SS Mararoa 1885-1931

The SS Mararoa was built by William Denny and Brothers in 1881 at the bank of the River Leven, Dunbarton, Scotland for the Union Steamship Company (USSCo). In 1885 the Mararoa voyaged to Aotearoa New Zealand and was placed on the Auckland/Sydney/Honolulu/San Francisco service. In 1886 it was then moved to the trans-Pacific service and was the USSCo's first ship on this service. It was also the first triple expansion powered steamer in Aotearoa New Zealand's waters and the first into San Francisco, USA. 

It had an over 40-year career with the USSCo, during which it suffered fires at both Port Chalmers in 1894 and Wellington in 1918. The Mararoa transferred to the inter-island ferry service between Wellington and Lyttelton in 1906 and during the worldwide influenza epidemic, the USSCo was so short of crew that it was the only vessel to operate the service.

In 1925 the Mararoa sprung a leak during a trip from Wellington to Lyttelton and later when its hydraulics failed in 1927 it was replaced by the Manuka and never returned to service. It was laid up in Wellington on reserve until 16th February 1931, when its hull was stripped and it was scuttled in Palliser Bay, New Zealand.