During the eighteen-sixties there was much dissatisfaction in New Zealand provided by the existing shipping services. With one or two notable exceptions accommodations for passengers and emigrants was poor in the extreme. In 1872 business interests in Christchurch formed the NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY and remedied the situation.From the beginning the company named its vessels after Maori geographical locations.
In 1882 at a shareholders meeting it was decided that if the company was to continue to prosper it should introduce steam vessels as these were more reliable than the existing sailing ships which were currently being used. The directors made it clear that they disapproved of such an innovation but agreed to adopt steam propulsion with caution.
The company went from strength to strength and still exists today.
Ref: North Star To Southern Cross by John Maber
