Why not start here, a few of the crew on the voyage home composed a song which they sang and recorded, and then sold it to the populace with all proceeds going to Waikato charities. Listen to it here.
The HMNZS WAIKATO commissioning ceremony was held on September 16, 1966. Other key dates are listed below.
June 13, 1963: The contract to build the HMNZS WAIKATO was placed with Messrs Harland and Wolff Ltd, BELFAST
January 10, 1964: The first section of the keel was laid.
February 18, 1965: The HMNZS WAIKATO was launched by Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra.
May 31, 1966: First Basin Trial.
June 21 - July 1, 1966: Contractors Sea Trials.
July 29 - August 9, 1966: Final Docking.
August 29-30, 1966: Final Machinery Trials.
September 13, 1966: Commodore Superintendent Contract Built Ships Final Inspection.
September 14-15, 1966: Store Ship.
September 14, 1966: Ship's Company moved onboard.
September 16, 1966: COMMISSIONING CEREMONY.
September 19, 1966: Machinery Demonstration. Signing of Acceptance Form.
Captain SF MERCER, RNZN
Lieutenant-Commander TA RIDDELL - Executive Officer
Lieutenant-Commander RM SIMMONDS - Marine Engineer officer
Lieutenant-Commander JA VENNELL - Supply Officer
Lieutenant-Commander JO'H TOBIN - Direction Officer
Lieutenant-Commander JM COLEMAN - Weapon Electrical Officer
Lieutenant-Commander AJL TYRRELL - Gunnery Officer
Lieutenant ES EIDE - TAS Officer
Lieutenant JA PAYNE - Navigating Officer
Lieutenant RJ CARNIE - Flight Commander
Lieutenant DP Milton - Communications Officer
Surgeon Lieutenant AJ NEWSON, RNZNVR - Medical Officer
Lieutenant IG STRONACH - Second TAS Officer
Lieutenant GN KENDALL - Assistant Marine Engineer Officer
Actining Sub-Lieutenant JC SHACKELL - Assistant Weapon Electrical Officer
CPO GI BAIGENT, JH | ERA1 BELL, GM | SBCPO CARPENTER, MB | ERA1 COOTES, DA | ERA1 COTTONN, DO | CH EL EVANS, LF | CH SHPT FORWARD, BH | REA1 FUGE, EW | CH M(E) GAWLER, CJR | F/SGT GILBERT, GS | CPO WTR GORDON, BM | ERA1 GUILFORD, AK | MECH1 HOWARTH, S | SCPO ILES, RE | CCA(W) IVERSON, JO | CPO FC1 KEERS, W | CERA LINCOLN, RE | CA(W) LIVINGSTONE, JE | F/SGT POLE, AH | CA(W) ROGERSON, RV | CH.RE ROWE, JH | CERA SAUNDERS, P | COA STOCKWELL, CP | CWM TATAM, DS | CVI VENUS, AC | ERA1 WALKER, FL | MAA(C) WATT, JJ | CPO CK WILLIAMS, HF | EA1 WRIGHT, CM
PO BISHOP, RH | PO EL BLACKLEDGE, DJ | POME BREGMAN, GE | PO CK BRUCE, JG | PO CUTFIELD, AM | PO EL DENNISON, JF | PO EL DOIG, JE | OA2 DUNDAR, RG | PRI EDWARDS, CJN | PO GARRETT, HJ | SGT GLAZEBROOK, GA | PO GROUBE, KC | R MECH2 HARPER, RA | T/SGT HARVEY-WILLIAMS, MR | PO HERBERT, LJ | PO INDER, TR | POME LAMB, PG | PO REL MOLES, GJ | SPO PIPER, PF | PO READ, GM | PO PTI REVELL, BA | PO PRI REVELL, HE | POME ROLL, GJ | PO DVR ROSS, L | PO EL MILHAM, LW | R MECH2 SCOWN, BT | PO STWD SCELLY, JG | POME SMITH, RS | SGT STACEY, SG | SGT WEST, SN | PO WM STROTHER, G | PO TASI WILLOUGHBY-GRAHAM, MH
