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:

WAINUI 1930-1958WellingtonWAIKAWA    1946 - 1959UNION SYDNEY 1974-1977WAIKARE 1958-1975KOOTARA 1952-1975KUROW 1939-1965 WAIANA 1937-1966NGAIO 1921-1935TALUNE 1891-1925ARAHINA ASSISTING HIKITIABUSY QUEENS WHARFGABRIELLA 1930NGATORO 1942-1949NAVUA 1904-1926TOREATAIOMA 1947-1975Patea Wharves 1953Remuera 1913 - 1940KAITOKE 1948-1972TAHITI SINKINGBUFFALOWairarapa, 1884BluffOtaio 1930-1941UNLOADING STOCK KARAMEA & OCEAN BULK 1998-2003Picton 3 FerriesKORANUI 1920-1953MANUKA 1903-1929WAKATEREKAURI 1936-1962McCawley PracticeKAITAKIOpua SurvivorsKAIWARRA 1919-1942SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCEFOXTONHAURAKI 1922-1942Cargo Plan WAIRATA 1956TERAWHITI 1907-1947Evans Bay LaundryHead OfficeKINI 1930-1956LEITRIM 1916-1929WAIRUNA 1946-1960ARMAGH 1917-1923USS Republic (AP-33)WESTPORTRINGAROOMA 1878-1901

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