An excited Maia celebrates her fourth birthday tomorrow, and Kandra said she was happy to be home in time to light the candles on her cake.
Lost for words, she said she was "excited, happy" to be back.
Around 100 family members boarded the HMNZS Canterbury after it docked in Devonport, Auckland, this afternoon, emerging onto the flight deck anxiously looking for their loved ones.
It didn't take long for everyone to be reunited.
Little Marley Rodahl, 2, couldn't stop stroking her dad Roman's long beard as she sat happily in his arms.
"It feels great [to be home]," he said, as they hugged again.
Petty Officer Seaman Combat Specialist Gan Elphick-Moon's boys appeared to be eyeing up a career at sea themselves as they tried on different navy hats and headgear, posing for photos with dad.
Xander, 8, Macklin, 6, and 2-year-old Jai were "super excited" when they found out dad was coming home today, mum Angela said.
HMNZS Canterbury was the first New Zealand ship to berth at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii since 1995 when it arrived to take part in Exercise Rimpac in June.
It then sailed to New Caledonia for another exercise and to carry out humanitarian aid work.
