It was launched on the Clyde on 25 March 1905 and built by William Denny and Brothers Dumbarton at a cost of £52,000.

The new steamer was slightly larger than the Navua, but her passenger accommodation and cargo arrangements were similar.

[6] She was built of steel of the highest class of the British Corporation Registry and under their special survey.

They landed the pilot at Waterford, and continued the voyage the next day experiencing light winds, with fine weather across the Bay of Biscay.

The ship at St Vincent in the Cape de Verde group on 23 July where it took in a supply of coal.

As a Union vessel she provided a passenger and cargo service between Wellington, Nelson, and the West Coast.

The hull was towed into Cook Strait where it was used for target practice in Operation "Scuttle Two" by 75 Squadron RNZAF Mosquito bombers on 24 January 1952 and sunk.

[12] This was the second ship sunk as part of training by the squadron's Mosquitos, the first being the barque Lutterworth on 26 June 1950.

The attack lasted 35 minutes and the ship sank at 3:43 pm in 450 fathoms of water 15 miles south east of Baring Head after taking ten direct hits.

[28] In June 1914 the Government required all larger coastal passenger vessels to be equipped with radio transmitters, including the Arahura.

[29] The Arahura assisted with the salvage of the Komata, a collier, that ran aground at Pencarrow Head in fog on 30 January 1915.

Captain Dryden decided to make for shelter and fetched up off Whangaparae, Cape Runaway at 12 pm.

The vessel rode out the storm and left to come on to Gisborne at 4 am Monday morning arriving in the bay at 2:45 pm.

Because of the leak all passengers and cargo were offloaded at Gisborne and the ship sailed back to Auckland for repair on the Tuesday.

[31] On 1 March 1917, at Gisborne, she was hit amidships by Waimate,[32] beached, patched[33] and returned to Auckland for repairs.

[34] Shortly after returning to service, 4 crew were injured, when benzine fumes in a hold exploded.