Maritime Heritage Site

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

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:

MAORI 1875-1902KARAMEA & OCEAN BULK 1998-2003HOLMLEA 1950-1967PORT WANSTEADKAIKOURA 1884-1899NGATORO 1942-1949BARRETT REEF BUOYKINI 1898-1924House FlagTanker AUSTRALIA at Point Howard Wharf c.1930Ruapehu 1901-1931KOKIRI 1951-1968KORANUI 1956-1975NATONE 1900-1947LEITRIM 1916-1929Remuera 1961-1967KAWATIRI 1887-1907TOFUA 1908-1934Otaio 1930-1941UNION SOUTH PACIFIC  1973 - 1978KAWERAU 1955-1975Monowai 1930-1960KAWAROA 1950-1972Stenhouse BayUNION SYDNEY 1983-1986USS LONG BEACHMOERAKI 1902-1933Tongariro 1967-1970WAIKARE 1897-1910SPIRIT OF PROGRESS ARATEREWAITEMATA 1946-1967WAIRARAPA 1882-1894Wellington Patent SlipPatea Wharves 1953ATHELVISCOUNT  1965-1978TAPUHI 1947-1973JOHN 1911-1936SPIRIT OF VISION 1995-2003HOLMGLEN 1955-1959HAWEA 1875-1888Brittanic 1967-OPIHI 1923-1936AWATEA 1936-1942PORT AUGUSTA 1906-1925SPIRIT OF FREEDOMSPIRIT OF CANTERBURYMANUIARotorua 1910-1917UNION ENDEAVOUR 1989-1991

Search:

 

 
 

-->