KEY POINTS:
Three young Navy ratings are facing charges over sex attacks on two women this week.
A woman was allegedly raped by two men at the Devonport Naval Base. Another was allegedly sexually assaulted in Lyttelton.
The three men have been suspended from duties and banned from the naval base while the court proceedings are in progress.
Police said alcohol was a factor in both cases.
North Shore police, who have been working with the Navy to help change its drinking culture after a series of alcohol-related incidents in recent years, say they are investigating both attacks but say they cannot reveal more because the matters are before the courts.
In the more recent incident, it is alleged that an 18-year-old woman was raped at the Devonport barracks early on Monday by Riki Percival Eriha Roberts, 23, and Sidney Walter McCann Junior Ranapia, 20.
Both are junior ratings with less than four years' service.
They appeared in the North Shore District Court yesterday, each facing three charges that included rape and sexual violation.
Both men were remanded on bail and will appear again in January.
In the earlier, unrelated incident, a 20-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted in Lyttelton.
Bill Holloway, 19, also a junior rating with less than four years' service, appeared in court yesterday on two charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.
He was remanded on bail and will appear in court again next month.
Navy spokeswoman Lieutenant Commander Barbara Cassin said the service was "shocked and stunned" by the allegations.
The Navy had reported the incidents to the police and the future of all three men would depend on whether they were convicted.
"Values of courage, commitment and comradeship define the behaviours of people serving in the Navy and the way they interact," she said.
"Those who demonstrate behaviour which is inconsistent with Navy values have no place in the Navy."
North Shore police area commander Inspector Les Paterson commended the actions of the Navy in relation to the Devonport incident.
Police had been working closely with the Navy to change its drinking culture, he said.
"It's not that many years ago they were given a rum toddy at lunchtime.
"It's a matter of changing intergenerational thinking. They have done a massive amount of work. They have really impressed me."
Mr Paterson said this week's incidents involved only a few personnel, and he hoped they did not affect the Navy's reputation.
"It's really tragic that this all came up like this," he said of the two close-together incidents.
"Police and the Navy at a very high level have done a huge amount of work and problem-solving with their staff and they've done a massive amount themselves.
"I just don't want to see that good work destroyed."
