While the ship is berthed in Otago Harbour, its crew are taking some time to meet civilians and explain a bit about their lifestyle at sea during an open day today.
Lieutenant Campbell Britton, of Queenstown, has been in the navy for more than seven years.
He joined the navy after graduating from high school because he did not want to go to university, he said.
His grandfather had served in the navy during the two world wars and he wanted to follow in his footsteps.
While life in the navy was not like he imagined, it had offered him a lot of opportunity and a chance to meet lots of new people, he said.
"I love it."
He had spent the year travelling around New Zealand, going up the West Coast and visiting Stewart Island.
He belonged to HMNZS Te Mana, but it was in dry dock at the moment, so he was getting some sea time on Te Kaha, he said.
The ship was non-operational and berthed in Fryatt St wharf and was being used for training purposes and giving the public an opportunity to visit.
Lt Britton’s crewmate Able Combat Systems Specialist CJ Johnston, of Roxburgh, said she was looking forward to seeing her mother and nanna today after returning from deployment in the Middle East.
She said it was "unreal" seeing places such as Oman and Bahrain, which she would never choose to go and see.
The navy had enabled her to travel to so many places she had never considered going to, she said.
However, there was a lot of work involved on board the navy vessel.
ACSS Johnston said she woke at 4.45am every day to train in the ship’s hangar, got ready, had breakfast and was at work by 8am and did jobs around the ship until 4pm.
The crew followed a strict routine on board and received daily orders for what needed to be done.
Former John McGlashan student Lieutenant Cam Angland, of Dunedin, is a watch keeper.
He said he worked in a 24-hour rotation and stood on the bridge instructing people how to drive the ship.
He had a team of sailors who worked under him, and he was responsible for their welfare.
The navy had everything they could need on board, including great food, he said.
Every day there was a cooked breakfast, and they always had an option of three different meats.
In Dunedin, the crew was restocking supplies.
A truckload of groceries would only last about a week.
The crew was looking forward to welcoming civilians on board today and showing them what life was like at sea.
