Naval ships Te Kaha and Endeavour were welcomed back to Devonport yesterday.
Naval ships Te Kaha and Endeavour were welcomed back to Devonport today.
Sailors were happy to be back after a long stint at sea.
More than 1100 family members and friends were waiting at Devonport Wharf to welcome home naval ships Te Kaha and Endeavour after almost half a year at sea.
The ships docked just after 9am yesterday and the crews were honoured by a gun salute and navy helicopter flypast.
HMNZS Te Kaha left New Zealand shores in February, playing a big part in the Gallipoli centenary commemorations before conducting searches in the Western Indian Ocean for drug smugglers. The patrols yielded drugs worth about $250 million.
HMNZS Endeavour was deployed in early March to work with Royal Australian Navy ships and take part in defence exercises off the coast of Malaysia and Singapore.
"The crews have been away from home and family for nearly six months, carrying out a wide range of challenging tasks," Commodore John Campbell of the New Zealand Defence Force said.
"They have all done exceptionally well. We are very proud of their performance and achievements."
It's understood a NZDF aircraft and multiple helicopters are involved.