Hikurangi enjoying a quiet life

Gisborne port’s first tug boat the Hikurangi continues her life in Dunedin, having been fully restored, and there has been a call for moves to be made to get her back to Gisborne at some point in the future. Picture supplied

Gisborne port’s first harbour tug the Hikurangi, has been restored to survey standard and continues to chug happily as a pleasure craft around Port Chalmers in Dunedin.

Hikurangi was once described as “one of the finest little vessels ever built in New Zealand”.

It has been suggested that one day the beautiful former workhorse should return to Gisborne.

Hikurangi arrived in the Gisborne port on December 21, 1961. The arrival was called “a special Christmas present for all associated with the port”.

The Gisborne Harbour Board commissioned the build of Hikurangi to take over tug duties from the Takitimu, which in turn became the pilot boat for the port.

According to information in the January edition of the Gisborne Photo News in l962, she cost nearly £50,000  to build.

Hikurangi was designed in Wellington by Athol Burns and built in 1961 by Miller & Tonnage in Dunedin.

She had a 500hp diesel motor driving a 72-inch propeller.

Her first job was to bring the Union Steamship Company freighter Kawatiri into the inner harbour for loading and unloading in late 1961.

The photograph of Hikurangi attached to this story was provided to the Herald a few days ago, showing her nestled alongside a wharf in Dunedin harbour.

The provider of the picture suggested it would be good to see Hikurangi come home and be with Takitimu one day.

“Gizzy heritage belongs in Gizzy,” he said.

The Herald understands the current owner is the builder of Hikurangi, and has had her for about 10 years.

“She has been completely refurbished and is in original condition,” the Herald was told.

“The owner wishes to do one thing with the tug and that’s circumnavigate the South Island with friends.

“Then he wishes to sell her in about a year’s time and he would like to see her go back to Gisborne.

“He told me he would sell her to the Gisborne MV Takitumu Charitable Trust as a first option.

“Now is the time to make plans to get her back home.”

Long-time Takitimu restoration project convenor Brian Shepherd has welcomed the suggestion the Hikurangi could come back here.

“We need to preserve our past history, and if we can find a way to get Hikurangi back here it would be great.

“In my view we lacked the initiative to keep the Hikurangi here in the first place.

“It’s part of the history of our port and our district, for the community.”