Mangawhai welcomes Daring shipwreck home

JULIA WADE

Greeted at dawn by a welcoming crowd, poignant bagpipes and emotional speeches, one of New Zealand’s early trading vessels, 19th century schooner the Daring has finally been anchored to her home-shores after a separation of almost 160 years.

Following a long night drive from Auckland on May 4, the impressive 16m vessel arrived at Mangawhai Museum just before sunrise to a crowd of well-wishers, media, members of the Mangawhai Daring Trust (MDT), and individuals who were instrumental in excavating the ship out of Muriwai’s black sands and bringing her back to Mangawhai.

MDT chair Jim Wintle gave an emotional speech, saying it was a great day for Mangawhai.

“Three years ago, this ship was found on Muriwai beach… and I’d like to acknowledge these four gentlemen from Auckland, I call them the Big Four – Larry Paul, John Street, Baden Pascoe and Alan Sefton – who all believed she was worth saving,” he says. “It’s an emotional day, a very special occasion… the more you look at her, the more you see, the more you become attached to her.”

Constructed in Mangawhai out of local kauri and pohutukawa in 1863 by experienced Waipu shipbuilders Donald McInnes and Hugh McKenzie, with retired colonial war soldiers and local Maori providing labour, the schooner is believed to be the lone survivor of her kind, and comes under the protection of Heritage New Zealand.

Marooned deliberately, and carefully, by her captain and crew after becoming caught in a heavy south-westerly gale, the Daring was reluctantly forsaken on the wild west coast on February 21,1865, remaining buried along Muriwai’s coastline for over 150 years.

With the receding of the sand dunes, the vessel resurfaced in May 2018, along with a perfectly intact shoe, coins, a cup, clay pipes and old wine bottle caps, and thanks to the care of the controlled beaching by her 19th century crew, she is generally well-preserved and is said to be ‘one of the most complete vessels of the time’.

Auckland-based classic yachts veteran Larry Paul says it was a very special occasion to see the Daring returned to Mangawhai.

“The idea from now is to preserve her by washing the salt and minerals out and later on treating the wood so it can last for a very long time,” he says. “With such a huge number of people having been involved in her rescue in the last few years it’s just a pleasure to see her home.”

Wintle says the schooner is important to New Zealand in regards to the country’s history and education, and once the ship has been restored, she will be settled in a custom-built museum, equipped with the latest technology including holograms, so her story and of those who had a role to play in her construction, sailing and eventual rescue, can be told and live on.

“Thanks to all the volunteers and the support of Mangawhai in the last two years, I’ve had many people asking ‘when is the ship coming’ and finally we’ve got to that stage,” he says. “It became obvious that this is the place for her to be, it is where she was built, from our kauri trees, our pohutukawa, and from the labour of regiments and Maori who lived here at the time. She’s come full circle, it’s great to see the old lady home.”

The Daring’s main men and trustees, who have succeeded in bringing the historic ship home. Pictured from left, Baden Pascoe, John Street, Mangawhai Daring Trust chair Jim Wintle, Dave Frederick and Larry Paul. Absent, Alan Sefton. PHOTO/JULIA WADE

“It became obvious that this is the place for her to be, it is where she was built… She’s come full circle, it’s great to see the old lady home.”

- Jim Wintle