Port of call

Despite its dangerous harbour mouth Ōhiwa Harbour has been a port of call for centuries. Its modern shipping history began in the 1870s and lasted almost a century. At first, cargo was landed on the Ōhiwa sandspit using small open boats known as lighters, a slow and sometimes dangerous process. Then wharves were built at Ōhiwa, Kutarere and Ōhope. Passengers could travel direct to Auckland on the Northern Steamship Company’s ships. Butter, meat and paper were shipped around the country from the harbour.