MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH AT WESTHAVEN IN 1967 + BOOK REVIEW 

Earlier in the week I was sent by.John Burland a link to a fb video that featured the 1967 visit to NZ by ‘Miss Wool USA – 1966’.

I won’t bore you with the link, but it shows her touring NZ, of interest WW is that in the video there is a very brief shot of Westhaven marina, Auckland. 

I have taken a screen grab that show a rather large wooden launch, an interesting mix of styles – bridge-decker, tram top + dog house.

Anyone able to put a name to the launch.

INPUT EX NATHAN HERBERT – This boat (originally Myrtle) she had more portholes on one side than the other. Don’t know what became of her but one guess is that she became the ‘Matira’?
https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/02/28/mystery-thames-wooden-launch/comment-page-1/

BOOK REVIEW – ‘WATER ROADS – Boat Travel and Tourism in New Zealand from 1840’

Recently a copy the above 530 page book appeared in the WW letterbox, I was amazed the letterbox didn’t collapse under the weight 🙂 The last time it would have carried the books weight would have been when NZ Post was still printing telephone books.

The author is Neville Ritchie and to quote Neville – “the book tells the story of water-based tourism in NZ” and focuses on the small boat operations established to take visitors to tourist attractions on overnight cruises. It also takes the reader on a history tour od boating building in NZ. The story starts at the top of the North Island and finishes off at Stewart Island.

As an indication of the extent of the content we start off c.1840 with maori in ex whaleboats and end with the electric foiling ferries on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour.

As indicated above its a monster of a read, I can see myself consuming it in bite size chunks over an extended period of time.

If your a serious marine historian your bookcase will be lacking if you do not have copy.

COPIES AVAILABLE FROM nevritchie@outlook.co.nz

WIN A COPY – Answer the question below correctly and you will go into the draw for a copy of the book. Entry By Email only to >  waitematawoodys@gmail.com.

Entries Close 6pm Friday 18-07-2025.

QUESTION: In the early 1900’s what were the words commonly used to describe (small) motorboats?