Old Gisborne Boat Now Holiday Home

Former Lighter Leads New Life

For seventeen years (1951-68) the lighter Kaiwaka was a familiar sight in Poverty Bay loading the "home boats".

When her lightering days were finished, with the advent of the overseas wharf, she was bought by Mr Bert Phillips and his son Ted who have a television and radio business in Tokaanu.

They sailed the boat around the coast and based her at Omokoroa near Tauranga.

Here she was refitted, remodelled inside, and painted in gleaming white with a red funnel. Flashing brass fittings really set the old girl off.