More than 16 ships were boarded during the initial patrol by the New Zealand naval vessel HMNZS Hawea in Fiji's exclusive economic zone.
With a combined crew from both nations' navies, the week long patrol was the first by a New Zealand inshore patrol vessel in the south Pacific.
As part of a six month mission to help Fiji patrol its territorial waters, crew boarded eight foreign yachts, eight commercial fishing vessels and a number of smaller craft over a 2000 square kilometre patrol area.
The first patrol focussed on the eastern and central divisions of Fiji, including sea around Lau, Lomaiviti and Kadavu islands as well as Tailevu province in Viti Levu
The Hawea's commanding officer Lieutenant Dave Luhrs said his crew had learned about reef navigation and the local culture while integrating with personnel from the Fiji Navy and other Fijian agencies.
Staff from Fiji's Fisheries Ministry and Customs Authority have joined the patrols along with personnel from New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries.
The New Zealand Maritime Component Commander Commodore Jim Gilmour said the mission was a win-win situation
"We are able to assist Fiji on maritime surveillance and at the same time develop our own mariner skills."
On Wednesday Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama toured the vessel, berthed in Suva, with New Zealand Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee who has been visiting Fiji.
Fiji PM Frank Bainimarama tours the HMNZS Hawea, a patrol vessel deployed to Fiji for six months from April 2017 to help patrol Fiji's EEZ Photo: Fiji Government
