Final QE2 departure from Auckland

There were no fireworks, no tugs jetting their water plumes skywards. There was little sign that an era in New Zealand's maritime history was drawing to a close.

At a little after 2200 hours tonight, Cunard's iconic QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 slipped her moorings in Auckland, New Zealand and bade farewell for the last time. An era had come to an end.

Three blasts of the ship's siren was greeted with rapturous cheers from the crowds of ordinary Aucklanders who turned out to say goodbye to the Grand Old Lady of the Oceans.

But sadly, apart from an assembled flotilla of maybe half a dozen small ferries, the preserved vintage steam tug William C. Daldy and just a handful of private pleasure craft, her departure was a big non-event.

If it had not been for the hoards of "Joe Public" who had braved the steadily building North-East winds and the operators of the commercial vessels on the harbour (well done Fullers Ferries and WC Daldy Preservation Trust!!), the Auckland City Council and Ports of Auckland did nothing to mark the city's ending of it's association (an association which began way back on 14 February 1978) with the ship which has become, arguably, the most famous on the planet.

A moment in New Zealand maritime history which could have been built into a spectacular celebration was completely ignored. She was just another cruise ship moving out to make way for the next due tomorrow.

It is little wonder why the growth in numbers and sheer size of the modern cruiseships is extolled in such passionate terms by port company, business leaders and council. It seems to boil down to one thing....... a desperation for tourist dollars. But surely the need to draw in these much needed and welcomed funds should be balanced with a perception of occasion and history. After all, we Kiwis do pride ourselves and boast to the world that we are such a sea-loving nation.

No doubt the thousands who lined the city's waterfront and East Coast Bays think likewise.

QE2............from the people of Auckland, "Thanks for the memories".