TAKE A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE > 1992 : INTERNATIONAL ROYAL FLEET REVIEW : AUCKLAND & WELLINGTON, N.Z

BY HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

2 APRIL 2024

From Sydney, New South Wales, KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa continued their voyage to Auckland, New Zealand to participate in the RNZN International Royal Fleet Review and also the 50th Anniversary Charter Parade of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Auckland (in Maori: Tamaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. New Zealand is also a home to the biggest ethnic Polynesian population in the world. 

My wife at New Zealand in 2018

THE MAORI

Maori are indigenous people of New Zealand. It is believed that the ancestors of modern Maori landed in New Zealand, known as Aotearoa, between 1200 1300 A.D. Once British colonists began arriving in the 1830s, war broke with Maori in attempts to seize land for settlements. 

The Maori people all belong to the Polynesian race. They are racial cousins to the native people who live on the islands within the Polynesian triangle, including the Maori, have similar customs and social live. 

10 Things about Maori Cultures

DEVONPORT NAVAL BASE, AUCKLAND, N.Z

Devonport Naval Base is located in Devonport, on the north coast of Auckland, New Zealand. Established as early as 1841, this base consists of HMNZS Philomel (base administration centre), Fleet Support Organization, and also Fleet Personnel and Training.

INTERNATIONAL ROYAL FLEET REVIEW

The International Royal Fleet Review was held in Auckland, New Zealand on 5 October 1991 with 35 warships from 9 countries: Malaysia, Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, Singapore, Tonga, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, and New Zealand. The ceremony was officiated by the Governor General, Dame Catherine Tizard.

Not all navy personnel get the chance to be selected to participate in the International Royal Fleet Review. It is a matter of pride for a member of the Navy to be selected as the country's ambassador at the international level. That's what 70 officers and members of the Royal Malaysian Navy from KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa who participated in the parade in Auckland City, New Zealand felt.

I was very lucky to have been able to participate in 2 International Royal Fleet Review,  first in Penang, Malaysia in 1990 and then in New Zealand in 1991.

A Fleet Review is an event where a gathering a ships from a particular Navy is paraded and reviewed by an incumbent head of state of other official civilian and military dignitaries. Fleet Review may also include participants and warships from multiple navies. 

Originally, the Fleet Review was a way of demonstrating the strength of the fleet to a potential enemy in anticipation of war. The first recorded fleet review was put on for King Henry V at Southampton in 1415. Naval assemblies date back to 1773 when King George III reviewed the British fleet following the Seven Years’ War. Over the years, the International Fleet Review has become a Royal Navy tradition.

Among the countries that are also involved in the International fleet parade in the city of Auckland, NZ.

NEW ZEALAND:

HMNZS Canterbury, HMNZS Wellington, HMNZS Southlands, HMNZS Endevour, HMNZS Waikato, HMNZS Manawanui, HMNZS Monowai, HMNZS Tui, HMNZS Tarapunga, HMNZS Takapu, HMNZS Hinau, HMNZS Wakakura, HMNZS Kiwi, HMNZS Moa and HMNZS Kahu. 

AUSTRALIA:

HMAS Perth, HMAS Hobart, HMAS Ipswich and HMAS Dubba.

CANADA:

HMCS Yukon, HMCS Saskatchewan, HMCS Mackenzie and HMCS Provider. 

COOK ISLAND:

MV Te Kukupa

MALAYSIA:

KD Mahawangsa and KD Lekir

SINGAPORE:

RSS Endurance, RSS Vigour and RSS Valour

TONGA:

HMS Savea

VANUATU:

RVS Tukoro

WESTERN SAMOA

MV Nafanua

Commanding Officer of KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa

SHIP OPEN TO VISITORS

As part of the RNZN International Royal Fleet Review 1991, KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa were opened for visitors. During the event, public will be briefed on various parts of ship. 

The crew of both RMN Ships were proud to show off their ship, with locals taking the opportunity to take tour the ships. This is the only privilege for us to share with the public who we are, what we do and how we do it. 

HMNZS TAMAKI

HMNZS Tamaki, previously located on Motuihe Island near Auckland, was relocated to Fort Cautley Military Camp in Narrow Deck, Devonport in 1963. Basic common training remained there until 1993, when it shifted to the North Yard of Devonport Naval Base. 

IN 2000, HMNZS Tamaki was decommissioned with its functions absorbed again by HMNZS Philomel. 

1941 - 1963 - HMNZS Tamaki

HMNZS PHILOMEL

HMNZS Philomel is the main administrative base of the Royal New Zealand Navy. HMNZS Philomel is part of Devonport Naval Base, North Shore City, Auckland, New Zealand. This base was built in 1921 when the New Zealand Navy division was first established. The base was recommissioned as a training center in 1941.

On the night of October 2, 1991, the crew of KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa were invited to attend the RPC (Request the Pleasure of your Company) at HMNZS Philomel. It was an official invitation to a naval event. We were celebrated, and we took the opportunity to get to know the members of HMNZS Philomel better. They were very friendly and we had a great time that night, a memory we will never forget.

Three sailors from HMNZS Philomel always lend a helping hand to us when we are in Auckland.

After a few days in Auckland, KD Lekir and KD Mahawangsa continued to their next port of call, the Port of Wellington in New Zealand. While on the voyage to Wellington, the ships were involved in exercises with the navies of the countries involved in the IRFR in New Zealand waters.

Something that is rare or does not exist in our country will definitely attract the crew's interest, such as a volcano that does not exist in our country, Malaysia. During the voyage to Wellington, the ship passed a volcano in New Zealand. We understand that there are several volcanoes in New Zealand and most of them are still active.

WHITE ISLAND / WHAKAARI

Whakaari or White Island is an active andesite Straovolcano situated 48 km from the east coast of of the North Island of New Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty. The island was sighted and and named by Capt. James Cook in 1769. 

**Note:

On 9 December 2019, White Island erupted. It was reported that there are 47 people on the island when the eruption happened. 22 people were killed, including two people who are missing and confirmed dead on 23 January 2020, 25 were seriously injured. 

Commanding Officer of KD Lekir, Capt. Noor Azman Bin Othman (Left)

Commanding Officer (Middle) with KD LekirTactical Communicators

WELLINGTON HARBOUR, NEW ZEALAND

Wellington is the state capital and the second most populous city after Auckland. It is located between the Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range and has a population of 393,400 people.

The name of the City of Wellington is taken in honor of Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and also the commander of the British Navy during the Battle of Waterloo.

The city of Wellington has experienced several relatively severe earthquakes in 1848 and 1855. The strongest earthquake ever recorded in New Zealand was the Wairarapa Earthquake in 1855.

ARTHUR WELLESLEY, DUKE OF WELLINGTON

After a few days in Wellington, the ship continued its voyage and stopped at several ports before returning to Malaysia. Among the ports of call were Adelaide, Perth, and Surabaya.

The ship arrived safely at Lumut Perak Port (Estimated time of arrival - can't remember).

After returning from the voyage to Australia and New Zealand, I was transferred to the SKTLDM Kuantan in Tanjung Gelang, Kuantan, and served there until I retired from service in January 1996.

Indeed, the memories with KD Lekir are the sweetest that I will remember for the rest of my life.....

Hj.Zulheimy Maamor

4 APril 2024 > 24 Ramadan 1445H: 3.01 a.m