The New Zealand Shipping Company (NZSC) was a shipping company whose ships ran passenger and cargo services between Great Britain and New Zealand between 1873 and 1973.

A group of Christchurch businessmenNews of the Day The Press 21 November 1872 page 3 founded the company in 1873, similar groups formed in the other main centres, to counter the dominance of the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line. There were seven initial directors: John Coster, George Gould, John Thomas Peacock, William Reeves, Robert Heaton Rhodes, John Anderson, and Reginald CobbNews of the Day The Press 4 September 1873 page 2) representing the New Zealand Loan & Mercantile Agency.

The similar groups of businessmen in Dunedin and Wellington soon joined this Christchurch company followed by the Auckland group. They completed the four-main-centre link in July 1873.New Zealand Freight Company Limited Auckland Star 4 July 1873 page 2 The South New Zealand Herald 12 August 1873 page 3 John Johnston Wellington, John Logan Campbell Auckland, and Evan Prosser of Dunedin were elected to the main board.??? The Press, 11 November 1873, page 2 A Captain Ashby opened an office off New Broad Street London and chartered two ships carrying 500 government emigrants: Punjaub 883 tons and Adamant 815 tons set to sail for Canterbury on 31 May and 20 June respectively with full cargo.Shipping New Zealand Herald 14 July 1873 page 2 By November 1873 they had purchased two vessels, Hindostan and Dilfillan and chartered eighteen. Two 1,000 ton ships were scheduled to be launched the same month and named Waikato and Waitangi.

The company gradually established a fleet of vessels, using Māori names for each. From 1875 the livery consisted of black hulls, white superstructure and yellow funnels.

In 1882, the company's ships were equipped with refrigeration. and a frozen meat service began from New Zealand to England.

Company policy dictated a stop at Pitcairn Islands, in the Pacific Ocean, to break the monotony of the ocean crossing.

Federal Steam Navigation Company

In 1894 Allan Hughes bought Money Wigram & Sons and renamed it King Steam Navigation, but changed the name to the Federal Steam Navigation Co Ltd (FSNC) in 1895. Federal-Houlder-Shire Lines was established in 1904 by the merger of FSNC, Houlder Brothers and Company, and the Scottish Shire Line owned by Turnbull, Martin and Company. On 3 January 1912 an agreement was reached whereby the New Zealand Shipping Company absorbed the Federal Steam Navigation Company, which at the time owned ten steamships trading between Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Ships owned in 1912 were , Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Durham, Essex, Kent, Norfolk, (Rotorua from 1923), Somerset, , Surrey and Sussex. was bought from Scottish Shire Line in 1930. Federal Steam ships retained their house flag, and continued to be named after English counties, thereby retaining their Federal Steam identity. Federal Steam was registered in England for tax purposes, whereas the New Zealand Shipping Company continued to be registered in New Zealand.

World wars In World War I the NZSC lost nine ships from a fleet of 32. In World War II it lost 19 ships from a fleet of 36.

Closure The services of both companies were absorbed into P&O in 1973 after 100 years of service.Crossed Flags Ships Monthly March 2025 page 48-53 P&O had bought NZSC in October 1916, but left it largely independent.

Ships NZSC operated numerous ships, some purpose built, others acquired from other operators by purchase, lease or charter.

