NZ Navy ships deployed to Pacific

Two New Zealand Navy vessels will be dispatched to six Pacific Island countries next week.

Defence Minister Peeni Henare announced the planned departure of patrol boat HMNZS Wellington and off-shore support vessel HMNZS Manawanui.

Henare says the Navy will provide training to local forces and assist in border patrols.

The vessels will visit Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.