Hawkes Bay teen swaps surfboard for ship

Hydrographic Surveyor Greg Carter

04 May 2007

While most of Greg Carter’s friends from Napier Boys High School went to university or polytech, he decided to join the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Joining meant Greg had to give up surfing on the Mahia peninsula where he grew up, but the chance for a new adventure made it worthwhile.

Now, at 19, he has posted as a hydrographic surveyor to the Navy’s survey ship, HMNZS Resolution.

“I decided to become a surveyor because I was good at geography at school and hydrographic surveying is related,” Able Hydrographic Survey Operator Carter said.

“I didn’t want to get a student loan and joining the Navy was something different.”

Being posted to the HMNZS Resolution has meant AHSO Carter has spent two of the last six months at sea.

“I enjoy the travel and the chance to go to different ports. Port hopping is great because you meet all kinds of different people.”

HMNZS Resolution returned to Devonport Naval Base last night after a three week training and surveying voyage down to Picton and back.

It will remain alongside for two months before embarking on another surveying voyage.

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