Early New Zealand European Shipping

If you are able to add more information, are seeking information or are connected to any of these ships through your ancestory, please submit a comment.

"Sculpture made from a Sperm Whales tooth depicting 'Land & Sea'. This whales tooth is from a whale that washed up on the shores of New Zealand."

HMS Tees
In May 1824, the Royal Navy’s HMS Tees was sent to Port William, Stewart Island, to salvage the ship Elizabeth Henrietta. However, by the time she arrived the Elizabeth Henrietta had been refloated. No longer needed, HMS Tees set sail again, calling at the Bay of Islands on her way back to Sydney.

Thames
In 1812 the Sydney Gazette reported that Thames, captain Bristol, was among half a dozen ships whaling off the coast of New Zealand. In February 1824 a ship by the same name, under the command of captain Clasby, called at the Bay of Islands before departing again for the fishery.

Toward Castle
Toward Castle, captain William Brind, arrived at the Bay of Islands in late September 1828 with mail for the mission station. After a few weeks in the Bay, Brind set sail again for the fishery, returning eleven months later.

Tranmere
At the end of January 1830, Tranmere, captain Smith, departed Sydney for New Zealand. When he returned five months later he and his crew had managed to procure 17 tons of flax from Kapiti, and reported having seen Hind and William Stoveld whaling in the area. On August 7, Tranmere sailed again for New Zealand, still with Smith at her helm.

Trial
In June 1815, William Hovell arrived at the Bay of Islands on the brig Trial, in company with Brothers. The two ships had come from Sydney with the intention of establishing a settlement where they could prepare flax for the Sydney market. In pursuit of the commodity, they sailed south but disaster struck when five of Trial’s crew were killed in a clash with Maori at Trial Harbour, between Thames and Mercury Bay. Today Trial Harbour is known as Kennedy's Bay. Brothers also lost crew in the incident.