There were emotional and humorous moments at Avatiu Harbour as Te Kukupa was officially farewelled by friends, family, crew and dignitaries on Friday.

The morning ceremony was led by long-serving crew member Senior Sergeant John Teaurima.

Te Kukupa arrived at Avatiu Harbour in 1989, under the Australian Pacific Patrol boat programme - her crew of 20 will sail her to New Zealand on Wednesday where they will stop to refuel before sailing on to Australia where she will be disposed of.

They will then spend at least three months training in Perth after taking possession of her replacement Te Kukupa II in April.

“It is a source of amazement to me that in the two years since we opened our diplomatic presence in this country, there have been no direct flights between our countries,” Australian High Commissioner to the Cook Islands Dr Christopher Watkins told those gathered.

“The day we can reopen those links safely is not far off, but in the meantime, I am extremely pleased that there will be a direct boat.

“It is proof that nothing can keep old friends like Cook Islands and Australia apart for long.

“We will always find a way.”

Dr Watkins said Te Kukupa was a gift from Australia at the time when Bob Hawke was prime minister.

“We were united in our anger at French nuclear testing.”

He said Australia could have expanded its Navy into the Pacific in the face of natural disasters, illegal fishing and transnational crime, but instead entered into a partnership built on promise “that we would work in the Pacific as equal partners”.

“Australia would give Cook Islands and other Pacific Island nations the capacity to patrol their own waters.

“We would trust that the stronger and safer our Pacific partners were, the stronger and safer Australia would be.

“In later April, in Perth, shortly after ANZAC Day, we will renew that promise.”

Prime Minister Mark Brown, in addressing the crowd, said Te Kukupa had carried the Cook Islands flag “with mana in our sphere of influence and beyond; throughout the wider Pacific”.

“She was one of 22 Pacific patrol boats built by the Australians and gifted to nations like ourselves.

“Out of all the Pacific nations she is the last one still in service.

“I am told that she is the best maintained of her fleet, she has clocked up the most miles at sea out of all the other boats.

“She has the longest life. She is located the furthest away from Australia, here in the Cook Islands. She is the last of her family to be retired.”

In her time, Te Kukupa had sailed many thousands of kilometres, the most of any of her sister ships, carrying out tasks too numerous to name, Brown said.

“But some stand out, in the 1990s, Te Kukupa escorted the vaka Te Au O Tonga to Mururoa atoll to protest against French nuclear tests being conducted there.

“Her captain recalls taking the vaka up to the 12 nautical mile limit off the island with French frigates and helicopters observing their every move. At the same time, he was on the radio to the French authorities – with whom the Cook Islands had - and still have – co-operation agreements.

“In the perfectly professional conversation, he advised the French that the vaka would go up to the line, the crew would perform their protest action and would leave; and they did.”

She had also seen service in the face of tragedy, he said.

“She was first to arrive at Manihiki after Cyclone Martin wrought its devastating damage.

“She recovered bodies from the sea after the Avaiki air crash in the early 90s. She has taken other boats in tow when they have been in trouble, she has checked on our precious uninhabited islands around the Pa Enua including Suwarrow and many other tasks.”

Te Kukupa also helped with cargo and passenger transportation when she was able to help our Pa Enua in times of need.

“She carried food, water, medical supplies, educational supplies, sick people and pregnant women,” PM Brown said.