Ship Type Date launched Date acquired Date disposed Fate/ next assignmentrefrigerated cargo and passenger steamship18831914Scrapped 1925British Kingcargo and passenger ship1881chartered 18821884Scuttled at Port Arthur 1904cargo and passenger steamship1881chartered 18831884Scrapped 1926cargo and passenger steamship1883chartered 18831884Wrecked 1911Fenstantonsteamship1882chartered 18831884Grounded and wreckedHaparangirefrigerated cargo motor ship194719471966Transferred to Federal Steam Navigation CoHaurakirefrigerated cargo motor ship194619471966Transferred to Federal Steam Navigation CoHinakurarefrigerated cargo motor ship194919491966Transferred to Federal Steam Navigation CoHororatarefrigerated cargo and passenger steamship191319141939Transferred to another P&O subsidiary, British India Steam Navigation CompanyHororatarefrigerated cargo steamship194119421966Transferred to Federal Steam Navigation CoHurunui (1)cargo and passenger sailing ship1875 1883 Collided and sank Waitara, 22 June 1883Hurunui (2)refrigerated cargo steamship1911 19121918Sunk by torpedo off The Lizard by , 18 May 1918Hurunui (3)refrigerated cargo steamship1921 1940Sunk by torpedo on 15 October 1940 by cargo and passenger ship1883chartered 18831884Scrapped 1908Kaikoura (1)cargo and passenger steamship188418841899Transferred to British India SteamKaikoura (2)refrigerated cargo and passenger steamship19031926SoldKaikourarefrigerated cargo motor ship193719371954Transferred to another P&O subsidiary, Avenue Shipping Co LtdKaimatamotor ship19311936 (former Ardenvohr)1954Transferred to Avenue Shipping Co LtdKaipakirefrigerated cargo motor ship193919391955Transferred to Avenue Shipping Co LtdKaipararefrigerated cargo and passenger steamship19031914Stopped and sunk by SMS , 16 August 1914Kohinurmotor ship196219631965Transferred to another P&O subsidiary,Hain-Nourse LtdMataura (1)barque18681874 (former Dunfillan)1894Sold and renamed Alida. Wrecked 1900Mataura (2)refrigerated cargo and passenger steamship18961898Wrecked in the Strait of Magellan 12 January 1898Nurjehanmotor ship196319631964Transferred to Hain-Nourse Opawasailing ship187618761899Sold to M. F. & S. O. Stray. KristiansandOpawarefrigerated cargo steamship190619071928Sold to Brunn & von der Lippe,TonsbergOpawarefrigerated cargo motor ship19311942Sunk by U-106, 6 February 1942Orarirefrigerated cargo steamship190619061927Scrapped at TroonOrarirefrigerated cargo motor ship193019311958Sold to Italy and renamed Capo BiancoOtaiorefrigerated cargo motor ship19301941Sunk by U-558, 28 August 1941Otaiorefrigerated cargo and passenger motor ship195719581966Transferred to Federal Steam Navigation Co (1)sailing ship18751896Sold and renamed Dr. Siegert (2)refrigerated cargo and passenger steamship19081917Sunk by the German raider 10 March 1917Otaki (3)refrigerated cargo steamship191919201934Sold to Clan Line and renamed Clan Robertson (4)refrigerated cargo motor ship195219531967Transferred to Federal Steam Navigation CoOtoramasteamship1890former Sea King1902SoldOtoramarefrigerated cargo and passenger steamship19121919 (former Ajana)1928Sold to D. & E. Fratelli Bozzo, GenoaPapanuisteamship18981910Sold after damagePapanuirefrigerated cargo steamship194219431965Scrapped at KaohsiungPaparoarefrigerated cargo and passenger steamship189917 March 1926 caught fire in the South Atlantic, scuttled by Paparoarefrigerated cargo steamship194319431966Transferred to Federal Steam Navigation CoPareoracargo and passenger steamship18551877 (former White Eagle)1887Scrapped in 1888Paringarefrigerated cargo motor ship19361946 (former Essex)1955Transferred to Federal Steam Navigation CoPetonesteamship18991900 (former Gresham)1910Sold to Canterbury Steam ShippingPiako (1)clipper187618771891Sold, lost 1900Piako (2)refrigerated cargo steamship19201920 (former War Orestes)1941Sunk by torpedo on 18 May 1941 by Piako (3)refrigerated cargo and passenger ship196119621979Sold to Blue Ocean Compania Maritima SA. Scrapped 1984Pipirikirefrigerated cargo steamship194319441966Transferred to Federal Steam Navigation CoQuiloaoil tanker steamship195819601968Transferred to British India SteamRakaiacargo and passenger motor ship19441946 (former Empire Abercorn)1971ScrappedRakanoa (1)passenger motor ship192919291940Sunk by shellfire by the German raiders and Komet, 26 November 1940Rangitane (2)passenger motor ship19491949May 1968Sold to CY Tung, Scrapped Taiwan, 1976passenger motor ship26 March 192919291962Scrappedpassenger motor ship192919291962ScrappedRangitotopassenger motor ship194919491969Sold to CY Tung, Scrapped Hong Kong, 1976Remuera (1)passenger steamship19111940Sunk by aerial torpedo 26 August 1940Remuera (2)steam cargo and passenger steamship19471961 (former Parthia)1964Sold to Eastern & Australia Steamship Company.Rimutaka (1)steamship188418851899Transferred to British India SteamRimutaka (2)refrigerated cargo and passenger ship190019011930Scrapped by T.W.Ward Ltd, Pembroke DockRimutaka (3)refrigerated cargo and passenger steamship19221938 (former Mongolia)1950Sold to Incres Shipping CompanyRotorua (1)refrigerated cargo and passenger steamship19101917Sunk by torpedo on 22 March 1917 by Rotorua (2)refrigerated cargo and passenger steamship19101936 (former Shropshire)1940Sunk by torpedo on 11 December 1940 by Ruahine (1)steamship18911900Sold to La Trasatlántica (2)refrigerated cargo steamship19091949Sold to Italian owners; scrapped 1957 (3)passenger motor ship195019511968re-registered in Hong Kong; scrapped 1974Ruapehucargo and passenger ship188318841899Transferred to British India SteamRuapehu (10)refrigerated cargo and passenger ship19011931Sold for scrap 5 August 1931Stad Haarlemcargo and passenger ship1875leased 1879Tekoasteamship18901902SoldTongariropassenger and cargo steamship188318831899Transferred to British India SteamTongarirorefrigerated cargo and passenger steamship190019011916Wrecked on Bull Rock, 30 August 1916New Zealand liner wrecked The Times 31 August 1916 page 3Tongarirorefrigerated cargo steamship192419251960Scrapped in Hong KongTreneglosmotor ship196319631965Transferred to Hain-NourseTurakinasailing ship18681882 (former City of Perth)1899Sold to Alexander Bech, TvedestrandTurakina (1)refrigerated cargo and passenger steamship19021917Sunk by torpedo in the Western Approaches by , 13 August 1917Turakina (2)refrigerated cargo steamship192319231940Sunk by shellfire in the Tasman Sea by the German raider Orion, 20 August 1940Waikatosailing ship18741898SoldWaimaterefrigerated cargo and passenger ship18961925Scrapped Waitara cargo and passenger sailing ship18631873 (former Hindostan)1883 Wrecked following a collision with HurunuiWakanuirefrigerated cargo and passenger steamship18991913SoldWanganuisailing ship187718771888Sold to Capt. John Lesliepassenger steamship189218991901Sold to Union CompanyWhakatanerefrigerated cargo steamship19001924SoldWhakatanemotor ship195419541964Transferred to Union, another P&O companyWhangaroamotor ship195519551965Transferred to UnionWharanuirefrigerated cargo motor ship195619561967Transferred to Federal Steam Navigation Co

House flags

See also NZ Shipping Co Ltd v A M Satterthwaite & Co Ltd, a leading case on contract law

Isthmian Steamship Company Owen Cox

References

Bibliography

External links 1906 poster advertising the Federal-Houlder-Shire Lines RMS Rangitata

– fleet list