A Navy ship that helped out when the Rena sank and during the Kaikoura earthquake has been farewelled today.

Past and present crew of the HMNZS Endeavour have given a send-off to the ship at Devonport Naval Base.

Commanding officer Martin Doolan says she also helped out when the fuel pipeline between Marsden Point and Auckland failed.

"She helped Nottingham when she ran aground off Wolf Rock some years ago. She even rescued Steve Fossett, the round-the-world balloonist who didn't quite make it. So she's had an eventful career."

The Endeavour will be sold for scrap and will be replaced by the Aotearoa in 2020.

Australia's Navy will help out in the meantime.