Manila, Oct. 31 -- HMNZS Aotearoa, the Royal New Zealand Navy's largest support vessel, docked in Manila for a goodwill visit on Friday.

The port call marks HMNZS Aotearoa's second visit to the Philippines in the past five years and comes six months following the signing of the Philippines-New Zealand Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA).

On board the ship with reporters on Friday, New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Catherine McIntosh described the visit as a show of Wellington's interest in boosting its defense ties with Manila.

"So, this goodwill visit by the ship shows how keen and delighted New Zealand is to increase our activities and strengthen our relationship with the defense sector," she said.

The vessel made it...