Story: Ports and harbours

Harbour politics

Harbour politics

In colonial times harbour-board politics could be extreme. Every town knew that its future depended on matching or exceeding its rivals’ facilities. When the first stone was laid for New Plymouth’s harbour in February 1881, the townsfolk were given a holiday and the politicians and other worthies pontificated for all they were worth, as the Taranaki Herald’s report made clear.

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National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past
Reference: Taranaki Herald, 8 February 1881, p. 2

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How to cite this page:

Gavin McLean, 'Ports and harbours - Beachheads and beginnings', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/document/6114/harbour-politics (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Gavin McLean, published 12 Jun 2006, updated 30 Jul 2015