The Island's harsh salt environment is slowly eroding this former luxury cruise liner which washed ashore in cyclonic seas in 1935.

The Maheno has been a popular visitor attraction ever since, with weddings and concerts taking place on its decks in the early years after it met its stormy end.

History

The 5,000-ton steel-hulled ship belonged to the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand and from 1905 until 1935 sailed a regular route as a luxury passenger ship between Sydney and Auckland.

During the First World War, it was converted to a hospital ship and transported wounded Allied troops from Gallipoli and the Western Front.

In 1935, the ship was sold as scrap to Japanese ship wreckers. While being towed to Japan, the tow chain snapped in cyclonic weather and the vessel drifted for two days before washing up to its final resting place.