August 2006 - Advised in March of this year, that my petition had been unsuccessful. Canterbury is to be sunk as a diving attraction in the Bay of Islands.
23 February 2006 - At the start of my submission I requested that Canterbury be preserved as part of NZ's nautical heritage. The Canterbury to be gifted to the People of NZ and maintained by the RNZN as part of the Naval Museum at Devonport. In the event that the museum did not wish to assume this responsibility she be given to a Trust specifically set up to maintain and promote her.
The result is as follows:
1. The Select Committee are keen for Canterbury to be kept as a nautical museum and does not wish that the Naval Museum look after her.
2. They are keen for the ship to be looked after by a Trust that will professionally manage her on the Auckland side of the harbour where she will be more in the public eye. There are a couple of leads that will be followed up by the Committee.
17 February 2006 - advised that a meeting has been scheduled between myself and the Select Committee on Thursday 23 February.
Suez Canal 1991
November 8 -
Petition 2005/1 of James Anthony Dell and 941 others (8 November 2005) Requesting that HMNZS Canterbury be preserved as part of New Zealand's nautical heritage. (presented by Hon David Benson-Pope)
(referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee)
October 28 - Petition presented to local MP - who accepts and signs petition. He will present to the Office of the Clerk, the House of Representatives.
(referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee)
October 25 - Final signatures received - 941
Saving Canterbury - this ship has served New Zealand admirably during her long career and deserves better than to be sunk as an artificial reef for the privileged few or scrapped for the paltry sum of $400,000.
1. It is important to preserve NZ's past - in any shape or form. The general public should be allowed to see how NZ sailors lived and worked onboard a ship of the 20th Century.
2. Canterbury was the RNZN's longest serving ship - 34 years. During this time, over 4,000 sailors and airmen have served on her.
3. Canterbury was the last steam driven warship in the RNZN.
4. Canterbury was the last operational Leander class frigate in the world.
5. Canterbury is one of the RNZN's most decorated ships -
Qualified for the following:
(A) 1973 Mururoa - NZ Special Service Medal
(B) 1982 Operation Armilla - NZ General Service Medal - Gulf of Oman
(C) 1983 Operation Armilla - NZ General Service Medal - Gulf of Oman
(D) 1996 Persian Gulf - NZ General Service Medal
(E) 2000 East Timor - NZ General Service Medal
(F) 2000 East Timor - Interfet Medal
(G) Because of (B) through to (F) qualified for the NZ Operational Service Medal 5 times
Total 11 medals plus awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace for Operation Armilla
In addition to the above, Canterbury was also involved in:
1977 Represented NZ at the Royal Fleet review at Spithead in the UK
1987 With HMNZS Wellington, stood by in Fijian waters after the first military coup in the event that NZ citizens had to be evacuated.
1997 Was part of the Peace Monitoring Group at Bougainville.
Between 1977 and 1987, Canterbury contributed a total of 361 days toward NZ's commitments in Southeast Asia.
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Canterbury coming alongside Suva, Fiji - March 1982
9 September 2005
One of the supporters suggested that Canterbury goes to the National Maritime Museum Auckland. This facility is managed by CEO, Larry Robbins, former CO of HMNZS Monowai. He had this to say:
(1) the NZNMM cannot afford to look after another floating vessel (and
experience overseas indicates that such vessels do not pay their way even
with volunteer guides)
(2) I only have 20 metres of wharf space. There is 70 metres west of that
bit of wharf but CY is 113 metres so 23 metres would have to stick out, my
crane would have to be berthed outboard of CY etc etc (we've looked at it
but don't like it very much)
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In the Gulf
At this stage, I would like to point out the following:
1. National Museums are normally funded by the Government and the entry fee is nothing. They normally ask for a small coin donation. However, National Maritime museums charge a fee - this is to offset costs for the maintenance of the ships that they have in the water. The RNZN Museum is such a museum and no entry fee is charged as they have no vessels to maintain.
2. City museums are funded by the ratepayers of that city. For example, the Auckland War Memorial Museum - no charge to get in, but will accept coin donations. Dunedin's Otago Museum - no charge to get in, but charges to see special exhibits.
3. HMNZS Canterbury would be no different to any other maritime museum. None of them make money. All museums are there to preserve the nation's heritage. Its part of the nation's expenditure - put it with Defence, Health, Education, Social Welfare, etc.. - they don't make money.
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A lot of Canterbury's fittings have already been stripped and disposed of, but this is of no consequence. However, the CEO of the NMMA has assured me that he would give back the ship's main drag water cooler !
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Commissioning voyage from UK, 1971
Paying off day, March 2005
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