Ngahau: One Of The Last Darroch Scows

Everything We Know About Ngahau

Ngahau would become one of the last scows built by Davey Darroch.  Darroch built 32 scows at Omaha but when the first world war started he ceased production.  In 1920 he reopened the yard in Stanley Bay as D Darroch and Sons.  It was here that he built his last three boats Ngahau, Owhiti and Alwyn G.

Although Ngahau would spend most of her time north of Auckland she also spent a chunk of time in the South Island.  During the depression in 1933 Ngahau’s owner, Winstone Ltd., chartered her out to the Carey Bros., who took her south.  At this time, she was used to transport sheep from Little Akaloa to Kaiapoi as well as running general cargo all the way to Bluff.  Ngahau also made several trips to Wellington which included transporting timber from the Marlborough Sounds on the way south.  Ngahau would also become the last commercial vessel to cross the Sumner Bar whilst transporting a boiler to the Davis Gelatine Company in 1934.  She even aided in a rescue of the Foxton from the Waimakariri Bar in 1934 before getting stuck there herself a few months later.

In 1936 Ngahau’s southern adventure ended as she made one more load to Wellington on her way back to Auckland where she would transport glass sand.  With her departure Ngahau would become the last fully-rigged sailing vessel to trade out of Kaiapoi.  After some years of working as a barge Ngahau would end her days laid up on the beach at Houhora in Northland before being broken up.