Maritime Heritage Site

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

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:

HIKITIA and RAPAKI Coptic 1928-1965KAKAPO 1937-1960PORT ST JOHN  1939 - 1961RANGATIRA 1931- 1967CARGO HANDLINGKUROW  1909-1933Lyttelton 1862-1881WAIHEMO 1946-1966Remuera 1961-1967SPIRIT OF ENDURANCEKOWHAI 1952-1973Suffolk 1939-1968ARAMOANA    1962 - 1984WAIMARINO 1915-1926KUMALLA 1956-1973Charles Edward 1868-1908Helen Deny 1866-1896PictonKAIARAHIHOLMDALE 1961 - WILLEM RUYSPort KemblaKAITUNA  1905-1931MAORI 1953-1974ARAHANGA 1972 - 2001Shipping at WanganuiWATERSIDERJAMES O'BRIENHouse FlagAlchiba UnloadingLOONGANA 1904-1936Ruapehu 1901-1931PATEENA 1958-1975WAITAKI 1964-1970Arahanga LaunchArmagh 1917HMNZS WELLINGTONGABRIELLA 1930MARAROA 1885-1931PAREORA 1876-1887POOLTA  1959-1976NIKAU 1909-1954DunedinTAPUHI 1947-1973HELEN DENNY 1900 - 1912WESTPORTFarewell to SANTA REGINAPORT AUGUSTA 1906-1925Taioma and Hinupahi

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