Happy Birthday to The Good Ship! Today marks 36 years since she first went in the water on 12 October, 1985.
The ship was launched off the beach at Mangawhai with full Māori and Pākehā tradition. On that day she was gifted a kaitiaki or guardian called Karewa.
The traditional gaff-rigged schooner, R. Tucker Thompson was started by Robert ‘Tucker’ Thompson in the late 1970s as a project to embody the best features of a traditional design. After Tucker’s death, the R. Tucker Thompson was completed by Tucker’s son Tod Thompson, Greta Simmonds and Russell Harris.
We consider The Good Ship to be a ship of the people of Te Tai Tokerau, we love hearing the stories and memories people share with us. Our Tucker Whanau keeps growing, and we’re excited to continue the next 36 years delivering great experiences for people.
