The IPVs will normally be used for inshore tasks within 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi) of the coastline.
However, they will have operational ranges of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi).
Together with their improved speed, this will be sufficient to intercept, for example, large off-shore fishing trawlers working illegally in New Zealand waters.
 Each vessel was intended to achieve 290 available patrol days per year.

The ships were intended to have the ability to patrol (including receiving vertical replenishment) in up to sea state 5 (seas rough, waves 2.5–4 m (8.2–13.1 ft)) and have the ability to survive in conditions of up to sea state 8 (seas very high, waves 9–14 m (30–46 ft)).
However, boat deployment and recovery will be limited to sea state 4 (seas moderate, waves 1.25–2.5 m (4.1–8.2 ft)).
These parameters are much more capable than the Moa class which they replace.
The shipbuilder claims "the vessel is more than capable of extending the Crown's operational envelope to southern ocean patrol duties".
The IPVs will normally be used for inshore tasks within 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi) of the coastline. However, they will have operational ranges of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi). Together with their improved speed, this will be sufficient to intercept, for example, large off-shore fishing trawlers working illegally in New Zealand waters.  Each vessel was intended to achieve 290 available patrol days per year. 
The ships were intended to have the ability to patrol (including receiving vertical replenishment) in up to sea state 5 (seas rough, waves 2.5–4 m (8.2–13.1 ft)) and have the ability to survive in conditions of up to sea state 8 (seas very high, waves 9–14 m (30–46 ft)). However, boat deployment and recovery will be limited to sea state 4 (seas moderate, waves 1.25–2.5 m (4.1–8.2 ft)). These parameters are much more capable than the Moa class which they replace. The shipbuilder claims "the vessel is more than capable of extending the Crown's operational envelope to southern ocean patrol duties".
Lake-class inshore patrol vessel