Old navy ship to be sunk as dive attraction

The retired navy frigate HMNZS Canterbury will be sunk as a dive attraction in Deepwater Cove at Cape Brett in the Bay of Islands.

Defence Minister Phil Goff said today the Government had looked at selling the ship for scrap but the country would get greater economic benefit if it was sunk as a dive wreck.

The 3000 tonne, 36-year-old warship, the last steam ship in the navy, would become the third navy ship to be sunk off the Northland coast as a dive attraction.