The company’s final Monowai was originally launched under the
name Razmak for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company. She was designed for service in Indian waters and began
running regular trips between Bombay and Aden, Yemen, on the
Persian Gulf. The Razmak served on that route until 1930 when it
was sold to the Union Steamship Co. and given her final name.
That year the ship, with subsidies by the New Zealand
government, was given a refit that included gun mounts in the
event of future use by the New Zealand Navy. The ship’s guns
were not mounted but stored at the Devonport Naval base. The
Monowai’s passenger accommodation was changed for 483 third
class passengers. The hull was painted Bronze Green and the
superstructure was done in white. The funnels were painted red
with black tops. The Monowai was then put on the company’s
regular trans-Pacific run, between Wellington to Vancouver, to
Tahiti, Honolulu and San Francisco. She was replaced on that run
in 1932 by the Maunganui, and began shor