The New Zealand Shipping Co. placed orders in the 1920s for three 16,700 ton passenger-cargo ships for its service between the UK and down under.

The ships, built by John Brown and Co on the Clyde, became Rangitiki, Rangitata (pictured) and Rangitane. The first two lasted until the 1960s when they were broken up, but Rangitane was lost during the Second World War.

The first of the trio to use Southampton was Rangitiki. She embarked passengers in February 1929 for her maiden voyage to Wellington, New Zealand via Madeira and the Panama Canal.

Each of the three liners could carry 100 first-class passengers, 86 in second class and 410 in third.

Rangitata was in the news in July, 1930 when she rescued the crew of the cargo ship, Targis which was blazing in the South Atlantic.

Rangitiki and Rangitata carried thousands of British and American servicemen during the Second World War.