Story: Canterbury region

Farewelling the inter-island ferry

Farewelling the inter-island ferry

These Cantabrians are waving to passengers on the Rangatira, the last ferry to leave Lyttelton, in September 1976. For over 60 years the Union Steam Ship Company’s ferry between Lyttelton and Wellington was the main transport link across Cook Strait. The overnight trip was an institution, but eventually airlines and rail ferries plying the shorter route between Picton and Wellington provided quicker travel options.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1976/3383/31-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

John Wilson, 'Canterbury region - Transport', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10342/farewelling-the-inter-island-ferry (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by John Wilson, reviewed & revised 6 Jul 2015