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The message was clear: "Welcome Home Daddy!" written in the wonky handwriting of James Murray.
The Takapuna 5-year-old had decorated his white T-shirt with a black vivid marker to wear as his dad, Chief Petty Officer Richard "Muzz" Murray, arrived home for Christmas after his last voyage with the Royal New Zealand Navy.
During 19 years with the Navy he's spent more than 4000 days at sea.
Chief Petty Officer Murray and 224 other sailors returned to Auckland yesterday morning on the warship Te Kaha and the tanker Endeavour after five months of exercises and diplomatic tasks in the South Pacific, Asia and Australia.
"Every time [he goes away], I miss him like crazy," said wife Ruth.
"I'm ready for him to come home."
Hundreds of friends and family members gathered to reunite with their loved ones, deployed at sea since July.
Lily Te Wiata, 6, called out to her father, Warrant Officer Te Kani Te Wiata: "Daddy, I love your letters."
He had penned storybook tales for his children while he was away in which Lily was a ballerina and brother Wiremu, 3, a policeman.
