Frigate returns from the Gulf

The Navy Anzac frigate HMNZS Te Mana is due home from the Gulf of Oman on Friday - almost two years after the first New Zealand warship joined the multi-national fight against terrorism.

The Government said yesterday that it had not planned to replace Te Mana with another warship, but that did not mean the naval contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea was over.

The ship has been away for nearly eight months, most of it in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea where it has been stopping and boarding ships as part of an international search for terrorists.

Te Mana's latest deployment was the third by a New Zealand naval ship.

Its sister ship HMNZS Te Kaha began this country's naval commitment in November 2002, and was replaced by Te Mana early last year.

Te Mana returned to New Zealand in August last year, but left the Devonport naval base in Auckland this year for its second deployment to the Gulf of Oman.

A spokeswoman for Defence Minister Mark Burton said the return of the ship did not necessarily mean the naval contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom was over.

"The Government considers all requests," she said. "You would be a bit premature to say that [the naval commitment to Operation Enduring Freedom was over]. As requests came through they would be considered."

During its deployment Te Mana, with a crew of 174, spent 98 days at sea, queried 380 ships and boarded 38 in the Gulf of Oman or the Arabian Sea.

The ship is due to berth at Kauri Point in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour to unload ammunition early on Friday morning, before it berths at the Devonport Naval Base for a welcome home from families and friends.

Most of the crew are expected to go on leave and the ship is due to go into maintenance at Devonport.

- NZPA