Western Pacific Naval Symposium Mine Countermeasure Exercise

Below the surface of the Hauraki Gulf, in 30 metres of water off the Whangaparaoa Penisula, lie four unexploded mines from World War Two. They were laid in the gulf in 1942 by the New Zealand Defense Force to protect the country from foreign invasion, and discovered by chance during a Royal New Zealand Navy multi-national exercise in the Hauraki Gulf this week. Now, teams are working to deactivate the mines. Lieutenant Commander Trevor Leslie is the commanding officer of the navy operational dive team.