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Story: Ferries

The Aramoana

Video file

The Aramoanawas built by William Denny and Company in Scotland for the New Zealand government. The company had a long association with New Zealand shipping, dating back to the 1870s when it built vessels for the Union Steam Ship Company. The Aramoana, which cost $4 million (2009 $157 million) arrived in Wellington in 1962, and would provide a roll-on, roll-off service between the capital and Picton until 1983.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Pictorial Parade 130. National Film Unit, 1962

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Gavin McLean, Ferries – Cook and Foveaux strait ferries, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/22449/the-aramoana (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Gavin McLean, published 10 December 2009.