The "Hurunui" built for the New Zealand Shipping Company by Palmers & Co. departed Gravesend, River Thames on 25 November 1875 on her maiden voyage and arrived at Port Nicholson, Wellington, N.Z. on February 23, 1876. The family of Edward and Olivia (Olive) Codd, Joseph Henry, Benjamin and Walter were on that voyage. They embarked on the coastal vessel "Taranaki" the following day and arrived at New Plymouth on February 26, 1876.

The "Hurunui" went on to trade between between the UK and the Colonies for the next 40 years and ended her days being sunk by a German submarine in the English Channel off St. Catherines Point, Isle of Wight in 1915