HMAS Canberra (III), one of the Royal Australian Navy's largest ships, has arrived for its first port visit to its namesake's sister city, Wellington, New Zealand.
Over the five-day visit, Royal Australian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy personnel will engage with local communities to share insights into the historic mateship between the navies.
In a tradition that dates back to medieval times, locals can also look forward to a Freedom of Entry parade through the City of Wellington. A Freedom of Entry is the highest accolade a town can award a military unit.
The parade will see over 300 of Australian and New Zealand defence force personnel as they march through the streets of Wellington. This tradition is a recreation of trusted military units being officially welcomed to walled towns, and enabling them 'freedom of entry' to replenish food and arms.
The friendship between the Australian and New Zealand defence forces has endured for over a century. They famously fought together as the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in WWI. The members of that corps were known as "Anzacs", a shared name and friendship between the defence forces that continues to this day.
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO, RAN, will also travel to Auckland and Wellington and meet with his counterpart New Zealand Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, RNZN.
"Australia and New Zealand are bound together by our collective history, geography, and shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region," Vice Admiral Hammond said.
"We have a proud history of working together for over a century, including most recently as part of this year's Australian Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise and Operation Argos.
"I look forward to meeting with Rear Admiral Golding and discussing how our navies can continue to work together to enhance interoperability and shared lethality, and promote a stable, secure, prosperous region."
For Rear Admiral Golding, the visit is an eagerly awaited opportunity for personnel from both navies to interact on the New Zealand side of the Tasman.
"Having the Australian Navy flagship here in our capital city is an obvious demonstration of the close working relationship our navies enjoy - as well as providing a real highlight for Wellingtonians," Rear Admiral Golding said.
The arrival of Canberra also coincides with the embarkation of New Zealand Defence Force assets and personnel to Exercise Talisman Sabre, which will be held in Australia during July and August.
"The opportunity for our defence forces to exercise together, along with a number of other military partners, across a range of sea, land and air scenarios, is a valuable way for our personnel to hone their warfighting skills and work seamlessly and collaboratively with others," Rear Admiral Golding said.
Commanding Officer of HMAS Canberra, Captain David McPherson, RAN, said that his crew were looking forward to spending time with their Pacific neighbours where they will train together, and have some friendly competition on the sports field.
"Our longstanding friendship and the Anzac spirit is the foundation of our partnership, shaping how our navies train, deploy, and exercise together," Captain McPherson said.
"Both myself and the crew are looking forward to this milestone for our ship and its sister city."
Since 2016, Wellington and Canberra have shared a sister city relationship. HMAS Canberra (III) is a 230m complex amphibious platform, capable of transporting more than 100 ground vehicles, four landing craft, up to 18 helicopters and more than 1,000 troops, in addition to its crew of more than 400.
Australia and New Zealand's alliance and security partnership is underpinned by the 1944 Canberra Pact, the ANZUS Treaty, and the Australia-New Zealand Closer Defence Relations Ministerial Statement.
