Build Date
1912
Boat Builder
Frank and Bill Hawken
Length
Unknown
Beam
Unknown
Everything We Know About Kia Ora
Kia Ora was built by Frank Hawken and his son Bill in Whakarewa Street, Motueka in 1912 but they launched her at Batchelor’s Ford in 1913. Frank used his boat for catching fish commercially and carrying small cargo. The cargo included gravel that Frank and ‘Deak’ Gilbertson were contracted to move from Jacksons Island to Motueka for building the new wharf.
In around 1928 Kia Ora was sold to brothers Bob, Harry and Ted Avery. They renamed her Rona and also used her for commercial fishing. They sold their catch door to door in Motueka and in their time they enlarged the cabin area. After this time it is unknown what happened to Kia Ora but in 1950 Bill Hawkins grandson Colin built a grocery store on King Edward Street Motueka which was named Kia Ora after his grandfathers boat.
References
To research Kia Ora we used the book Motueka Wharf 100 years by Carold Dawber with Motueka and Districts Historical Association.
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