HMNZS Matataua Unit March Through Whakatāne

The Navy marched through Whakatāne this morning, celebrating ten years of the Freedom of the District Charter.

HMNZS marched through Whakatāne this morning. 

Pedestrians crowded the Strand this morning to witness the march of  the HMNZS Matataua Unit through Whakatane. 

Whakatāne District Council Governance Services Manager Chirese Viljoen said this marks the tenth anniversary of its Freedom of the District - one of the highest honours a council can bestow on a military unit. 

She said the Royal New Zealand Navy have a close relationship with the district, having had units operate in the Eastern Bay previously.   

The Chief of the Navy, Rear Admiral Gary Golding did not attend the march this morning, however he will be attending the Whakatāne ANZAC Day Dawn Service on Saturday. 

Viljeon said this is an honour. 

Whakatāne District Council Mayor Nándor Tánczos said the parade provided an exciting opportunity for Whakatāne as the units' home port. 

"I thought the parade was fantastic, what a pageant, what a ceremony, what a parade!"

"We don't see things like that parading through our main streets very often, so it was great to be part of it."

He said despite not knowing much about the partenership previously, he is eager to expand on the partnership. 

"It was great to hear Commander Greg Camborne talking about it, he's actually a local boy."

"He was saying that a lot of people in HMNZS Matataua are local people."

Moving forward, he is eager to develop the relationship further, which started today. 

"Commander Camborne offered the opportunity for the mayor to have an armed escort from Matataua at the mayor's pleasure.

"So it means that we can call on them to have an escort for, a ceremonial occasion."

He said the personal connections to the unit make it more than a cerimonial partnership.