Anzac nations strengthen ties during Navy ship's first visit to sister city

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.