Maritime Heritage Site

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

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:

Dominion Monarch 1938-1962HOLMBURN 1957EMPRESS OF BRITIANPORT WAIKATO 1947-1959MAKURA 1908-1936Union AirwaysWellington Head Office 1917-1990BEAUTIFUL STAR 1875-1899MANUKA 1903-1929Armagh 1917WAIPA 1875-1895WAHINE 1966 -1968Port Chalmers Marine WorkshopsSailing timeBUSY QUEENS WHARFEvans Bay LaundryPATEENA 1958-1975USS American Legion preparing for warEARTHQUAKE DAMAGE AT WELLINGTON CONTAINER TERMINALWANAKA 1897-1927Lily 1905-1906KARETU  1926 - 1956LytteltonAlchiba TorpedoedTAVEUNI 1968-1972NGAIO 1921-1935AQUITANIAMAUNGANUI 1911-1947Ruahine 1909-1949KOKIRI 1951-1968WILLEM RUYSOpua SurvivorsUSS LONG BEACHPAREORA 1876-1887KAWATIRI 1950-1971MATUA 1936-1968WINGATUI  1920-1951UNION NEW ZEALAND 1972 - 1978SEAWAY QUEEN 1964-1975TALUNE 1891-1925KANIERI 1886-1893MAORI 1875-1902KAURI 1936-1962ARANUI  1966 -1984Remuera 1961-1967Helen Denny 1900-1912CORDOBATALISMANUNION ENDEAVOUR 1989-1991TARAWERA 1958-1974

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