I came to NZ on the Captain Cook in July 1956 as an assisted immigrant. On that trip we arrived on a sunny cold morning in Wellington.The dear old Captain Cook must have broken down just outside Panama and drifted around, quite a few times as this is what happened then. I was joining the then P & T in Invercargill, with an overnight trip to Lyttleton, then a steam train journey down to darkest Invercargill. There was a reception committee waiting to greet us and take us too our billets. One other friend and I were given a private house, which was a luxury.
It was freezing, I shivered in the bed all night, having only bought summer clothes.
This was all compensated for by the warm welcome we got from the citizens of Invercargill and we were all spoiled by their kindness. Such a difference to London! I have never returned to England.