Lifestyle and Leisure
Life in the NZ navy
Maike van der Heide talks to two British servicemen who have swapped life in the British Navy for life in the New Zealand Navy.
Whenever people talk about finding a job in New Zealand, the usual suspects come up as good possibilities – doctors, builders, dentists, teachers and so on. But have you ever considered joining the armed forces? It may seem like a less obvious choice, but the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is suffering from the same skills shortages that continue to plague the rest of the country and is looking to the UK as a main source of new recruits. With a picturesque naval base in quaint Devonport, located across the harbour from central Auckland, going to work each day could certainly be a lot worse. New Zealand is a peaceful, safe country but the Navy has plenty to do. Not only do they have thousands of kilometres of our own coastline to protect, they also do a lot of international work in war-torn countries such as Afghanistan and East Timor.
Here, two Brits who swapped the high seas of the Royal Navy in the UK for the isolated waters of its New Zealand counterpart, discuss why they made the lifestyle choice they did and the results this choice has had.
Petty Officer John Towey
"I Joined the Royal New Zealand Navy after signing the oath on the 25th June 2007 in London. The idea of joining the RNZN is to experience NZ and naval life in a new yet familiar field. I served for 23 years in the Royal Navy, spending most of my shore time at HMS Cochrane and HMS Caledonia which are naval bases in Rosyth, Scotland both bases are not so different from HMNZS PHILOMEL in Devonport. With the RNZN only having some 2,500 personnel it is a familiar environment to work in. What stands out is the personable, relaxed yet professional attitude which is apparent to me at all levels. My rank in the RNZN is Petty Officer Naval Policeman and my job entails investigating all offences, both service and civil committed, by servicemen and women in the RNZN.
I am serving on the police team in HMNZS Philomel, the Naval Base in Devonport, Auckland, where I will be for the next two years or so, collating my former Royal Navy experience and familiarising myself and putting into practice 'how it's done Kiwi style'. My impression of serving in the Royal New Zealand Navy is very positive. I instantly felt welcome. The RNZN is a very friendly service, and all the personnel are very dedicated to the job in hand. Having only been serving some four weeks or so, the most memorable thing for me so far have been the New Zealand people. In three words I would describe them as 'friendly, open and honest' in a country second to none. I came to New Zealand with my family. My wife, Claire, and two children, Laura 16 (who will be shortly starting her Nursing degree at Auckland University of Technology on the North Shore), and James, 10, who attends Stanley Bay Primary School in Devonport.
The family are loving the experience and so far we have no regrets whatsoever. As a family we have settled in very well. I would definitely recommend the RNZN to any RN personnel who are wishing to continue with their naval career in a familiar, friendly yet professional environment. As naval personnel we adapt fairly easily to new situations and environments. The RNZN is run on similar lines to the Royal Navy.
People will advise you to think hard about the move as it is a big step. My advice would be the same, but also that you should be positive and put into perspective all the pros and cons and see how lucky you can be. Like anything, do your homework first. If you can come out for a visit before hand even better, it is all about preparation and planning. I feel great after leaving behind a somewhat materialistic, superficial keeping up with the Joneses life and I'm enjoying the fabulous lifestyle only NZ can offer."
Lieutenant Commander Andrew Curlewis
"I joined the RNZN in September 2006 from the Royal Navy. I felt that the RNZN would provide a more stable environment for my family which would not compromise my career advancement or job satisfaction. The RNZN's significantly smaller size was initially a problem when integrating into the work environment; however, after a relatively short period in which I became more familiar with the various personalities and processes I now see this as a real advantage over the Royal Navy.
I am a Lieutenant Commander and hold the position of Platform Systems Engineer. I am responsible for the co-ordination of all major engineering defect repairs across the fleet together with the ongoing supervision of engineering standards across all ships. My general impressions of the NZ Navy are positive. They have a highly professional approach to doing business and they work very hard to achieve significant results with limited resources. Highlights would be leading the evaluation team as the Navy's newest vessel, Canterbury, was accepted into service in Melbourne, Australia, recently. An unexpected highlight was the dawn service for ANZAC Day, a public holiday in April. I do not do early mornings well but this service was remarkable in its wide attendance from young to old and was very special to me as a new Kiwi in the making.
A significant low is my failure to procure Bisto Best Instant Gravy granules, other than that life is 'sweet', as they say out here. I am based within the Naval Base in Auckland and in the short period I've been in the New Zealand Navy I have visited Nelson and also Melbourne in Oz. I would strongly recommend the Navy to others considering emigrating but would caution that they do their homework first. New Zealand is similar to the UK in ways but there are significant differences which can lead to some being disappointed with the move.
I believe the Internet is a fantastic tool in researching a new life Down Under, and encourage anyone considering emigrating to get up to date with what the issues are in this part of the world. Salaries are not on a par with the UK and the cost of living is about the same, this can make settling into the country very difficult but should not prevent anyone from considering New Zealand as a new home destination. The quality of life in terms of security, people, weather, opportunities and life satisfaction is far superior than in the UK."
For more information:
How to join the RNZN
Facts about the NZ Navy
New Zealand's Navy's aim is "to be the best small-nation Navy in the world," which sounds like a good motto to protect what is essentially a small pimple of land in a giant ocean. A/LT CDR Chalky Carr, a Brit serving in the New Zealand Navy, shares a bit of background information on the sea-faring men and women who have the country's national security at heart and why the navy is looking to the UK for more recruits:
"The Navy is based at Devonport, Auckland, where the shore establishment HMNZS PHILOMEL and the RNZ Naval College are responsible for administration, supply and training support to the sea-going ships. The Navy's routine operations stretch across the South Pacific and South East Asian regions, but its roles in international peacekeeping and regional security also mean its ships and naval personnel have served further afield.
In 2002, 2003 and 2004 New Zealand deployed frigates to the Gulf of Oman as part of a multinational task group conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations in the region. Naval personnel have recently served ashore on peacekeeping duties in Afghanistan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Israel and Korea, while naval ships and personnel have also deployed to East Timor in recent years. The Navy of today is an innovative and dynamic organisation that makes a significant contribution, both in New Zealand and overseas. This maritime capability is delivered through our ships and our people.
"The 'right' people are the most important element of this capability. In the Navy everyone has the opportunity to contribute to making the NZ Navy a world-class organisation. The Navy's culture encourages people to use their skills to 'make a difference'.
The Navy is expanding to become a more responsive and versatile organisation. To help achieve this we are increasing our recruiting pool to include candidates with current or previous service in the Royal Navy in the UK.
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