Work on building the Navy’s two newest boats—TAKAPU and TARAPUNGA—is advancing steadily at Opua in the Bay of Islands, at the hands of a team led by boatbuilder Perrin Clarke of Northland Spars and Rigging, under the eye of designer Alan Walker of Coastdesign Naval Architecture.

Each 9.2 metres long with a beam of 2.68 metres, the aluminium jetboats are being built for the Navy’s specialist Littoral Warfare Support Force to provide fast access to harbours and other shore areas to conduct anti-mine work, surveying, diving support, disaster relief and similar operations.