A Brief Report on the AllShips hosted by The HMNZS Otago Association
The All Ships 2025 Reunion was proudly hosted by the HMNZS Otago Association over the weekend of 3rd–5th
October 2025, based at The Remuera Club in Auckland. With 70 members registered, attendance was excellent, and the weekend proved to be a wonderful success.
The Friday night mix and mingle set the tone for the event, with a great atmosphere and plenty of friendly banter and well-told naval dits. It was especially pleasing to welcome two members who had travelled over from Australia, and to have all three of our Life Members present for the occasion.
The Association’s Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday morning, attended by 21 members, with 15 apologies received. This meeting marked a very special milestone, as it was President Jim Blackburn’s final report after decades of dedicated service. At the remarkable age of 99, Jim decided to step down, having first attended the inaugural committee meeting in 1961 and serving continuously as President since 1992.
Members warmly acknowledged Jim’s extraordinary contribution, leadership, and passion for the Association over so many years.
In recognition of his long and loyal service, members unanimously agreed to elect Jim as the Association’s Patron, a role he accepted with characteristic humility and honour.
Following the AGM, members enjoyed a fascinating tour of the Devonport Naval Base and Seamanship School, kindly hosted by Lt Cdr Brett Fitzgerald. He provided an informative update on current naval activities, noting that despite manning challenges, all ships have deployments scheduled over the next 12 months. He also shared insights into key issues currently facing the Navy, including shortages in the engineering and electrical branches, gaps at the Leading Hand, Petty Officer, and Lieutenant ranks, and the ongoing pressures of an ageing fleet.
The visit to the Seamanship School was particularly impressive, with members remarking on the state-of-theart facilities. That evening, all gathered again at The Remuera Club for a formal buffet dinner. The Guest Speaker, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, son of the late Reese Golding, who was well known to many members, delivered an informative and candid address on the theme “Honouring Our Heritage, Embracing Our Future.” He spoke about the ongoing manning challenges, the ageing fleet, and what the future fleet might look like in the next decade. Admiral Golding emphasised the need for greater commonality across ship platforms, suggesting that the Navy should ideally operate two tankers and two support vessels similar to HMNZS Canterbury. He concluded by thanking all present for their past service and loyalty to the Navy and encouraged younger members to consider rejoining, noting that their experience would be highly valuable. Admiral Golding’s speech proved to be a highlight of the reunion.
The reunion concluded on Sunday morning with a Church Parade at St Aidan’s Church, Remuera, attended by 18 members and partners, where they were warmly welcomed by the congregation.
All in all, the 2025 All Ships Reunion was a great success, full of camaraderie, shared memories, and thoughtful reflection on both the Navy’s proud history and its future direction.
Noel
HMNZS Otago 