Puriri, H.M.N.Z.S. At 11a.m. on May 14, 1941, while engaged in mine clearing operations in the Hauraki Gulf the minesweeper Puriri struck a mine and sank immediately. Five of her crew .... were killed or drowned, and three seamen were injured, one seriously. The remaining 5 officers and 19 ratings rescued, unhurt. The Puriri had been commissioned as a minesweeper in the 25th (New Zealand) Minesweeping Flotilla on April 19, 1941.

The Puriri, No. 93,999, was a steel, twin-screw motor ship of 927 tons gross and 423 tons net register, built in 1938 by Henry Robb, Ltd., at their Victoria Shipyard, Leith and her dimensions were:

length 188.2 feet

beam 35.2 feet

depth 12.05 ft.

Prior to being take over by the Navy Department she was owned by the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company Ltd., of Nelson.