HMNZS Waiho

HMNZS Waiho was one of eight steel New Zealand-built ships built and commissioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II. She was the last Castle-class trawler built for any navy.

Background

The vessel was ordered after the New Zealand government, facing a requirement for more minesweepers to operate in home waters, chose the design because it was simple enough to be built with the country's limited ship construction facilities at the time.

Operational history

Waiho was the last of the nine steel minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 3 June 1944. the others being, Awatere,,, Pahau, Waima,, and Waikato. She served with the 97th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group, located at Auckland.
The day she was commissioned, she ran aground and was towed off after two hours, suffering a twisted rudder and popped rivets. In 1944, the Waiho was struck by the. In 1945, she struck the Auckland ferry, with damage to the ferry. In 1946, she was sold to Red Funnel Trawlers, and was towed to Australia by the.
She began fishing in 1946, and was laid up in 1958. She was sold for scrap in 1963.