Eastland Port said haere rā (goodbye) to their suction hopper dredger Pukunui last week.
The Pukunui was built in Hong Kong as a barge in 1958, then in the early 1980’s she was converted into a dredger.
“She did a great job for many years clearing the channel so ships could safely enter the Port but she has reached the end of her life and is retiring,” Eastland Port said.
The trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Albatros will take over from her duties.
The Albatros is stationed in New Zealand and undertakes dredging at ports throughout the country including Napier, Tauranga, Taranaki, Lyttelton, and Timaru.