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Officers and sailors on board the Navy warship HMNZS Te Mana are relieved to be coming home.
The ship arrives at Devonport Naval Base in Auckland this morning, after spending five months away in the Arabian Gulf, where it has been helping support security operations.
Te Mana's commanding officer Commander Blair Gerritsen says it was challenging dealing with the Middle East summer.
He says while everyone in New Zealand was cold, they were working in high temperatures and sandstorms.
Commander Gerritsen says they spent long periods at sea in some of the busiest waterways in the world.
He says everyone is very excited to be coming home, particularly for the dads on board as it is Father's Day.
Commander Gerritsen says most of the ship's company will now have four weeks' holiday.
- NEWSTALK ZB
