P&O Cruises’ Pacific Pearl will be re-christened in the Waitemata Harbour next year.
P&O Cruises plans to base its newest superliner in New Zealand. The 1800-passenger Pacific Pearl will be re-christened in the Waitemata Harbour on December 19, 2010. Auckland will be the ship’s home port and from here it will travel to Australia and the Pacific Islands. Craig Harris, chairman of Cruise NZ, said basing the Pacific Pearl in Auckland “is a real coup for New Zealand”. He said the industry already had bookings for the 2010 summer season and expected around 135,000 passengers. Mr Harris said cruise passengers were the fourth-largest group of inbound travellers.
Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia and New Zealand, said it chose New Zealand as the base because the country was driving much of the company’s growth. “Cruising has proven remarkably recession-resistant. As the world economy starts to recover, I believe we are in for sustained growth,” she said. “If New Zealand is to capitalise on that growth, it needs the right infrastructure and planning in place.”
FACTS
Built: 1989, renovated for P&O in 2010.
Weight: 69,500 gross tonnes.
Length: 247 metres.
Width: 32 metres.
Decks: 11.
Speed: Maximum 21.5 knots.
Passenger cabins: 839.
Facilities: Three restaurants, six bars and lounges, spa, fitness centre and gym, two swimming pools, multi-level show lounge, cinema, casino, duty-free shopping boutiques. Click for images
The Auckland Heritage Festival has been a great success for both the Ports of Auckland and William C. Daldy Preservation Society!
A BIG THANK YOU to our passengers, the Ports of Auckland and to the volunteer crew members who went out of their way to make this a fantastic success with all sailings fully booked!
Over the weekends of September 19 to October 3, the Daldy ran Saturday trips around the Ports of Auckland wharves and to the harbour bridge as part of the Auckland Heritage Festival. The Ports of Auckland chartered Daldy Megan & Debbie from Ports of Auckland, Jessica-Lee and our own Barry Parsons gave the commentary during the sailings for these trips to give people a closer look at the Port and provided a commentary on its history.
All trips had a full complement of about 120 passengers plus crew and we threaded in and out of the wharves, the commentators explaining the development of the Auckland Harbour and each wharf’s history and use. As we went up past the harbour bridge, the passengers were told about Daldy’s part in the construction of the bridge.
Was there a down side to the three trips? We don’t think so! The crew worked really hard to make the trips enjoyable for the passengers and the William C Daldy gained a great deal of exposure that should help to raise our profile with the people of Auckland.
Below are some images taken from the Auckland Heritage Festival. All images are copyright to their respective owners.
Kiwis are following the trail of television’s gooey Love Boat and snapping up bargain cruises in the wake of a recession-driven slump in the American and European markets.
But industry figures warn that New Zealand ports need to invest in world-class facilities to keep pace with growing trade.
Executives from Carnival Australia – which runs P&O, the Princess ships and Cunard Line in New Zealand – say Kiwi ports must lift their game to handle the industry goal of one million passengers by next year.
August was a record month for P&O Australia, with 30,000 New Zealanders and Australians booking cruises.
P&O has extended Pacific Sun’s three-month New Zealand cruising season to four months next year. Bookings for the ship last month were 213 per cent up on August last year and family bookings rose 20 per cent. Carnival plans to bring a record 52,000 passengers to New Zealand in the coming season.
P&O chief executive Ann Sherry said to fully capitalise on growth, New Zealand needed the right infrastructure and planning in place.
Port owners, the Government and others in the industry all needed to play a part.
Carnival senior vice-president Jenny Lourey said the lack of sufficient infrastructure at New Zealand ports was a barrier to the future of the local cruise industry.
The country’s ports were not keeping pace with local demand for cruising and the number of ship visits.
Next February, three cruise liners will be in Auckland at the same time. The Europa will berth at Princes Wharf, where the Hilton Hotel’s conference venue will double as a passenger terminal, forcing the Dawn Princess and Clipper Odyssey to berth at ageing Queens Wharf with its makeshift facilities.
