Get the family together and head into the CBD for a parade that celebrates the relationship between Tauranga and the Royal New Zealand Navy next weekend.

More than 100 of the HMNZS Te Mana's crew and the RNZN Band will march from the waterfront to the Tauranga City Council offices on Willow Street as part of The Charter Parade on Saturday, July 30.

Sailors from HMNZS Te Mana will be marching through Tauranga next Saturday. Photo: Fairfax

The charter signifies the bond between the Te Mana and Tauranga which is the vessel's homeport.

The parade will see theship's company march through the streets with drums beating, bayonets fixed, swords drawn and colours flying.

'This is a great opportunity for the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty communities to turn out to show their support for the men and women who selflessly give up their time for the service of our country,” says council spokesperson Viktoria Ermes.

Starting from Tauranga's waterfront opposite Red Square at 11am, will parade up The Strand to Wharf Street, and then march to the council offices on Willow streets where the charter will be read by TCC's chief executive Garry Poole.

Also attending the parade will be Deputy Chief of Navy, Commodore Dave Gibbs, Mayor Stuart Crosby and councillors will attend the parade.

Prior to the parade kicking off, the RNZN Band will be playing on the waterfront from 10.15am.

The Te Mana and HMNZS Endeavour will be in port from July 28 to August 1, with the Te Mana open to members of the public on Saturday, July 30, from 10am to 4pm. Public access will be via the Salisbury Gate, which is next door to Mount Ocean Sports Club.

To allow for the parade, Wharf Street from The Strand to Willow Street and Willow Street between Wharf Street and Hamilton Street will be closed from 11am to 11.45am on Saturday, July 30.

This will be rolling closures as the parade moves along its designated route and detours will be in place.

For more information go to navy.mil.nz

THE HMNZS TE MANA

HMNZ Te Mana.Photo: RNZN

HMNZS Te Mana is the Royal New Zealand Navy's second ANZAC Class Frigate and was launched on May 10, 1997. She was commissioned in her home port of Tauranga on December 10, 1999.

The Te Mana measures 118 metres long, 14.8m wide, weighs 3600 tonnes and requires 6.2m of water to float.

She is propelled by a one GE LM 2500 Gas Turbine (30,000hp), two MTU 12V 1163 Diesel's (8500 hp), and twin shaft controllable pitch propellers, and can reach speeds over 27 knots and has a range of 6000 nautical miles at 18 knots.

Her armament's includes a five inch 54 calibre fully automatic lightweight gun, an eight cell Mk 41 Vertical Launch System which houses the NATO Seasparrow air defence missile, a PHALANX Close In Weapon System, two MK 32 Mod 5 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes, plus numerous small arms ranging from 50 cal machine guns to 9 mm pistols

Te Mana also carries one KAMAN SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopter that can be armed with torpedoes, depth charges and Maverick missiles.

She has a crew of 177, made up of 25 officers and 152 ratings (sailors).