Commander Tuijo ‘TJ’ Thompson is the newest Commanding Officer of Anzac frigate HMNZS Te Mana, revitalised after an extended maintenance period under Commander Chris Bone.
11 July, 2025
“I have the ship,” says Commander Tuijo Thompson.
With those words CDR Thompson becomes the latest Commanding Officer of Anzac frigate HMNZS Te Mana, during a Change of Command ceremony at Devonport Naval Base today.
He takes the ship from Commander Chris Bone, a marine engineer appointed as Commanding Officer for the frigate’s extended maintenance period from June 2024 in Devonport Naval Base’s Calliope drydock.
It’s CDR Thompson’s first time back to sea since his posting as Executive Officer of HMNZS Te Kaha, when he stepped off the ship in February 2018 as it was about to head to Canada for its Frigate Systems Upgrade.
“I remember at the time I was leaving after spending two years of my life on board, having built a home and a team of very talented people. It was a massive chapter in my career, closing at that moment, but you have to move on.
“Now, this feels like the natural progression, stepping into my new journey and Te Mana’s journey. CDR Bone has done a fabulous job leading the ship’s company and seeing through the maintenance requirements.
“He’s got the ship to a place where I can now take the responsibility on, regenerate it and as soon as we can, start delivery of operational capability for New Zealand.”
Commander Tuijo ‘TJ’ Thompson is the newest Commanding Officer of Anzac frigate HMNZS Te Mana, revitalised after an extended maintenance period under Commander Chris Bone.
Commander Tuijo ‘TJ’ Thompson is the newest Commanding Officer of Anzac frigate HMNZS Te Mana, revitalised after an extended maintenance period under Commander Chris Bone.
Commander Tuijo ‘TJ’ Thompson is the newest Commanding Officer of Anzac frigate HMNZS Te Mana, revitalised after an extended maintenance period under Commander Chris Bone.Scroll to previous imageScroll to next image
CDR Thompson joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 2003 as a Midshipman in the Warfare Officer specialisation.
He has served in frigate HMNZS Canterbury and has operational deployments aboard Royal Australian Navy missile frigates and the Royal Navy.
Following his time with Te Kaha, CDR Thompson spent three years in Singapore, two of those as an Assistant Defence Advisor and one year doing the Advanced Command and Staff course
He was promoted to Commander in 2023 and comes to Te Mana after a posting as Deputy Director Operations Global at Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand.
He takes on a ship that has undergone some major work, including a refurbished propulsion system, communication upgrades and extensive work on the ship’s hull.
Commander Chris Bone says the ship will have had 350 days in drydock by the time it comes out next week.
“In that time, over 130 tonnes of steel have been replaced on the ship. That’s over 60 sections of hull replaced.”
He says there has been several “firsts” for this particular New Zealand Anzac frigate refurbishment, including the full removal and inspection of the tailshaft, and installation of the latest communications upgrade.
“The main aim of this package is to renew and ready the ship for all operations the New Zealand Government may demand of it in the next three to five years.
“It has been an amazing challenge and opportunity to step up to the command role and use the knowledge and experience from a career in engineering to support the ship’s company in doing their jobs day to day while planning for the regeneration of the frigate under the next Commanding Officer.”
CDR Bone was the Marine Engineering Officer (MEO) for Te Mana between 2020-2023, leading the engineering department through the ship’s regeneration following the Frigate Systems Upgrade in Canada.
He has progressed his career from a junior technician onboard Te Kaha through the ranks to Te Mana today, serving on the majority of the New Zealand fleet as well as both frigates.
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