Plans are under way for an $85 million development of Queens Wharf, including a new passenger terminal, in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
A spokeswoman for Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key said the Government had contributed $20 million to help secure Queens Wharf as a cruise ship terminal.
Flash facilities or not, Kiwis are already planning next year’s holidays, taking advantage of two-for-one deals and discounts of up to 70 per cent.
Jacqueline Unsworth, who has worked in the industry for 18 years, said cruising has “never been so cheap”.
“There are deals that I’ve never seen in the whole time I’ve been in the industry.”
A 28-night round-Australia cruise on the Sun Princess and Dawn Princess starts at $3000, down from $8500.
And many companies are offering two-for-one deals, such as a 17-night cruise from Italy to Florida for $2900, with the second person paying only $280 taxes.
Apart from offering good deals, the cruise industry has worked feverishly to change the impression that a blue rinse is the only qualification needed for the high seas.
Go Holidays’ cruise consultant Samantha Fowler has been taking her two young daughters on cruises since they were babies. The introduction of kids’ clubs and activities for older children meant more families were booking.
This year, for the first time, the tours will be hosted on board the historic steam tugboat, the William C Daldy.
“We are very excited to offer the Auckland public a chance to experience a part of their city’s history firsthand,” said Managing Director Jens Madsen.
Built in 1935, the William C Daldy was one of the Auckland port’s first tug boats, and worked welcoming and departing ships on the Waitemata Harbour for more than 40 years.
The hour-long, family-friendly tours will cruise through the commercial wharves, providing a close-up view of port operations.
The trip will also include a special stop at the Auckland Harbour Bridge, where the William C Daldy proved its might salvaging a runaway piece of the bridge during its construction in 1958. Click Here for the full story!
Daldy saves Auckland Harbour Bridge
Mr Madsen said the detailed heritage commentary would also offer a unique insight into the history of the port and Auckland.
“The development of the city and port over the last 160 years plus is a fascinating story.”
The tours will be held at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 3.00pm on three Saturdays during the Auckland Heritage Festival, between 19 September to 4 October.
Bookings are essential. To book, phone 0800 AK PORT (0800 25 7678) or see www.poal.co.nz for more information.
The tours are free; however, a gold coin donation to the William C Daldy Preservation Society is appreciated.
For land-lubbers, Ports of Auckland is also running Red Fence Heritage Walks throughout the Festival. Walks will be guided from the meeting point outside the NZ National Maritime Museum on Sunday 20, Thursday 24, Sunday 27 September, and Sunday 4 October, at 3pm. Bookings are not required.
Ports of Auckland is New Zealand’s largest container port by volume, handling around 840,000 TEU (20ft-equivalent units), more than 1,700 ship calls and 3.6 million tonnes of break-bulk (non-containerised) cargo per annum. It is New Zealand’s major import port and a key partner to export industries. Ports of Auckland is 100%-owned by Auckland Regional Holdings.
The William C Daldy is a 38 metre, coal-fired steam tug, built in Scotland for the Auckland Harbour Board in 1935. After an 84 day delivery voyage to New Zealand, the tug began handling ships on the Waitemata Harbour in 1936. Following a 41 year career, the vessel was retired in 1977 as one of the last working coal-fired tugs in the world. Thanks to the efforts of The William C Daldy Preservation Society, the tug is still active on the Auckland Harbour.
The Auckland Heritage Festival, delivered by Auckland City Council, will run from 19 September to 4 October 2009. The two-week festival, comprising more than 100 events encompassing art, architecture, fashion, music, ecology and sociology, is a chance for Aucklanders to embrace and discover everything that is unique about their city. This year’s theme is living heritage – the customs, stories and traditions we keep alive today. For more information and a full event programme visit the events page of the Auckland City website at http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz
A combined 500-600 seat theatre and cruise ship terminal is being proposed for Auckland’s Queens Wharf when it is reclaimed for public use next April.
