Royal New Zealand Navy Sub-Lieutenant Nate Stainton is serving on HMAS Ballarat as an assistant weapons electrical engineering officer while the ship conducts a three-month regional presence deployment.

This is Sub-Lieutenant Stainton’s second deployment with the Royal Australian Navy and will bring his two-year exchange to an end.

He joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 2020 during the second year of his degree in mechatronics at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch.

After graduating, he completed a six-month posting to HMAS Cerberus to complete his Weapons Electrical Engineering Officer Application course.

Following his time at Cerberus, Sub-Lieutenant Stainton posted to Ballarat in Western Australia on a two-year Royal Australian Navy exchange.

“After training, me and five mates packed up and drove across the Nullarbor, which was an amazing experience and something I never thought I would do,” Sub-Lieutenant Stainton said.

“I wasn’t really sure what to expect because this was my first sea posting but Ballarat has great people that have been extremely welcoming and made me feel like any other member of the crew.”

Ballarat was on the hardstand undergoing maintenance and upgrades when Sub-Lieutenant Stainton posted in.

This allowed him to focus on integrating with the crew and learning the ship, achieving his officer of the day qualification soon after joining.

'I’ve learned a lot and gained a lot of experience during my time in Australia, but it really is the people that make it.'

Once back at sea, Sub-Lieutenant Stainton was able to focus on consolidating his training as a weapons electrical engineering officer.

“The job of the weapons electrical department at sea is to maintain the ship’s weapons, communication systems, radars, sonars and lasers,” Sub-Lieutenant Stainton said.

Sub-Lieutenant Stainton spoke highly of the opportunity to serve on an Australian warship.

“Having the opportunity to work alongside New Zealand’s closest ally and neighbour has been a really rewarding experience,” he said.

“Taking the ship from the hardstand, through major weapon systems upgrades, an operational deployment and now a regional presence deployment is really special.”

Regional presence deployments are Australia’s contribution to maintaining collective security in the Indo-Pacific in collaboration with partner nations.

This deployment will mark the end of a memorable two years for Sub-Lieutenant Stainton.

“I’ve learned a lot and gained a lot of experience during my time in Australia, but it really is the people that make it,” he said.

“I’ve met some amazing people on this journey. Friendships I’ll definitely have for life.”

Sub-Lieutenant Stainton is currently studying for his Weapons Electrical Certificate of Competency, which he hopes to attain before returning to New Zealand in December.