Maritime Heritage Site

HOLMBANK 1962 - 63KORANUI 1956-1975TANEA at WanganuiFPSO RAROASEAWAY PRINCE 1975-1985ARAHURATAMAHINE 1925-1962RANGATIRA 1931- 1967

Welcome:

The New Zealand Ship & Marine Society was formed in 1949 and was comprised of people from all sections of the community and from many different countries who have an interest in ships and maritime activities. 

The website contains a random selection of short articles, a list of maritime books, short histories of shipping companies, the ships and some personalities which trade or have traded to New Zealand, some New Zealand ports, copies of the journal “New Zealand Marine News” and Dr. Watt's Index. 

As an island country, all transport to and from New Zealand before 1930 was by ship. The first settlers arrived by canoe and the European settlers who followed in the 19th century were transported by sailing ship.

Steam ships were slow to arrive in New Zealand because of the great distances between coaling stations. After the frozen meat trade started in 1882, steamships trading overseas increased rapidly, although by that time there were numerous steam vessels trading around the coast and across to Australia.

Many shipping companies were associated with trade to and from New Zealand. Some lasted many years, some did not remain long, some were only one ship companies, but all contributed to the growth of the nation and gave employment to many New Zealanders.

The search facility scans our whole web site.

 

The Society website was first established by Mark Johnston in February 2000. When he left New Zealand in June 2005, Captain John Brown kindly agreed to become webmaster and to further develop the website, which he did admirably. The original website was extensively revised and redesigned. In December 2014 the website moved over to Recollect and further developed. John Brown put much time and effort into adding photographs and articles into the website, and except for some transient one-call ships, the majority of his work has been retained for history. The Society was formally wound-up on 30 June 2019, but this website is retained as a maritime heritage site for historical maritime information, especially of New Zealand shipping.  

 

Highlights:

BERTHAGE PLAN 1929KARITANE 1939-1965PORT NAPIER 1912-1938KOROMIKO 1947-1967PORT JACKSON 1937-1967ARATEREMATUA 1936-1968EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE AT WELLINGTON CONTAINER TERMINALKOONYA 1957-1971Patea in its HeydayCARGO HANDLINGPORT ADELAIDE 1951-1972PORT INVERCARGILL 1958-1975HAURAKI 1922-1942AWATEA 1936-1942KAIRANGA 1924-1956PORT CHALMERS 1933-1965KAIAPOI 1949-1968KOWHAI 1952-1973MAHENO 1969-1976CORINNA 1891-1930KAITOA 1909-1950Menu 1958KOKIRI 1951-1968PapeeteWAIANA 1937-1966KAWATIRI 1950-1971HOLMLEA 1936-1950Tongariro 1901-1916INAHAPiako 1962-1966KAITUNA 1956-1975PORT CHALMERS 1969MANAPOURI 1882-1915KAREPO 1964-1978HOLMDALE 1921-1956USS American Legion (AP-35)UPOLU 1891 - 1903TAIKO 1984-19991934MAUREAKOTUKU  1900-1912TOREAKARTIGI 1925-1955Cowichin BayKARAMEA 1998-2003PURIRI 1938-1940 WAIRUNA 1946-1960PURIRI 1948-1974Wellington Harbour 1943

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