{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image =Arahanga_Cook_Strait_ferry,.jpg |image_caption = }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header = |name = ''Arahanga'' |flag = {{flagicon|NZL|size=60px}} |owner = |operator = [[New Zealand Railways Department]], [[New Zealand Railways Corporation]], [[Tranz Rail]] |registry = |route = [[Wellington Harbour|Wellington]] - [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]] |builder = [[Upper Clyde Shipbuilders]], [[Glasgow]] |yard_number = 111 |way_number = |laid_down = |launched = 27 July 1972 |completed = |christened = |acquired = |maiden_voyage = |in_service = 11 December 1972 |out_of_service = 27 March 2001 |identification = |fate = Scrapped }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header = |header_caption = |class = [[Roll-on/roll-off]], [[train ferry]] |tonnage = 3,893 [[Gross Register Tonnage|GRT]] |displacement = |length = 127.4 metres |beam = 18.3 metres |height = |draught = 4.8 metres |draft = |depth = |decks = |deck_clearance = |ramps = |ice_class = |power = |propulsion = 2 x [[SEMT Pielstick]] |speed = 17 knots |capacity = 40 (Original) 100 (1989) |crew = }} }}
'''''Arahanga''''' was a [[roll-on/roll-off]] [[train ferry]] that operated across the [[Cook Strait]] between [[Wellington Harbour|Wellington]] and [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]] in New Zealand from 1972 until 2001.
==History== ''Arahanga'' was built by [[Upper Clyde Shipbuilders]], [[Glasgow]] for the [[New Zealand Railways Department]] to operate across the [[Cook Strait]] between [[Wellington Harbour|Wellington]] and [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]].<ref>A Bridge in NZ ''[[Network (periodical)|Network]]'' December 1970 page 1</ref> Upper Clyde Shipbuilders went into [[liquidation]] during its construction, delaying its completion by 10 months.<ref name=NZMM>[https://web.archive.org/web/20201110105257/http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/arahanga.htm Arahanga] [[New Zealand Maritime Museum]]</ref> It was the last ship built at the [[John Brown & Company]] yard.<ref>Cook Strait ferry service started 25 years ago ''[[Rails (magazine)|Rails]]'' September 1987 page 36</ref> Launched on 27 January 1972, it arrived in Wellington on 22 November 1972 and entered service on 11 December 1972.<ref>Ferry Launched ''Rails'' February 1972 page 14</ref><ref>Third Rail Ferry for New Zealand Railways ''Network'' January 1973 page 2</ref><ref>Third Vessel for Cook Strait Rail Ferry Service ''[[Railway Transportation]]'' February 1973 page 5</ref><ref>New Rail Ferry Arahanga ''[[New Zealand Railway Observer]]'' issue 133 Autumn 1973 pages 28/20</ref>
It was built as a cargo ferry with four tracks for railway wagons and additional capacity for road trucks. Built to only carry 40 passengers, it was refitted in 1984 to carry 100.<ref>Arahanga altered ''Rails'' November 1984 page 94</ref> After 32,662 voyages, it was withdrawn on 27 March 2001 and sold to [[Alang Ship Breaking Yard|Alang]], India for scrapping.<ref name=NZMM/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline|Arahanga (ship, 1972)}}
{{New Zealand inter-island ferries|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arahanga}} [[Category:Cook Strait ferries]] [[Category:Ships built in Glasgow]] [[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]] [[Category:Train ferries]] [[Category:1972 ships]]