Home away from home for Ōpōtiki sailors aboard HMNZS Aotearoa

Although she did have some reservations about leaving her beloved hometown of Ōpōtiki.

“I loved growing up in Ōpōtiki,” she said.

“It’s a relaxed and friendly town where everyone knows each other, so a part of me was a bit reluctant to leave that behind.”

Her current posting has been made easier in this regard by not only having some fellow Ōpōtiki-born sailors on board HMNZS Aotearoa, but her ex-classmate from Ōpōtiki Primary School, Leading Seamanship Combat Specialist (LCSC) Tremayne Waenga. 

“He joined before me but I actually didn’t know that until I started training and saw him marching across the base in uniform.”

The pair remember playing rugby together at school, something they both recently rekindled during the harbour phase of Exercise RIMPAC in Hawaii – the world’s largest maritime exercise.

LSCS Waenga slotted into the midfield for a friendly rugby match between the Ship and Hawaii Harlequins (a local club side) while ASTD Kurei took part in the women’s touch rugby competition. 

ASTD Kurei also finished second in the bench press competition, narrowly losing to the American favourite.

“I enjoyed getting to compete against different countries and get the chance to meet a variety of people,” she said.

“I think it was an important part of the exercise because we made friends with foreign sailors who we then linked up with later on in the exercise. Having already formed those relationships really helped when we ended up working together.”

In case a Ship’s company isn’t enough of a family-feel, ASTD Kurei also had whānau on board through Petty Officer Communications Warfare Specialist (POCWS) Trilesse Black, who was also a leading influence in her wanting to join the Navy in the first place. 

“Dani is one of the hardest workers I know,” POCWS Black said.

“I was so happy when I heard she was joining as I knew she would be a good asset to the organisation.”

In case a three-strong Ōpōtiki contingent isn’t enough there was a fourth member of the team, making sure they had a real taste of home while abroad.

Galley Manager, Leading Chef Nicole Mio Mihaere led the team in the kitchen in charge of producing three hot meals a day for all 108 crew on board.

“It can be a busy job! I think a big difference to working in a restaurant ashore is that I sometimes lose workers to launch boats, help with helicopter operations or complete seamanship tasks during meal times,” Leading Chef Mihaere said.

“Also, because I live in close confines with my customers, I have to put up a good feed or I will hear some banter when I see people around the ship.”

Beyond the opportunity to experience everything RIMPAC had to offer in terms of the training opportunities, AS Kurei said the chance to network with sailors from so many nations was a particular highlight, as well as trading badges, souvenirs and military coins.

Exercise RIMPAC finished last week with HMZNS Aotearoa now headed to Japan as part of a multi-national force to help detect and deter actions that directly contravene United Nations Security Council sanctions on North Korea.

The latest important mission for the Ōpōtiki quartet.