The promoter of the idea, the Auckland Theatre Company, says an “architecturally stunning” multipurpose building would exploit the prime central location and meet two vital needs.
Auckland needed another dedicated performing arts venue and also a new terminal for its growing cruise ship trade, said theatre company chairman Kit Toogood, QC.
He said a harbourside theatre for drama and dance and a world-class cruise gateway would complement each other well. Public spaces adjacent to the theatre would double as an assembly point and waiting area for cruise ship passengers.
The World, Silver Whisper and Europa
Mr Toogood said year-round use of an attractive public building offered greater return on investment, tourism spending and a contribution to the city’s “after 5pm” economy.
It was offered as a serious alternative to those mentioned so far for Queens Wharf, which the Government and the Auckland Regional Council each paid $20 million to buy from Ports of Auckland.
Prime Minister John Key has said the wharf will become “party central” for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the challenge is for city leaders to move swiftly to begin the job of transforming the wharf into a world-class waterfront attraction.
Auckland City Mayor John Banks said the council had started looking at restoring the two cargo sheds on the wharf, which were built around 1912.
He said strengthening the wharf and building first-class cruise ship facilities and other possibilities for the 2ha site, like the theatre proposal, could cost more than $100 million.
ARC chairman Mike Lee said all the redevelopment that was needed was a well-designed cruise ship terminal and a new coat of asphalt.
However, Mr Toogood said a terminal should create a good impression by providing a high level of comfort and encourage visitors to spend more time and money in the CBD.
“This will not be achieved by providing a ‘tin shed’ style processing depot of a kind that one might experience in ports that are not high-value international tourist destinations.”
Star Princess Auckland 3 Jan 2004 by Trevor Coppock
Mr Toogood said he would meet Mr Banks and Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully to discuss what they had in mind.
A cruise ship terminal and an assembly point was needed though a theatre would not necessarily be needed before the Rugby World Cup.
Cruise New Zealand chairman Craig Harris said the theatre company’s proposal seemed compatible with the industry.
“It’s an example of a dual-purpose terminal but it’s a decision for the city to decide who uses the space on non-ship days.”
Mr Toogood said there was a serious gap in provision of venues for drama and dance in Auckland and the theatre company needed a space for populist, large-scale drama and for more intimate drama.
Posted in General News on April 30th, 2009 by Webmaster
By Dr Joel Cayford, Auckland Regional Councillor, 30 January 2008
Auckland Anniversary Day is a delightful opportunity to showcase Auckland’s maritime heritage. Vintage tugboats and classic yachts dash about the harbour attracting thousands to the waterfront. But after the big day most of Auckland’s beautiful old boats and yachts are taken away and mothballed, unlike other waterfront cities of the world where they have pride of place at city waterfront moorings and are enjoyed by visitors all year round. Even the maori war canoe race which used to precede the regatta is no more, as waka find homes far from Waitemata Harbour.
The steam tug William C Daldy is one of the few classic boats still clinging to a downtown mooring at the Devonport Wharf. Even this is at risk. It is one of a hundred or so classic boats, lovingly built, restored and maintained by a variety of trusts and societies established by people who care deeply about Auckland’s maritime heritage.
I am not alone in thinking this heritage treasure and Maori waka taonga merits permanent accommodation at Auckland’s waterfront. It is one of the reasons
I believe the newly elected Auckland Regional Council needs to revisit policy decisions made by the previous ARC – without public consultation – that prioritise intensive private development on TankFarm land on Wynyard Point.
As ultimate landowner, the buck stops with the ARC for what happens there. It could decide to allocate land and waterfront space to Auckland’s classic boat industry, as commercial leases fall due. The ARC alone is responsible for approving the Statement of Intent and for appointing the directors of Auckland Regional Holdings (ARH) which purchased title to the land from its previous owner Ports of Auckland. ARC has also approved the establishment of Sea & City Ltd to manage the redevelopment project in accordance with ARC’s vision for that part of Auckland’s waterfront.
