Ship details: After the Tiri disaster Jim Frankham offered Radio Hauraki another of his ships that had just been taken off the Auckland – Gisborne cargo run, the Kapuni.In February 1968 arrangements were almost completed for the purchase of the ship Kapuni, volunteers began to convert her into a radio ship.The Kapuni was dry docked for examination, scrapping and painting. Now renamed Tiri II, the ship docked at Jellicoe Wharf for a 160 foot mast to be erected.
On 9th April 1968 a storm forced the Tiri II to leave her anchorage and take shelter at Whangaparapara Jetty on Great Barrier Island. During the next day the winds reached hurricane force and at 02:50 hours the ship broke her moorings and was driven aground on a shoal thirty yards away. At 04:50 hours the mast collapsed, but the Tiri II only suffered minor damage. The tug Otapiri pulled the Tiri II clear and towed her to a nearby cove and the ship was beached, the remains of the transmitting mast was cut down. At 17:30 hours she was refloated. The old mast from the Tiri had been retained and this was erected onto the Tiri II. On 15th April, the Tiri II sailed to her anchorage and by 18:00 was back on the air.
May 15th 1968: Beached again at Whangaparapara. Back on air May 19th 1968.
Gale force winds force the Tiri II on 13th June 1968 to make for shelter, but unable to make headway, the ship ran with the storm for nine hours, and was beached at Uretiti Beach, about 20 miles south of Whangarei, near Waipu (just north of Bream Bay about 100 miles from her anchorage). With the aid of the tug Mohala and a bulldozer the Tiri II was refloated the foowing day, but had suffered damage to the rudder post. The ship was towed to Auckland for repairs before returning to the air once more.
June 1st 1970: The final sea broadcast of the “pirate” radio station Radio Hauraki from aboard the TIRI II – after 1,111 days out at sea the pirates were finally coming ashore. The final part of the broadcast of the “old” Hauraki was a documentary of Hauraki’s history up till now. The broadcast finished at 10:00pm. The faithful transmitter shut down for the final time and the TIRI II headed for Auckland. June 2nd, 1970: Announcer Rick Grant was lost overboard. A bitter end to what was a successful day for the Radio Hauraki team who had fort so long and hard to get on land.
Offshore radio station: Radio Hauraki from February 28th 1968 to 1st June 1970
Location: International waters in the Colville Channel, Hauraki Gulf, North Island, New Zealand
