AOTEAROA II
details & photo ex Ken Ricketts
Aotearoa was the ‘night launch’ for many years before the Harbour Bridge, which used to take North Shore folk home through the night from the launch steps in town, after the ferry services stopped around midnight, & was operated by Eric Harrison, who after the Harbour Bridge went in to service, moved Aotearoa to Kawau. There she became part of the ferry services to the Sandspit & also did Auckland to Kawau trips. She was bought off Harrison & owned for a short period by Rick Brown, who onsold her to Gordon Brown, (no relation as far as Ken knows). Gordon Brown also ran her as ferry service to Kawau fo a few years & was ultimately squeezed out by Harry Julian who tried to totally control Kawau logistics for a number of years.
She was originally powered by 2 x 100hp 6cyl. naturally aspirated Fords which were later replaced by Eric Harrison with 2 x 6 cyl. turbo 165hp Volvos.
Ken suspects she may have been built by R Lidgard, can anyone add to this or confirm?
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I remember glorious trips to Kawau with my grandmother, mother and sister on that lovely launch. The last trip, however, completely cured us of the sea! There must have been 20 passengers on board including a little Pekingese dog – the wind blew up, the sea became horrendously large and everyone, including the skipper (excluding my mother and me) suffered the most ghastly seasickness. (Small dog included!) I shall never forget it, but recognised that lovely boat immediately. A huge part of my childhood.
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Feed back from Geoff Brebner –
” Aotearoa II was built by Sam Ford at Ellerslie in 1953. When on the Sandspit-Kawau run in 1980’s she suffered a “mysterious” fire and was badlydamaged. She was repaired and is now a private pleasure launch at Thames.I believe she is now powered by 2x 671 GMs”.
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