Herald

In 1826, with much fanfare, and not a little difficulty, Henry Williams and his christian mission in the Bay of Islands launched their very own 55 ton ship Herald, at Pahia. She was launched in January and by February under Captain Mair, Herald was coastal trading, ferrying her trade between New Zealand and Sydney. 

Having their own ship was a lifeline for the mission station. Not only could they benefit from her trade, but it also meant that they weren’t reliant on other ships, particularly whalers, for transportation and communications. Soon after she was launched, Henry Williams sailed to Sydney on Herald to meet the mission’s newest recruits, William Williams and his wife. They arrived at the Bay on 25 March on board Sir George Osborne. 

In June, Herald sailed from Pahia on her first voyage to Tauranga with Henry Williams. Also on board were other early Bay of Islands European residents, George Clarke, Charles, Davis, James Shepherd, and several Maori chiefs. For the next two years, Herald was busy around the coast of New Zealand trading, and was still under command of Captain Mair. 

Sadly, in late May 1828, Herald was wrecked on the bar at Hokianga and the christian mission station lost their industrious little ship.