The ‘Tamahini’ entering Tory Channel, 1926

The Tamahini or Tam as she was affectionally known is steaming into Tory Channel ahead of a Southerly storm during the afternoon.

Built for the Union Steamship company in 1925 she was the first ferry built exclusively for the Wellington to Picton run. She was an extraordinary vessel completing over 1,500 trips across the strait.

Because of New Zealand’s unique geographical feature of being long and skinny, ferries were such an important component in our progress as a nation and of course the connection between the islands.