Statement: Royal New Zealand Navy exercise

You may have read comments online referring to a media release from Auckland Peace Action. The release appears to be based on a misunderstanding of a Royal New Zealand Navy exercise taking place this weekend. To suggest, as the release does, that the Royal New Zealand Navy is practicing “killing protestors”, in the words of Auckland Peace Action, is both absurd and abhorrent.

This exercise taking place in Kauri Point is both routine and long planned and entirely unconnected with protest events taking place around the world. The exercise, which we have publicised, is part of routine HMNZS Otago preparation for operational activities. The scenario is set in a fictitious overseas location ie not New Zealand.

An aspect of the exercise involves RNZN personnel playing the part of those with a hostile intent towards the ship and crew.

The ship’s “work up”, as these exercises are called, is intended to allow the ship and her crew to maintain readiness for a number of situations that they may encounter, as is required by the Government. These range from person overboard and firefighting drills to how to deal with a drone incursion, and how to ensure the safety of the ship and crew in the face of attempts to board it.

This particular exercise would prepare the ship and crew for docking in a country where unrest is occurring, and where the vessel may be evacuating civilians, refuelling and resupplying, or taking part in security operations.

The exercise takes place during daytime over a number of days, and as is the practice of the NZDF, the Royal New Zealand Navy gave notice of it through both traditional and social media in order to avoid alarming the community, who may hear loud noises.