Farewell for frigate Canterbury
The local farewell of the Navy frigate HMNZS Canterbury will take place in and around the city from 16-21 March.
The ship will be formally taken out of service in Auckland on 31 March.
Activities here include open days on the ship, a formal charter parade, visits to schools, sports competitions, Royal New Zealand Navy Band performances and the Sea-sprite helicopter landing in Cathedral Square. On Friday, 18 March the ship's helicopter will be in Cathedral Square from 9am until 3pm. The same day, from 12.30-1.30pm, the Navy Band provides the lunchtime concert.
On Monday, 21 March at 11.45am the sailors from Canterbury will march with other Navy personnel in a Charter Parade from The Bridge of Remembrance along Oxford Terrace to Cathedral Square.
The parade, which marks the farewell of the Canterbury from Christchurch, will feature a volley of rifle fire using blank shells. Some roads will be closed.
In Cathedral Square Mayor Garry Moore will inspect the Guard of Honour, and the parade will retreat along Colombo Street to the Town Hall. The frigate will be open to the public from 1–4pm on Saturday, 19 March and from 10.30am to 4pm on Sunday, 20 March. There will be shuttle buses provided from the Oil Park at Lyttelton Wharf.
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