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HMNZS Kahu (A04) was a Moa-class inshore patrol vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

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She was launched in 1979 as the lead boat of her class, modified to function as a diving tender. She was initially named HMNZS Manawanui (A09),[1] the second of soon to be four diving tenders with this name to serve in the New Zealand Navy. As a diving tender she participated in the exploration and salvage work of the wreck MS Mikhail Lermontov in March 1986.[1]

HMNZS Kahu
HMNZS Kahu (Ex)
HMNZS Kahu (Ex) in Canada

On 17 May 1988, she was renamed Kahu (A04) and recommissioned as the basic seamanship and navigation training vessel attached to the Royal New Zealand Naval College. Kahu is the second boat with this name to serve in the New Zealand Navy. (The name comes from the Māori-language kāhu – the name for the native swamp harrier hawk.) The ship was replaced in her role as a diving tender by HMNZS Manawanui (A09).

She remained in service for seamanship, Officer of the Watch training and as a backup diving tender until her decommissioning on 30 October 2009. The ship was sold for use as a pleasure craft on 18 February 2010.[2]

Kahu was distinguished from other boats of the Moa class by the gantry on her quarterdeck and lack of funnels.

Post RNZN Career[edit]

After leaving the Royal New Zealand Navy she was sold to Peter White-Robinson and renamed Kahu. In 2011 she underwent a year long refit at Fitzroy Yachts in New Plymouth, converting her to a ‘family ship’. In 2013 she was sold.[3]

In 2021 the vessel was involved in a £160,000,000 drugs bust when she was intercepted by HMC Searcher 130 km off the coast of Plymouth.[4] 1 British Citizen and 5 Nicaraguan citizens were arrested. 2000kgs of Cocaine was reported to be onboard.[

HMNZS Hinau (P3556) was a Moa-class inshore patrol vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

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French Pass , Reserve M C M fleet
VR IPC’s MOA, KIWI, WAKAKURA and HINAU and KAHU transiting French Pass.

It was commissioned in 1985 for the Naval Volunteer Reserve and decommissioned in 2007. Hinau is the second ship with this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy. The name comes from the forest tree Elaeocarpus dentatus which is native to New Zealand.

Construction and career[edit]

Hinau was commissioned on 4 October 1985

HMNZS Taupo (P3570) was a Lake-class patrol vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Taupo was commissioned in 1975 and decommissioned in 1991, serving for 16 years.

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HMNZS Taupo

Taupo was one of three ships of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after Lake Taupo.

HMNZS Taupo – Tutukaka

HMNZS Taupo chases the Kin Nan fishing ship through Taranaki waters.

Design[edit]

In the early 1970s the Royal New Zealand Navy sought a replacement for its ageing SMDL patrol craft, which dated back to World War II. These vessels would be used for fisheries patrols as well as for territorial surveillance, complimenting the existing capability provided by P-3 Orion aircraft and frigates. Tenders for construction of the Lake-class was awarded to the UK based Brooke Marine, with an initial order of six ships. This order was subsequently reduced to four. The names of the four ships were based on the previous Loch-class frigates that had previously served in the RNZN. The names chosen for the Lake class vessels were Hawea, Pukaki, Rotoiti and Taupo.[2]

Construction[edit]

Taupo was laid down in July 1974, and was built by Brooke Marine at their shipyard in Lowestoft, in the United Kingdom. Construction was completed by November 1974, with the ship being delivered and commissioned into the RNZN by July 1975.[3] Taupo was commissioned on 29 July 1975.

Service history[edit]

Service life[edit]

Taupo began her shakedown cruise on 5 August 1975. By August 1975, she took up fisheries and territorial patrol duties. Over the course of her service life, Taupo additionally took part in fleet exercises, as well as use with the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve.

During their initial service life the ship was beset with engine vibration problems. The Lake class gained a reputation for poor performance in heavy seas, with a number of sailors injured. Taupo would be regularly refit in order to attempt to resolve these issues. In addition, all patrol craft were subject to a number of fuel shortages throughout the 70s and 80s, resulting in significant time spent laid up at Devonport Naval Base.

Sinking of the MS Mikhail Lermontov[edit]

Main article: MS Mikhail Lermontov

Taupo was one of a number of ships that came to the assistance of the sinking Soviet cruise liner Mikhail Lermontov on 16 February 1986.[4] Commander by Lt. Batcheler, Taupo assisted in both the recovery of passengers, as well as helping to coordinate rescue efforts.

Decommissioning[edit]

Taupo served with the RNZN until 1990 when she and her sister ships were decommissioned and sold off. The ship was replaced by the Moa class, and later Lake-class inshore patrol vessels. HMNZS Taupo, commissioned in 2009, carries the same namesake and pennant of Taupo.

HMNZS Rotoiti (P3569) was a Lake-class patrol vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy. It was commissioned in 1975 and deleted in 1991.

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HMNZS Rotoiti

Rotoiti was one of three ships of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after either Lake Rotoiti in North Island, or Lake Rototi in South Island (or perhaps both).

HMNZS Rotoiti was a Lake-class patrol vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy. It was commissioned in 1975 and deleted in 1991.
Rotoiti was one of three ships of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after either Lake Rotoiti in North Island, or Lake Rototi in South Island (or perhaps both).
New Zealand
Builder: Brooke Marine, Britain
Commissioned: 1975
Decommissioned: 1991
Identification: Pennant number: P3569
Fate: deleted
General characteristics
Class and type: Lake-class patrol vessel
Displacement:
105 tons standard
135 tons full load
Length: 107.8 ft (32.9 m)
Beam: 20 ft (6.1 m)
Draught: 11.1 ft (3.4 m)
Propulsion:
2 × Paxman 12Y JCM diesels
3000 hp, 2 shafts
Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range: 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi)
Complement: 21
Sensors and
processing systems: Navigation radar: Racal Decca 916 I band
Armament:
2 × 12.7mm machine guns
1 × 81mm mortar

HMNZS Pukaki (P3568) was a Lake-class inshore patrol vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Pukaki commissioned in 1975, deleted in 1991 and sold as a private launch.

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Service history

The class was intended to comprise 6 vessels to replace the wartime harbour protection boats and old converted minesweepers HMNZS Kiama and Inverell used for fishery protection in the 1960s and early 1970s. The Lake class were politically justified as a means of enhancing New Zealand’s capability for patrolling the 200-nautical-mile (370 km) exclusive economic zone, established by the new Law of the Sea of 1977. However they were too small for the task, and gave the crews a roller-coaster ride, resulting in extensive injury and sea sickness. Originally the RNZN had requested slightly larger 37-metre (121 ft) boats from Brooke Marine, but the experience of the over-extended Lake class turned the navy strongly against this type of mini warship. Opposition politicians condemned their introduction as ridiculously expensive and militaristic for fisheries protection. On calm days and in protected waters they could be comfortable and they gave useful early command experience for officers. Pukaki and its class were used to escort the US Navy nuclear submarines Haddo and Pintado into Auckland Harbour in 1978 and 1979 .

Pukaki was one of three ships of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after Lake Pukaki.