King George VI granted the title Royal New Zealand Navy to the regular elements of the fleet in 1941.

The RNZN had been planning its 75th Anniversary celebrations for c 3 years, to culminate in an International Fleet Review in Auckland Harbour on 19 Nov 2016. As the fleet was assembling for pre-review exercises, many of those with highly capable helicopter fights were diverted by their governments to assist the NZ Defence Force and NZ Civil Authorities in the aftermath of an M7.8 earthquake on the South Island and were unable to participate.

Those which were not diverted are shown here.

Ships were open to visitors alongside in Auckland on 20 Nov before they dispersed on 22 Nov. Those ships involved in Earthquake Relief were recalled on 19 Nov and visited Wellington, then Auckland briefly on 23 Nov, prior to resuming their planned deployments.