It was instrumental in supplying many of the government castaway depots on the remote subantarctic islands, and rescuing a number of shipwreck victims, including those from the wreck of the Dundonald, the Anjou and the Spirit of the Dawn.

[2] In 1891, while under the command of Captain Fairchild, the Hinemoa searched New Zealand's subantarctic and outlying islands for traces of the missing ships Kakanui and Assaye.

Another to serve aboard the Hinemoa was William Edward Sanders, who won a Victoria Cross during World War I.

[5] It had a sister ship, the GSS Stella, which carried out similar duties over the same time period.

[7] A 1919 photo album from the ship was found in a Danish antique shop and brought to Canterbury Museum in 2023.