Unloading ship's explosives

Date18 January 1975Reference Numberphoto gcc-32017Description A watersider, probably Pat Gardiner, helps stack cartons of explosive aboard the Auckland scow Alma, moored alongside the freighter Golden Jade. The Alma ferried its cargo to the permanent explosive storage area a further three miles up the western (Te Puna?) channel. Published 18 January 1975.
Other photos from this sequence start at gcc-31998 and run to gcc-32034.
After posting this image on Facebook in June 2026 several commenters added useful details.
a. The man on the right is identified by several people as Mr Pat Gardiner.
b. Mr Peter Luxmore, skipper of the Alma, when underway had to start slewing it well before its turning mark, probably due to its flat bottom.
c. The explosives were later stored at a Du Pont facility on the other side of the Kaimais, near Matamata.
d. The gloves were necessary - the nitro (glycerin?) would give you a headache if you touched your face.
e. The explosives were used in the construction of the Kaimai rail tunnel.
f. It is not entirely clear to us if the explosives store moored in the Te Puna channel (over a very good scallop bed - eastern side of Motuhoa Island?) during construction of the Kaimai Tunnel is the same as the ex-US World War 2-era ferro-cement barge now derelict in Hunter's Creek. This was said to have sunk at some point in the 1970s, after being used by Harbour Transport to move equipment to Matakana Island in the 1960s, sold for explosives storage and later used by the Harbour Board to store detonators when they were blasting Tanea Reef or Shelf (see Photo gcc-17155). As at 2017 it was still there, with the Regional Council budgeting for its removal - see https://atlas.boprc.govt.nz/api/v1/edms/document/A2745676/content and Bay of Plenty Times, Thursday, 7 December 2017, Page A8. In June 2026 it appears to be still there.FormatNegativePhysical Description35mm black-and-white negative (12/14)Photographer/CreatorBay of Plenty Times

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Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within.Cultural/Ethical StatusNoaRestrictionsNo cultural/ethical restrictions apply. However, the copyright holder has assigned a Creative Commons license.CopyrightNZME (New Zealand Media and Entertainment)Copyright Holder Contact DetailsEmail:photo@nzherald.co.nz
Any use for commercial purposes requires copyright clearance from NZME, and a licence fee may apply.LicenseCC BY-NC 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries photo gcc-32017

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Part of Photograph Series1975 - Gifford-Cross Photographic Series

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Unloading ship's explosives

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