After almost two years of significant maintenance, HMNZS Te Kaha is back at sea!

For one day only, Wellingtonians are warmly invited to enjoy the opportunity to look over one of the Navy's two ANZAC class frigates during her port visit. Come down in your lunch hour, or finish early and see the ship on your way home.

Te Kaha will represent the Navy in several commemorative activities recognising the NZ Defence Force's commitment to the First World War centenary. She will sail from Wellington on 16 October, 100 years to the day since 10 troopships and their escorts, including HMS Philomel, departed Wellington.

Te Kaha will sail to Albany, Western Australia, to attend Australia’s 100th anniversary commemorations of the joint departure of the Australian Imperial and New Zealand Expeditionary Forces to Egypt on 31 October.

Next year Te Kaha will deploy to Gallipoli to be part of the commemorations for the centenary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli.

The ship has just completed phase two of her Platform Systems Upgrade - a mid-life upgrade for both frigates designed to ensure they remain a capable and modernised combat force through to the 2030s.

After upgrading the main diesel engines and enhancing stability during the first phase, Te Kaha has now upgraded her main platform control system and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment onboard. The crew of Te Kaha now enjoy unmanned machinery spaces and upgraded bridge capability, amongst other improvements.

The ship has completed her sea trials and in October heads to sea for training and exercises alongside our Australian counterparts.

The Navy's frigates are versatile warships that provide the NZ Government and Defence Force with key capabilities including:

- sustained and independent patrol and surveillance capability;

- capability to work in multi-national naval task-forces;

- weapons and systems to defend against air or submarine attack; and

- capability to support land forces using naval gunfire.