Taken at Auckland, c.1964. That is not a comet about to take out the large building in the background.
Hokianga
Built 1929 G.T. Niccol, Auckland
Tonnage: 170grt
Owners: A.G.Frankham and Co, Auckland
Spent early part of career trading from Auckland to Hokianga and later Auckland to Awanui and Mangonui, until transferred to Frankham's weekly cargo service from Auckland to Gisborne in 1960.
When later chartered to the Lightering Company at Gisborne, the engines were removed and the Hokianga was used as a dumb barge for export cargo transfers.
On sale to Storm Pty Ltd of Port Moresby, the Hokianga was fitted with new engines, refitted for island trading, and departed NZ shores on August 20, 1968. The last owner was Captain J.C. McCormick.
She developed a serious leak and sank in the Gulf of Papua on September 6 1971, while on a voyage from Daru to Port Moresby. (Info taken from 'The Era of Coastal Shipping in New Zealand', by the late Murray Jennings.)
Report