Maritime

The maritime theme has been a significant part of New Zealand history from the time the first Polynesian canoe voyagers arrived. Canoes were a significant transport mode of the Māori. Coastal shipping - sail then steam, was the backbone of colonial transport. Its monopoly was only eroded as trunk railway routes opened. For example, until as recently as 1908, the standard Auckland to Wellington journey involved an overnight ship journey via New Plymouth.

Manison House Bay, Kawau Island, Hauraki
Gulf

Navigation is an important aspect of the maritime story, and the importance to Māori of navigation marks is illustrated by the Kupe’s Sail site near Wellington. The New Zealand Shipwrecks book lists 1500 wrecks from 1840 to 1940. Lighthouses were a major initiative to improve navigation safety, despite their high costs. Cape Brett is an example of an original lighthouse installation still largely intact.

Northland

• Arai-Te-Uru Pilot Station, 1905
• Cape Brett Lighthouse, Bay of Islands, 1906
• Cape Reinga Lighthouse, 1941 
• Motuopao Island Lighthouse, 1905

Auckland

• Landing site of Moekakara waka Whakatuwhenua, Cape Rodney/Okakari Point c.14th century
• Mansion House Jetty, Kawau Island, 1840 (present wharf 1875)
• Pokohinu/Burgess Island Lighthouse and WWII Remains 1905
• Rangitoto Ships’ graveyard, Boulder Bay, Rangitoto, 1887-1947
• Rewa hulk, Moturekareka Island, 1930
• S.S. Wairarapa Graves, Onepoto Bay, Great Barrier Island, 1894
• Tiritiri Matangi Lighthouse precinct, 1864
• Whangaparapara sawmill site, Great Barrier Island 1909-1914

Waikato

• Cuvier Island Lighthouse station, 1889
• Sailors Grave Historic Reserve, 1842

East Coast/Hawke’s Bay

• Whangaokena (East) Island, 1898

Tongariro/Taupo

• Tokaanu Wharf, 1880

Wellington

• Mana Island , Mana Island Lighthouse Site, 1864
• Matiu/Somes Island, Somes Lighthouse, 1900  
• Matui/Somes Island Cemetery, 1872
• Kupe's Sail, c1100
• Dominion Observatory, 1907

Nelson/Marlborough

• Te Awaiti Whaling Sites, 1827
• Old Kaikoura Wharf
• Perano Whaling Station Picture Theatre, 1923

West Coast

• Buller Kawatiri, Charleston Historic Area, Constant Bay, 1866
• Lake Mahinapua Paddle Steamer, 1883
• Cape Foulwind Walkway

Canterbury

• Adderley Head Scenic Reserve, Signal Station, 1867
• Godley Head Reserve, Lighthouse site ruins, 1865
• Godley Head Reserve, Wreck of the “Breeze”, Breeze Bay , 1931
• Quail Island Recreation Reserve, 1850
• Quail Island Recreation Reserve, Akaroa Lighthouse Relief Keepers Cottage moved to the island in 1979, 1965
• Akaroa Head Scenic Reserve, Akaroa Lighthouse site ruins, 1878

Southland

• Endeavour Wreck site, Dusky Sound, 1795
• G.S.S. Stella Hull, North Port, Chalky Inlet, 1976
• North Port Freezer Base, Chalky Inlet, 1925
• Puysegur Point Road, Preservation Inlet, 1877
• Puysegur Point Cemetery, Preservation Inlet, 1895
• Puysegur Point Landing Shed, Preservation Inlet, 1940
• Port Craig Wharf, 1920s
• Port Pegasus Fishing Base, Stewart Island, 1897
• Port Pegasus shipbuilding base, Stewart Island, 1825
• Port William Settlement Site, Stewart Island, 1870
• S.S. Tararua Wreck Site, Waipapa, 1881

Subantarctic Islands

• Antipodes Island Castaway Depot, 1908
• Castaway Finger Posts, Auckland Islands, 1885
• Derry Castle Grave Site, Auckland Islands, 1887
• Sandy Bay Boatshed, Auckland Islands, 1887
• Erebus Cove Castaway Boatshed, Auckland Islands, 1906
• Grafton Wreck & site of "Epigwaitt", Auckland Islands, 1864
• Hardwicke Cemetery, Auckland Islands, 1860
• Snares Island Castaway Depot, 1880
• Stella Hut Castaway Provision Depot, Auckland Islands, 1868

Further reading:

• McLean, Gavin (1991). Shipwrecks and maritime disasters.
• McLean, Gavin (2001). Captain's log, New Zealand's maritime history.
• Beaglehole, Helen, (2004). Lighting the Coast.

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