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Story: Northland region

Coastal ships, Ahipara

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Coastal ships, Ahipara

Reliant on coastal shipping for communication and transport, Northland’s settlements often developed as harbour and river ports. Even without a port, they could be served by a regular coastal service. Here, sacks of gum are being loaded onto a vessel on the beach at Ahipara. The steamship out to sea is probably waiting for the cargo to be transferred to its holds.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Northwood Collection (PA-Group-00027)

Reference: 1/1-006271-G

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

Claudia Orange, Northland region – European settlement: 1840–1900, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7605/coastal-ships-ahipara (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Claudia Orange, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 May 2015.