HMNZS Matai (T01)

HMNZS "Matai" (T01) was a Marine Department lighthouse tender which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and converted into a minesweeper.

"Matai" was the government's lighthouse tender servicing the marine lights around New Zealand and offshore islands, and had been used for cable laying in the 1930s. She was named after a native tree.

She was requisitioned on 3 March 1941 and handed over to a dockyard for conversion.

War career

On commissioning on 1 April 1941, "Matai" took over as the flotilla leader of the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla from "Muritai" and the flotilla began clearing a German minefield in the Hauraki Gulf.

ee also

*Minesweepers of the Royal New Zealand Navy

References

* McDougall, R J (1989) "New Zealand Naval Vessels." Page 69-78. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780477013994

Further reading

* Harker, Jack (2000)"The Rockies: New Zealand Minesweepers at War." Silver Owl Press. ISBN 0959797998