A speeding Australian warship is being blamed for damage caused to boats and a fish farm inside a tranquil New Zealand waterway.

HMAS Warramunga has been conducting advanced navigation training in New Zealand for Australian and Kiwi navy students.

Last week, locals in the picturesque Marlborough Sounds said they spotted the Anzac Class frigate speeding through their sheltered harbour.

Paul Keating from local advocacy group Guardian of the Sounds said several boats and a walkway were damaged.

"Twelve people rang the harbour master that day to lay complaints and one of them was, I believe, from the salmon farm," he said.

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"Maritime hoonery would be a good way to describe [it].

"We haven't been given any reason why they chose to drive into the bays and then do very sharp turns."

'We would welcome an apology'

Marlborough Sounds harbour master Luke Grogan said his powers only covered civilian watercraft, and Navy warships were not bound by maritime law to keep to speed limits.

Tory Channel in New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds. ( Flickr: Phillip Capper )

Nevertheless, he made contact with the Commander of HMAS Warramunga.

"Navy vessels operate outside our jurisdiction so in many ways my contacting the Navy was just to make a request that they consider the information that I was able to provide and perhaps alter their operations based on that information — and ultimately they did," Mr Grogan said.

In a statement, Defence said: "Warramunga was aware of, and sensitive to, local aqua culture farms in the area, and following public concern adjusted its training."

Mr Keating said locals would also appreciate an apology.

"Just to say, 'look, sorry, we haven't done that before, what we did at that time wasn't really acceptable, and these are the reasons why'," Mr Keating said.

"We would probably welcome that."

Defence Minister Marise Payne said she was satisfied with the Navy's response.

"I understand that there was an incident attached to a joint training exercise in the Marlborough [region of] New Zealand, and we, after community concerns were raised, have indicated that we'll adjust our approach to that training and I think that's a very important step to have taken," she said.

"I'll talk to the Chief of Navy, but as long as we're looking after what we need to look after, and we're doing the right, thing that's the most important thing to me."