Freedom of the city – HMNZS Manawanui officers and crew march past Mayor Rehette Stoltz in ceremonial ‘charter parade’. PM Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford also in attendance.

With lowered flag, officers and crew of the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui marched past Mayor Rehette Stoltz in a ceremonial “charter parade” yesterday.

In a tradition that arose from the medieval practice of granting respected citizens freedom from serfdom, the mayor handed over the charter to Lieutenant Commander Andrew Mahoney.

The charter is a symbolic gesture that represents handing over the keys to the city to a military body, allowing it the freedom to parade through the city.

In attendance at the ceremony were Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her fiance Clarke Gayford.