Till now, the ARC has an excellent track record of owning and managing Auckland’s fantastic regional park network.. Any private operations on regional parkland – such as coffee kiosks, filming, adventure events – are hard won by commercial operators who need to satisfy carefully set criteria before being permitted to do business on Regional Parks, some of which have been gifted to the ARC, while others have been purchased with public money and then typically cleared of buildings associated with former private uses.
So it is highly unusual that the ARC has decided to allow a large chunk of regionally owned land at Auckland’s waterfront to be developed intensively with high rise private apartments and office blocks, and to permit existing marine and fishing industries to renew their leases and continue their occupation, without any public consultation about other options and uses for that land.
While current plans do provide a four hectare park space at the end of TankFarm, this open area will be “walled off” from the rest of Auckland by highrise apartments whose owners will see the public park as their back lawn. Highrise hotel, commercial and retail developments will dominate the rest of the land, alongside marine and fishing industries which will defend their interests vigorously. This proposed profitable development will deliver significant amenity for Auckland, but the potential is so much greater.
ARC’s vision for the TankFarm waterfront reads well, but the hard commercial policy it hides and which has never been put out for public consultation, is that private development and private activities on the regionally owned waterfront land at Wynyard Point must generate $40 million profit annually. Long-term ARC forecasts indicate this money is needed to meet the growing costs of Auckland public transport.
While I support rapid development and public funding of Auckland passenger transport systems, I don’t believe we should be selling regional silver to do it unless the public agrees. And again, the public have never been asked if they accept a commercially compromised waterfront development at TankFarm in exchange for improved bus, ferry and train services. Or whether they would prefer other ways of pay for public transport.
I believe most would accept some private development at the waterfront to meet the costs of public infrastructure, like the policy for the redevelopment of East Darling Harbour in Sydney where then Premier Carr announced the project needed to be revenue neutral – but not a cash cow for other projects. Auckland ratepayers have never been given this option to think about, nor has the professional planning and design establishment been asked for ideas of what could be delivered under that economic scenario.
Meanwhile Auckland City Council staff are engaged in dealing with the Plan Change sought for the land on behalf of the region by Sea and City. The bulk of the submissions from the public oppose proposed building heights. The Auckland Classic Yacht Association has called for a maritime heritage trail and for the creation of a heritage harbour. However the hearing, which is likely to start in May this year, will mainly consider environmental effects of proposed development rather than the public wisdom of ARC’s commercial decisions about the land and waterfront edge.
Sea and City is under pressure to get at least some of the development up and running and delivering revenue in time to accommodate Rugby World Cup festivities there in 2011. To meet these deadlines, ARC has been advised that it will be required to consider and approve detailed plans for Precinct One of the development in the next month or two. This Jellicoe Precinct includes Te Whero Bridge and all of the land between North Wharf and Madden Street.
It is disturbing that this detailed precinct planning will precede finalisation of the Plan Change. This is not the appropriate way for a public body to go about a major development. A good and appropriate range of skills now sit at Sea and City’s board, and I am sure they will do their best with the hand that has been dealt to them. However I am certain that a better peoples’ waterfront – and one which would accommodate Auckland’s maritime heritage industry and feature its Maori maritime culture – would be delivered if they did not have the pressure of meeting short-term Rugby World Cup objectives and the ARC requirement to make so much profit from private development on a precious public asset.
WILLIAM C. DALDY (built 1935) the preserved vintage steam tug heads her rivals PACIFIC WAY (1960) and Ports of Auckland’s operational tug DALDY (1977) around the top mark during the running of the 169th Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta tug race, now in its 3rd year.
Steam Tug W C Daldy wins 2009 Tug Race
Without a doubt it was the largest gathering of tugs and towboats ever seen in New Zealand. What an event it was! Old and new, they were all there!
How did this all start? John Street, the owner of the classic 1920s former Auckland Harbour Board towing launch Te Hauraki, mentioned to me in passing that he was thinking of having a duel with the 1935 ex-AHB steam tug William C Daldy at the next Auckland Anniversary Regatta.
