Greetings folks, or, as we say in this area of the world, Kia Ora! :-)
Just joined the Shipping History site, and hoping that my website may be of interest to some -
www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/Onehunga
It's a tribute to shipping at the Port of Onehunga, which was officially closed to freight operations on 22 February 2017, after roughly 180 years of operating as a key port in New Zealand, particularly for the coastal trade.
In its early days in the mid-1800s, it served as New Zealand's naval base, while in the mid-1960s, it was described as "the most successful secondary port in New Zealand".
Nowadays, it lies dormant, save for infrequent calls by fishing vessels, the majority of which take place during the annual tuna-fishing season each December-January.
The port itself was last dredged in 2002, and in 2018 was sold to a local development site, but it'll be quite some time before their vision for it comes to fruition.
If you've been on board a ship which has called at Onehunga in days past, I'd love to hear your recollections / memories, particularly of any memorable experiences crossing the notorious Manukau Bar. As well, any photos from days gone by will also be gratefully received.
Any contributions will be posted in the Visitors Contributions section of the site - I look forward to receiving yours.
Cheers,
Jeremy Ruane