HMNZS HAWEA is one of the Navy’s four Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs). The ships are designed for maritime surveillance and patrol missions around New Zealand’s 15,000 kilometer coast and out to the 200 nautical mile limit of our Exclusive Economic Zone. The IPV’s primary mission is to protect the security and prosperity of New Zealanders by undertaking maritime security patrols, surveillance, boarding operations and response to search and rescue call outs. The IPVs regularly work with government agencies such as Ministry of Primary Industries, Customs, Police and Department of Conservation. HAWEA was delivered to the Ministry of Defence and commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy on 1 May 2009. HAWEA is the third ship of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after Lake Hawea.