Painted especially for the cover of a book on the history of the Royal New Zealand Navy, the modern ANZAC class frigate then under construction, is shown with HMS NEW ZEALAND, a gift to the Royal Navy in 1909.  Symbolising the modern navy with its past, this work not only captures the technology of warships at the beginning and end of the 20th century, but also the change in outlook of New Zealanders, from being reliant upon Britain for our defence, to having an independent attitude.