmast will deliver some key outcomes for our Navy and New Zealand Defence Force.' The UK-led strike group will spend the next part of its deployment involved in a string of major exercises, and interaction with like-minded allies and partners throughout Asia and the western Pacific rim, which includes numerous high-profile port visits. "It's fantastic to have our New Zealand friends with us as we look to develop our combined operational capabilities,' said Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group. 'It was a privilege to visit HMNZS Te Kaha when she joined the Strike Group. Having such a professional crew integrating with us as we reinforced the rules based international order in the Indo-Pacific will certainly enhance our outputs.'
Scoop
13-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Foreign Minister Visit Strengthens Ties With Indonesia
Press Release – New Zealand Government We are pleased to have made tangible, concrete progress today across the Indonesia relationship, which will deliver benefits for the New Zealand and Indonesian people, says Foreign Minister Winston Peters. Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Winston Peters' visit to Indonesia today has secured tangible progress in New Zealand's relationship with Southeast Asia's most populous nation. 'Indonesia is an indispensable partner for New Zealand,' Mr Peters says. 'Demonstrating our commitment to the relationship, this is our fourth visit to Indonesia in the past 18 months, including for President Prabowo's inauguration. 'We are pleased to have made tangible, concrete progress today across the Indonesia relationship, which will deliver benefits for the New Zealand and Indonesian people.' Mr Peters, alongside Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, announced in Jakarta today: the conclusion of a cooperation arrangement on halal products, which will facilitate halal food trade between New Zealand and Indonesia; the signing of an enhanced education cooperation arrangement, to facilitate student and research exchanges; an increase from 45 to 70 in the annual number of scholarships for Indonesian students to study in New Zealand; and a port visit by HMNZS Te Kaha to Jakarta later this month. 'By working more closely together, New Zealand and Indonesia are fostering mutual economic growth, deepening regional cooperation, and strengthening the connections between our people. 'The arrangement concluded today on halal is particularly noteworthy. Indonesia is recognising New Zealand's domestic processes for certification of halal products. This will improve access for New Zealand meat and dairy into the world's largest Muslim country. 'We are also pleased that the new arrangement on education will spur closer student and research exchanges.' Mr Peters arrives back in New Zealand tomorrow, having completed a three-country tour of France (for the Pacific-France Summit and the UN Ocean Conference), Italy and Indonesia.
Scoop
13-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Foreign Minister Visit Strengthens Ties With Indonesia
Rt Hon Winston Peters Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Winston Peters' visit to Indonesia today has secured tangible progress in New Zealand's relationship with Southeast Asia's most populous nation. 'Indonesia is an indispensable partner for New Zealand,' Mr Peters says. 'Demonstrating our commitment to the relationship, this is our fourth visit to Indonesia in the past 18 months, including for President Prabowo's inauguration. 'We are pleased to have made tangible, concrete progress today across the Indonesia relationship, which will deliver benefits for the New Zealand and Indonesian people.' Mr Peters, alongside Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, announced in Jakarta today: the conclusion of a cooperation arrangement on halal products, which will facilitate halal food trade between New Zealand and Indonesia; the signing of an enhanced education cooperation arrangement, to facilitate student and research exchanges; an increase from 45 to 70 in the annual number of scholarships for Indonesian students to study in New Zealand; and a port visit by HMNZS Te Kaha to Jakarta later this month. 'By working more closely together, New Zealand and Indonesia are fostering mutual economic growth, deepening regional cooperation, and strengthening the connections between our people. 'The arrangement concluded today on halal is particularly noteworthy. Indonesia is recognising New Zealand's domestic processes for certification of halal products. This will improve access for New Zealand meat and dairy into the world's largest Muslim country. 'We are also pleased that the new arrangement on education will spur closer student and research exchanges.' Mr Peters arrives back in New Zealand tomorrow, having completed a three-country tour of France (for the Pacific-France Summit and the UN Ocean Conference), Italy and Indonesia.
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Scoop
New Zealand-led Task Force, With Royal Navy, Seizes NZ$1b Worth Of Drugs In Arabian Sea
The New Zealand-led Combined Maritime Task Force 150 (CTF 150) has made its highest value drug bust of the year, seizing 1000kg of heroin, 660kg hashish and 6kg of amphetamine (with a street value of NZ$1 billion) in the Middle East. Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster was patrolling in the North Arabian Sea late last week, when crew identified and tracked a small cargo dhow acting in a suspicious manner. After observing the dhow using a Peregrine uncrewed aerial system, Royal Marine boarding teams boarded the vessel while a Wildcat helicopter with a Royal Marine sniper team covered them. Once the six crew were secured, the boarding team found 50 packages containing 1000kg of heroin, 55 packages containing 660kg of hashish and 6kg of amphetamine tablets. The drugs were taken back to the ship for testing and disposal. Lancaster Commanding Officer, Commander Chris Chew, says the ship's latest success was the result of his crew's motivation, commitment and dedication. 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets,' he said. Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Commodore Rodger Ward is Commander of CTF 150. 'This is the largest value narcotics interdiction we've made under our New Zealand command this year,' he said. 'Conducting maritime interdictions requires a team effort from the men and women here in the headquarters in Bahrain reaching through to those out on the oceans disrupting drug smuggling operations at the coal face. 'I'd like to acknowledge the 210-strong ship's company from Lancaster for continuing to get amongst it day-after-day. 'Everyone in the team can be proud of their efforts to disrupt the criminal and terrorist organisations that continue to use illicit narcotics to fund their activities and this is a significant blow to their revenue stream.' The seizure was testament to the tenacity, training and professionalism from CTF 150's Royal Navy partners, he said. CTF 150 is one of five operational task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain and is focussed on maritime security in the Middle East, in particular the disruption of drug smuggling operations. Collectively CTF 150 and partners have now seized narcotics with a New Zealand street value of $NZ1.8b, Commodore Ward said. 'Furthermore we estimate that our presence and the intelligence collected from our operations has resulted in the disruption of nearly three times that amount.' RNZN frigate HMNZS Te Kaha was also deployed to CTF 150 over the last two months, conducting similar operations as Lancaster as part of New Zealand's commitment to collective security efforts in the Middle East.
NZ Herald
04-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Watch: Government set to make defence announcement ahead of Budget 2025
That long-awaited plan, released on April 7, revealed $9b of the funding was new. Luxon described it as a 'landmark day' and a significant financial investment that was 'not just about the Defence Force, it's fundamentally about our national security and our economic prosperity'. Collins said the plan would deliver 'enhanced lethality' and a 'deterrent effect'. She said it was not 'about choosing sides or beating the drums of war' but supporting an international rules-based order, working alongside our partners and making smart decisions for the future. 'It gets our NZDF [Defence Force] out of the intensive care unit and not just growing, but growing where we need it to go,' she said. 'Our personnel deserve a serious plan that will serve them as they serve us, this is what we have delivered.' There are several major investments expected by 2028. This includes replacing the Boeing 757 fleet (expected at $600 million to $1b), enhanced strike capabilities ($100m to $300m), and a new fleet of maritime helicopters to operate from Navy ships ($300m to $600m). In the near term, the Government has decided not to immediately replace the country's ageing Anzac frigates, HMNZS Te Kaha and Te Mana, but instead provide additional maintenance to extend their lives into the early 2030s. This will cost between $300m and $600m. 'Extending the life of the frigates will retain Defence's combat capable ships and the skilled workforce required to operate combat vessels until the ships are replaced,' the plan said. Another vessel that would not be replaced at least in the short term is the recently sunk HMNZS Manawanui – instead dive and hydrographic tasks would be undertaken from other platforms rather than a single dedicated one.
