In March we saw the awesome arrival of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Seasprite Helicopters with the flying crew from the No 6. The crew were taking the Helicopter down south on a mission to Warbirds over Wanaka, which is on this Easter weekend. The Squadron of the RNAF.6 SQN is based at RNZAF Base Auckland in Whenuapai and is one of the force elements under the command of the Air Component Commander (ACC), Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand.

The helicopters are deployed from RNZAF Base Auckland to Navy ships TE KAHA, TE MANA, CANTERBURY, OTAGO and WELLINGTON. When onboard TE KAHA and TE MANA the aircraft fulfil a combat and surveillance role as well as providing transport and vertical replenishment capability. When deployed onboard CANTERBURY, OTAGO and WELLINGTON the aircraft are primarily tasked to provide surveillance, reconnaissance, transport and vertical replenishment capabilities.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has flown Seasprite helicopters since 1998. The Super Seasprite is one of the most technologically advanced helicopters in the world. Manufactured by Kaman AeroSystems, the Super Seasprite SH-2G "I" variant was delivered to the Ministry of Defence and commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Air Force on 14 April 2016. The Kaman Super Seasprite helicopter is the third variant to serve in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

The amazing military helicopter landed just after midday on Tuesday at the STC Sports grounds to a vast number of onlookers from St Thomas, Our Lady of Victories and Riccarton Primary School. After landing, the crew invited the onlookers closer for a inspection of the helicopter, but also a debrief of how the Seasprite works and what role each squad member plays.

It was a great opportunity for the students from St Thomas and the Riccarton and Sockburn area to get up close and personal with a military aircraft that has been actively used in service for 20 years and to also get some more insight into how an important aircraft of our overall defence force operates.

A huge thank you to Mr Taylor and Mr Barclay for their organisation around this visit and obviously to the Royal New Zealand Navy and Airforce as well.