Traversing the significant changes that have occurred in the working lives of seamen and in union practices in the country, this comprehensive history details the New Zealand Seamen's Union's past. From its humble beginnings in the late 19th century through its merger with the Waterside Workers' Union to become the Maritime Union of New Zealand, the New Zealand Seamen's Union has played an integral role in the country's seafaring industry. Arguing that, despite its labels as "militant" and "irresponsible," the union has been moderate and considerate in all of its activity, this account offers a better understanding of New Zealand's political and industrial history and where the New Zealand Seamen's Union, which demonstrated its opposition of the Vietnam War, nuclear ship visits, and the South African apartheid, fit into the picture.