My response was, why not include all the other retired andoperating tugs around the harbour? Immediately I had this image of a line-up of tugs and towboats from the early ages through to the very latest tug technology. In my mind I could see the likes of the SS Puke and Romo at one end, and the Ports of Auckland’s Wakakume at the other.
I know most people just love tugboats and that most have no access to the water. So why not follow a tugboat race with a parade of tugboats through the ages in the Viaduct Basin.
After a telephone conversation with Joyce Talbot, the heart and soul of the regatta, the event was born. She and her team loved the idea.
I made another call to Tony Blake, the chairman of the Classic Yacht Association of New Zealand, as I intended the CYANZ to be the host and owner of the event. He also loved the idea!
Now the really hard work started, with hundreds of telephone calls just to make sure the idea would not be a flop. The response was simply overwhelming. Once word got out about the proposal my phone ran hot.
Mike Thompson called and asked if he could enter his whole fleet! Five minutes later Brent Shipman called, and then Gregg Kroff confirmed his interest.
As well as having a passion for older craft through my involvement with the CYANZ, I also wanted to develop an event for professional skippers and owners. My next call was to Keith Ingram of Professional Skipper magazine. Admittedly he was a bit quiet at first, then the idea grabbed him like a shark feeding.
Keith later became the race director for the event, as well as addressing the safety issues, a job I was dreading.
The day of the regatta, January 29, rolled up and the weather looked as if it was going to be kind to us, and one by one the boats assembled at the entrance to the Viaduct Harbour. At around 0900
I climbed up from one of the inner marina fingers to the outer wharf/breakwater. The fleet looked huge.
I had this lump in my throat when I saw pioneers like the Bondi Belle, Ferro and Glyn Bird, to name a few, mixing and mingling with the new girls like the Christine Mary and Whakakume. The
scene was topped off by the Puke steaming past with paying passengers and giving me and the film crew of Bill and Linda Hohepa a resounding toot!
Finding a suitable platform to perform any filming activities was initially an issue. I called Russell Ward to see if we could film from the bridge of the Glyn Bird. He kindly agreed. When I thought about the wash all these boats would make when underway I soon realised we needed to be on a much bigger vessel.
A further call to Mike Thompson of Thompson Towing and we had the right location on their flagship, the Christine Mary. We could not have found a better boat from which to film the events.
As well as being able to do this, the skipper, Lance Brown, and the families aboard made us very welcome. Later, as we were steaming down the harbour, I noticed two greatly respected men in the world of tugboats, Jimmy Thompson and Pat Ganley, were also on board.
Linda shot some great footage as we made our way down to the start line off North Head, and we felt like Kings of the Castle on the Christine Mary’s upper bridge. As the boats gathered and positioned themselves I could see the Koraki hastily making her way down to the start line.
Her skipper, Peter Benson, had phoned me during the morning to say their barge had problems and they would not be sailing toWhangarei that day. He did not want to miss the event: yet another tugboat man from the heart. So they were in!
I was rapt to see a big yellow and black tug as part of the event. I looked down and could see Pat Ganley with a big smile spreading across his face as the Koraki approached the start line.
The gun went off! There was a din. Asound like a huge washing machine filled the air, then a whistle as the turbochargers cut in. Clouds of black smoke appeared. I looked over towards the William C Daldy and I visualised those huge connecting rods grunting into her giant crankshafts. She looked an absolute picture surrounded by black smoke.
It was all on for her.
We started to move off, and the Christine Mary’s two big Cummins whistled away, with all the little boats surfing on the wash. I could see Dave Skyme surfing on the large tug’s wake, and he looked like the ancient mariner as he held on to the Phyllis’s upper helm – another seaman completely in his element.
The boats spread out and went around the first mark with the William C Daldy right behind us. Tucked in on her bow wave was Te Hauraki, with speed merchant John Street’s hands on her big Bakelite truck wheel.
I am certain every skipper and crew in the race has a new story to tell. This is just what this event was about, people having fun with these beasts of burden, old and new.
