Arahura

Arahura, in Māori mythology (specifically that of the Ngāi Tahu people of the South Island), is a divine canoe which was made of pounamu (greenstone). The chiefs who traveled to New Zealand in her were Pekitahua, Rongokahe, Rangitatau, Hineraho, Te Rangitamau, Taewhenua, Te Mikimiki (Te Mingimingi), Atua-whakanihoniho, Te Atua-whakataratara, and Whakarewa (Tregear 1891:20, White 1887-1891, II:179).

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Arahura (twin screw ship)

TSS Arahura was a twin screw steam passenger/cargo ship (also schooner rigged) built for the Union Steam Ship Company. It was launched on the Clyde on 25 March 1905 and built by William Denny and Brothers Dumbarton at a cost of £52,000. It had a gross weight of 1,607 tons. The ship had accommodation for 201 passengers.

Design and naming

In January 1905 Union Steam Ship Company designed and entered into a contract with D.J. Dunlop and Co of Port Glasgow to build a new steamship. It was to be similar to the Navua which had been specially built for the tropical passenger and cargo service. The Navua had been particularly successful for the company.

The new steamer was slightly larger than the Navua, but her passenger accommodation and cargo arrangements were similar. The company expected the steamer to be in service by the end of 1905. It was planned to use it on the Wellington — West Coast route. Because of this the company asked the Premier Richard Seddon to suggest a name or names for the vessel. Of the several names he put forward, Arahura was chosen. Arahura is a small river on the West Coast.

DEV Arahura

DEV Arahura was a roll-on roll-off diesel-electric rail ferry completed in 1983 for the New Zealand Railways Corporation. She entered service across Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton in late 1983 and was retired from the Interislander fleet in July 2015.

History

Arahura was built for the New Zealand Railways Corporation to cross Cook Strait replacing the aging Aramoana and Aranui. She was designed to operate at a higher service speed than the previous ferries on the route, while reducing waves that would affect nearby beaches. This decreased the crossing times by 20 minutes.

The Arahura was the second inter-island ferry to bear the name, which means "Pathway to Dawn" in the Māori language. The earlier vessel was a twin screw steam ship built for the Union Steamship Company in 1905. That ship served until the early 1950s and was sunk by the RNZAF as target practice.

In 1986, Arahura helped rescue passengers from the sinking Russian cruise liner Mikhail Lermontov. She was invaluable providing lifeboats and extra assistance.