Taranaki company continues warship plans

Backers of a Taranaki-based bid to build eight new warships for the Navy say they will press on with their move despite an apparent lack of Government interest.

New Plymouth-based Fitzroy Engineering and British shipbuilder Vosper Thornycroft have joined forces to bid for the multi-million dollar contract.

But Vosper spokesman Grant Firth and Fitzroy managing director Tony Burn expressed concern at the lack of Government encouragement to have New Zealand content in the Navy's ships.