The Tug ‘Lyttelton’ Preservation Society is a non-profit organisation whose aims and objects are to restore and maintain the vintage steam Tug ‘Lyttelton’ in working order, to promote public interest in the vessel and make it possible for passengers to travel on it by means of public cruises and chartered voyages.
The tug Lyttelton and her engines were built in Scotland in 1907 by Fergusson brothers Ltd. of Glasgow, and was sailed out to Lyttelton through the Suez canal which had only recently been opened.
You can visit the official Lyttelton website by Clicking Here!
This was quite a distressing page for me to produce, as I believe this ship was in salvageable condition. Having been involved in a failed attempt to save her and bring her back to New Zealand in 2003, I was really upset to find she had been cut up. Only the Wheelhouse and machinery have been saved for future preservation.
An x-ray of her hull five years ago, found her to be in excellent condition. Unfortunately, due to the prohibitive costs of chartering one of the dockwise transport ships, all plans to bring her back to more friendly waters had to be abandoned.
Built by Lobnitz and Co in 1939 she was similar to the W C Daldy in many ways. Her engines were slightly less powerful, rated at 750 shaft hp each.
Another kick in the teeth is the fact that she was scrapped on the hundredth anniversary of her sister ship,
the Steam Tug Lyttelton, which is preserved and available for charter in Christchurch.
More Information about this vessel can be found here. Thanks a lot Melbourne, your really committed to preservation! You could have offered some of the scrap money you made to the Steam Tug Lyttelton in Christchurch, New Zealand.
It once pumped two million gallons from Western Springs every day, but for the past 80 years Motat”s beam engine has lain unused and rusting.
On Saturday 19th April, the engine was started again and the public were treated to an authentic piece of history in motion.
Former Prime Minister and Local MP Helen Clark opening the restored working pumphouse
Volunteers including engine enthusiasts from all over Auckland have dedicated hundreds of hours to bringing the engine back to life.
Steam section manager Ken Pointon has led the project.
An engine fitter and turner by trade, Mr Pointon says getting the engine working again has been very rewarding.
“No one ever really thought it would go again, but we decided bugger it. It”s a national treasure of New Zealand, we”re lucky it”s still here.”
Built in Scotland in 1877, the engine was shipped to New Zealand in pieces and assembled at Western Springs, where it has stayed ever since.
Click on movie above to play
Chief engineer Mike Austin says the pumphouse is now Motat”s oldest building.
“This building is the reason Motat is here.”
During it”s 51 years of use, it was the city”s main water supply, pumping water to reservoirs in Ponsonby, Mt Eden and Khyber pass.
It was decommissioned in 1928 after the dam at Waitakere took over as the main water supply.
It has become the biggest operational beam engine in the southern hemisphere.
Mr Pointon says it has been a huge task to restore it completely as parts of the machine had seized solid, requiring hours of piping and plumbing work.
Other work has included rebuilding valve spindles and installing a new cooling tower.
As for actually pumping water again, Mr Austin is optimistic.
Mike Austin with the Scotch Boiler that supplies steam for the pumphouse and the various other engines he maintains!
He says the next phase of work after the open day will hopefully see a pump hooked on to the engine but for now it is “one miracle at a time.”
In the most recent test run in December last year, the engine was able to sound Motat”s steam horn for the first time in 80 years.
Motat”s marketing and events co-ordinator Bridgette Johansen says it was exciting to hear the horn blow.
“People came running out of their offices all around Motat to see what was happening.”
Miss Johansen says they hope to spread some of their enthusiasm to the public on the open day.
“It”s getting people excited about history while tying in a quintessential piece of history, especially kids.”
Mr Pointon says there is a huge educational story behind the engine and the way water pumps work.
“Kids today just turn on a tap and see water come out.
“They don”t know how it got there.”
Miss Johansen says Motat”s April school holiday programme will also centre around water and steam.
The open day was a steam celebration day featuring a Victorian theme.
