The Pigeon Post of Great Barrier Island
The Great Barrier Island Pigeon Post was the first in the world to use pigeons to deliver mail using postage stamps, although they were “unofficial” stamps. The Great Barrier Island pigeon post service was started after the sinking of the SS Wairarapa in October 1894. This ship ran aground on the remote north side of Great Barrier Island. Ref: James Richardson Showing the Wreck of SS Wairarapa at Miners Head, Great Barrier Island, 1894, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-102 About 121 lives were lost. News of the disaster didn't reach Auckland until two or three days later. It highlighted the need for better communication with the island. The first message of the pigeongram service was carried by one of Mr Parkin’s pigeons, on May 14th 1897. You can read the full page article in the Auckland Weekly News here . Ref: Auckland Weekly News, A kit of racing pigeons, 15 September 1899, Sir...