20 January 2009 - Commander Mat Williams and his crew of 179 men and women on board warship HMNZS TE KAHA departed the Devonport Naval Base at 10:00am this morning bound for the Port of Bluff.

TE KAHA is scheduled to arrive in Bluff at 10:00 am on Thursday 22 January and will spend the following 4 days loading stores and equipment prior to heading south to the sub antarctic region in support of the Department of Conservation and the Royal Society of New Zealand. Personnel from both organisations will be onboard TE KAHA for the deployment.

The Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Tony Parr says "Once again, the Navy is very pleased to be able to assist the Department of Conservation with their ongoing projects and programmes in New Zealand's Sub Antarctic Islands. TE KAHA with her helicopter has considerable 'lift and carry' capability for the task. In addition her presence is an exercise of New Zealand sovereign right to these uninhabited islands. Facilitated by the National Maritime Coordination Centre, the work that will be done in the islands is a fine example of a whole of government approach to an important national responsibility."

TE KAHA will depart Bluff at 10:00 am on Monday 26 January and will head south to the Snares, Enderby Island, Auckland Island and Campbell Island to undertake a Department of Conservation re-supply and to support scientific research activities with the Royal Society of New Zealand.

"The delivery of the large quantity of boardwalk to Enderby and Campbell Islands would not be possible without the Navy," said Department of Conservation outlying islands programme manager Pete McClelland. "This boardwalk is vital to help minimise the impact of visitors while allowing for the appreciation of New Zealand's sub antarctic islands." Whilst in the sub antarctic region, the Department of Conservation will also be carrying out conservation management such as monitoring, research and maintenance work.

HMNZS TE KAHA will complete her sub antarctic duties on Sunday 1 February and will berth alongside Dunedin in the morning of Tuesday 3 February to disembark Department of Conservation and Royal Society of New Zealand personnel, prior to departing again in the afternoon to head home to the Devonport Naval Base.