By Elizabeth Puranam
The HMNZS Te Kaha has set sail for Hawaii to take part in the world's largest naval warfare exercise.
It's the first time the United States has invited New Zealand to be a part of the training since the two countries fell out over our anti-nuclear policy in 1984.
Kelly Aspin won't be able to hold her son Kaya for four months after today’s farewell from New Zealand.
“Pretty sad to leave him,” she says. “It's going to be hard, but I'm looking forward to the trip.”
Joining her on the trip is a crew of 350 members from the Navy and Air Force.
New Zealand last took part in exercise Rim of the Pacific, or RimPac, 28 years ago. That's when America kicked New Zealand out of the ANZUS Alliance.
“Obviously we've been working with the US forces on an operational basis throughout that period on and off,” says Commander Jon Beadsmoore. “But now we're getting back to a solid working relationship with them, from a training perspective as well.”
New Zealand will be grouped with the United States, Chile, Japan and South Korea and will practise hunting down other ships as well as anti-submarine and anti-air warfare.
RimPac will be conducted near Honolulu from June 29 until July 3. It's the biggest naval exercise in the world. It involves 22 countries, more than 200 aircraft, 42 ships, six submarines and 25,000 personnel.
After RimPac, the HMNZS Te Kaha will be working with the Australian and Japanese navies around the Pacific before returning home.
3 News
source: newshub archive
