That comment was made by TS Waireka unit commander Sub-lieutenant Jon Bones before a parade at HMNZ Toroa's building in St Andrew St last night to mark the arrival of the sea cadets.
Among those attending were Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy Rear-admiral Jack Steer and HMNZ Toroa commanding officer Lieutenant-commander Rob Tomlinson.
Sub-lt Bones (48) said he was ''hugely enthusiastic'' about the TS Waireka Sea Cadets leaving their previous Kitchener St premises, in a ''dilapidated'' old building, and sharing HMNZ Toroa's ''much smarter and better maintained'' building in St Andrew St.
The TS Waireka comprises 26 people, including cadets, ranging in age from 13 to 18, and older officers, and it was hoped to complete the move by mid-year.
The TS Waireka Sea Cadet Corps had been operating for 76 years and shifting to shared premises would be a positive move for both the cadets and HMNZ Toroa, the latter comprising a 30-strong mostly older group.
HMNZ Toroa's premises were owned by the New Zealand Defence Force. No lease payments would be required and there would be ''much better use of facilities'' and ''much more contact with our parent service, the Royal New Zealand Navy'', he said.
