John and I arrived in Mt. Maunganui in May 1960 from Southland. He had been transferred by the New Zealand Forest Service to assist with the development of the new port, which was beginning to export logs to Japan. His job involved inspecting the logs—still with bark on—for insects.
Shortly after our arrival, we attended the Presbyterian Church in Prince Avenue, where Reverend David Keall was the minister. He was also Secretary of the newly formed British & International Seafarers Centre, established by a collaboration of local Rotary members, businesspeople, and clergy from the Anglican, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Methodist churches. It was an interdenominational initiative aimed at supporting visiting seafarers.
We were promptly invited to volunteer. John became actively involved, particularly with stocking the small shop. At that time, the Centre operated out of rented rooms in Totara Street, near the rear of the new Harbour Board offices.
Following a visit from a representative of the London headquarters promoting this global service, the local Harbour Board offered space on the wharf for a permanent centre—if we could raise the funds. We appealed to port users and local businesses, and held a Seamen’s Day street collection. An architect donated plans for the new centre, which included a flat above the facility to house a couple who would assist volunteers in return for free accommodation. This arrangement allowed the centre to extend its hours and worked well for several years.
However, as the port expanded, the site was required for construction of the No. 1 Coolstore. After evaluating several nearby options, a new site on Hull Road was offered at a peppercorn rental. The Harbour Board compensated us for the original building, and we launched a new fundraising effort to build a larger, better-equipped centre.
By this time, Margaret and Jim McCulloch were running the expanded shop. They worked under a 50/50 profit-sharing model and no longer required accommodation, having purchased their own home. In the new centre, the upstairs flat was converted into an office space, initially rented by the Wharf Employers and later by the Seamen’s Union—significantly boosting our funds.
In those early days, the port operated very differently. Ships stayed for two to three weeks and often carried European crews. We had time to develop friendships with the seafarers, taking them on outings around the Bay of Plenty. The Dowman and Caldwell families frequently hosted them on their farm in Te Puke. We arranged recreational activities like golf, local football and basketball matches, and even dances with nurses from Tauranga Hospital. Karaoke became a favorite pastime, especially as more Asian crews began arriving.
Everything changed in the late 1980s after government restructuring of the ports. The closure of worker canteens increased demand for our services. The McCullochs began operating the shop/canteen as a small business, paying us rent. While they handled most of the ship visiting, volunteers continued to help entertain seafarers. Sadly, regular involvement from local churches declined, largely due to frequent ministerial changes. One notable exception was Ray Coster from the Presbyterian Church, who not only supported us consistently but also played a key role in establishing the Korean Centre in the old flour mill.
Before port fencing was introduced, the Centre faced serious challenges. “Ship girls” often came and went freely, and alcohol-fueled conflicts between seafarers and locals were not uncommon. To mitigate this, we followed the model of overseas clubs and obtained a liquor license. The license was held by the couple managing the canteen, not the Centre’s board, and it proved a successful strategy to reduce pub-related problems. However, as shipping became more efficient, port stays shortened, and the Centre had to operate longer hours to meet growing demand. This eventually led to health issues among those running the shop, and we faced difficulties finding suitable replacements. Drug trafficking also became a concern.
At one point, our Centre was recognised as the best in New Zealand—but with popularity came complications. The 9/11 attacks in the United States had global ramifications. New security protocols required all New Zealand ports to fence off loading zones to maintain export eligibility. This, coupled with the 1980s corporatization of port authorities, drastically altered how they managed property and operations.
Ken and Joy Camp later took over as voluntary managers of the newly established United Seafarers Mission, operating from rented port buildings inside the new security fence. They struggled with rent and operational costs. Fortunately, our Sailors’ Society Centre had accumulated significant funds from office rentals, and our board began providing financial support, including annual donations for several years.
Being outside the security fence brought its own challenges—most notably, managing access and deterring unwanted visitors. Meanwhile, the Harbour Board continued to reorganize and redevelop port property.
Around 2008, John—despite being very ill—and Athole Herbert (one of our directors) initiated discussions with the port to repurchase our original Centre building. The idea was to create a Seafarers Welfare Trust using the proceeds. This would help fund and stabilize the United Seafarers Mission. The agreement was finalized just two weeks before John’s passing, and I took over as advisor to the Guardian Trust regarding use of the Trust’s funds.
From 1960 to the present, John and I have cherished countless memories of welcoming and supporting visiting seafarers. The port’s evolution brought both joy and challenges, but above all, we are proud that the funds raised over decades are now managed by the Seafarers Welfare Trust. This legacy continues to support the Mission and its vital work for those at sea.