HMNZS Matai

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HMNZS Matai (T01) began life as New Zealand’s government lighthouse tender, servicing marine lights around the country and offshore islands. Launched on 11 June 1930, she also helped lay cables in the 1930s.

The Royal New Zealand Navy requisitioned Matai on 3 March 1941 and she was converted into a minesweeper, commissioned on 1 April 1941. Matai became the flotilla leader of the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla, taking over from Muritai, and led efforts to clear a German minefield in the Hauraki Gulf. She later served as a transport ship in 1945–46. Matai was decommissioned on 25 April 1945 and was broken up in 1965. The ship was named after the native mataī tree.

Key details: about 1,050 tonnes, length 66.8 m, beam 10.7 m; triple expansion steam engines with 1,050 ihp, twin shafts, oil; speed 10–13 knots; crew of about 81; armament included a 4-inch gun, two 20 mm Oerlikons, two machine guns and 40 depth charges; ASDIC (sonar) used for underwater search.