HMNZS CANTERBURY was launched on 6 May 1970 by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne and commissioned into the RNZN on 22 October 1971.
The Ship's Badge: Crossed Shepherds' staffs and a sheaf of wheat, representing the two main industries of the province in the central South Island.
During June 1973, HMNZS OTAGO was despatched to monitor the atmospheric nuclear tests at Mururoa Atoll. Subsequently HMNZS CANTERBURY relieved OTAGO until the test series had ended in 1973.
In 1974 CANTERBURY was deployed to the United States as the New Zealand ship on attachment to the United States Navy. For six months she was a unit of the US Navy's 5th Destroyer Squadron, operating off the west coast of the United States, returning to New Zealand in April 1975.
During the Royal Tours of 1974 and 1977, CANTERBURY was escort for the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA. Also in 1977 CANTERBURY represented the Royal New Zealand Navy at the Queen's Silver Jubilee review at Spithead held 28 June 1977.
CANTERBURY was one of two New Zealand frigates that provided operational support to the Royal Navy in 1982/ 83 when the Falklands war broke out in April 1982. CANTERBURY was the senior ship deployed to Armilla Patrol in the Indian Ocean.
1987 The First Fiji Coup
In May 1987, a military coup overthrew the elected government of Fiji. HMNZS CANTERBURY was diverted to Fiji where she remained off the coast with HMNZ Ships WELLINGTON and MONOWAI until the situation was clarified, and the need for a possible evacuation had ended.
The Bougainville Crisis
In 1997 a truce was negotiated, with an unarmed New Zealand-led multi-national Truce Monitoring Group inserted into the island. RNZN personnel were assigned to the Truce Monitoring Group, and CANTERBURY, ENDEAVOUR and MANAWANUI were deployed to assist the insertion of the Group. CANTERBURY's ship's company provided much of the manpower needed to quickly set up the Truce Monitoring Group, open roads and assist with initial administration.
1999-2002 - East Timor
CANTERBURY deployed to cover the arrival and landing of the New Zealand battalion at Suai, East Timor, during October 1999.
Multi-National Interception Force, Arabian Gulf
RNZN Deployments in South East Asia
NZ FORCE South East Asia 1974 - 1989 = 7
Significant deployments: United States and Canada following the ANZUS rift with the United States in 1985; the first to visit China in 1987; 1991 visited Crete for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete; 1993 visited Britain for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.
During September - November 1996 CANTERBURY deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of UN maritime forces enforcing sanctions.
During 2001-2002 four newly-built SH-2G Seasprite helicopters were delivered. CANTERBURY's flight deck was modified to enable the Kaman SH-2 Seasprite helicopters to operate.
The biggest change for the RNZN was the ADAWS 5 operational computer system - the NAUTIS command systems were subsequently installed in CANTERBURY.
HMNZS CANTERBURY was decommissioned 31 March 2005.