The Navy patrol vessel that made an unsuccessful attempt to board toothfish poaching ships in the Southern Ocean arrives back in New Zealand today.

The HMNZS Wellington will dock in Dunedin to refuel before heading to the Devonport Naval Base at four this afternoon.

She'll arrive in Auckland on Friday, having been away for eight weeks.

The Navy's Maritime Component Commander, Commodore John Campbell, says the crew's returning with valuable evidence to pursue international action to bring down the syndicates behind the poaching.

He says they've done an excellent job under challenging circumstances in one of the most remote and inhospitable areas in the world.