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:

Kahika  1915-19331952 BUSY PORTPortland (Whangarei)BARRETT REEF BUOYROTOMAHANA 1879-1925FOUR INTERISLANDERSMANUIAGothic 1948-1969KAIMAI 1956-1972MOERAKI 1902-1933Wanganui1934ThevenardBarnett Landing craftGeorge Elliot SinkingZEPHYR 2C A LARSONWAIPA 1875-1895OVALAU 1891-1903PAREORA 1876-1887ORETI  1888-1897Nelson ApplesQUEEN MARY 2 and CELEBRITY SOLSTICERuahine 1909-1949WINGATUI  1920-1951SEAWAY PRINCESS 1976-1985Aotea Quay 1942KUROW  1909-1933KUROW 1939-1965 RaratongaKAIRANGA 1924-1956TARAWERA 1882-1927ArahuraWhakatane 1900-1924CARGO HANDLINGPORT LAUNCESTON 1957-1977KAITUNA  1905-1931Mataroa 1932-1957Dominion Monarch 1938-1962Monowai 1930-1960KAKAPO 1937-1960Lyttelton 1862-1881HOLMDALE 1921 - 1956HELEN DENNY 1900 - 1912SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCEUNLOADING STOCK KAIAPOI 1949-1968AOTEAROA 1913SPIRIT OF CANTERBURYDAMAGE TO CONTAINER TERMINAL AFTER EARTHQUAKE

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