L/S ADAMS, JW | LME ALLEN, DW | L/CK BRAY, EF | L/S BOULTER, RD | LEW CADWALLADER, GA | CAW APP CLARK, GA | LSG CONROY, CW | L/S DERRETT, RC | CAW APP D'ROSE, DC | LREM DUNNING, GM | L/WTR ELDER, WD | L/S FLETCHER, KW | LEM FIDDES, JB | LEM FOWKE, HJ | L/S GRANT, SI | LWM HALBERT, AL | LME HESKETH, JR | LME HILL, MB | LREM HILL, OS | LSA HIRON, PJ | L/CK HUFFAM, A | ERA3 HURNDELL, AW | SHPT3 KING, PR | LSA LAWSON, GF | L/S MARTIN, DA | L/S MCLEAN, BK | L/S MOA, GR | L/CK NILSEN, WR | L/STWD OSBORNE, BM | LME PENMAN, VB | LEM PUKEPUKE, B | LWM SIMONSEN, IL | L/CK SOLLET, PL | LEM SOPPETT, KA | L/S STEVENS, ID | LME STEWARD, DJ | LRD STOBIE, RG | L/S THOMAS, R | LME TIERNEY, EJ | LREM WARREN, JS | ERA3 WHITE, NW | L/CK WRATT, IW, LD KINGDOM, GB
A/B ANDERSON, FB | A/B ASHDOWN, JH | A/B ASHWELL, ML | EM1 ANSTIS, RN | WM1 ALLEN, DC | A/B AYRE, W | ME1 BRADLEY, NS | ME1 BROOKS, NG | ARD BULLOCK, JH | REM BRADBURY, J | ME1 BERREY, KG | ME1 COOK, H | EM1 COLE, WH | ARD CORKHILL, R | A/B CRANSTON, ND | ME1 BATES, EW | A/B DOCHERTY, CF | A/B F/POWELL, WR | REM GALBRAITH, NS | ME1 BUTCHER, KG | ME1 GOODALL, WB | A/B GILMOUR, JA | A/B GILMORE, R | A/B GALLOWAY, JR | A/B GLENTON, JB | A/B GALE, AJ | A/B GROUCH, N | A/B GLOVER, LJ | A/B BELL, GE | A/B HALL, JC | A/B HAMILTON, DF | A/B HOLMES, WF | CK HANSEN, R | SBA HUBBARD, MB | SA HOPKINSON, EG | SA EAGLE, MJ | A/B HAHN, KB | ME1 HIBBARD, EJ | REM HOWELL, RR | REM HOWELL, RR | A/B JOHNSTON, GO | A/B JAMES, R | ME1 LIND, DC | ME1 LUSKIE, KR | A/B LOWE, RE | A/B MILLER, AB | A/B MOHRING, RG | A/B MUDGWAY, WH | ME1 MULHALL, WF | ME MCINTOSH, LA | REN MILNE, C | WM1 MURRAY, WL | WM1 WARREN, BN | A/B DEWSE, NG | ME1 MOORE, NL | ARD MCCANN, K | ME1 NEWTON, BM | ASG MILLER, LW |
The Captains report on the ships proceedings, dated September 30, 1966, can be read here.
The Captains report on the ships proceedings, dated October 31, 1966, can be read here.
The Captains report on the ships proceedings, dated December 1, 1966, can be read here.
The Captains report on the ships proceedings, dated January 10, 1967, can be read here.
The Captains report on the ships proceedings, dated February 5, 1967, can be read here.
The Captains report on the ships proceedings, dated March 13, 1967, can be read here.
The Captains report on the ships proceedings, dated April 10, 1967, can be read here.
The Captains report on the ships proceedings, dated June 7, 1967, can be read here.
The Captains report on the ships proceedings, dated July 31, 1967, can be read here.
The Captains report on the ships proceedings, dated September 15, 1967, can be read here.
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AddressMurray Nash
Marton, 4710
New Zealand
Email muza01@xtra.co.nz