Source: Radio New Zealand
HMNZS Canterbury. Chris Weissenborn
The navy vessel Canterbury will stop off in Tokelau to mark the centenary of New Zealand administration of the territory on 11 February.
The multi-role ship is currently on a fuel stop in Samoa, as it begins ‘Operation Calypso’, focused on illegal fishing in the southwest Pacific.
Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, staff from various government agencies and an officer from the Tokelauan National Disaster Management Office are on board, and will visit the atolls of Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo.
Weather agency MetService received a request from Tokelau government agencies for observer training and will conduct a needs assessment, as well as servicing the Automatic Weather Station on Nukunonu.
A New Zealand police officer on board will take the opportunity to meet with their Tokelau counterparts during the trip.
After visiting the atolls, HMNZS Canterbury will return to Apia, where some passengers will disembark.
It will then sail to Raoul Island, where Air Force NH90 helicopters and flight crew and army personnel will help MetService and Earth Sciences New Zealand staff with upgrade and maintenance work on critical weather, tsunami and volcano monitoring equipment and facilities.
“Tokelau and Raoul Island are two examples of hard-to-reach places in our region, where carrying out tasks can be very logistically challenging” said Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major General Rob Krushk.
“We’re pleased to be able to support the visit of Her Excellency the Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro and New Zealand Government agencies to deliver services and equipment to these areas through one of our regular South West Pacific deployments.”
The Canterbury will then return to New Zealand.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/02/07/navy-vessel-canterbury-stops-in-tokelau-to-mark-centenary/