I was browsing through the New Zealand maritime records again when I came across this ship, the Auxiliary Patrol Vessel H.M.S. Viti
http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/viti.htm 1941 September 11 Departed from Ocean Island and arrived at Gardner Island (now Nikumaroro) a week later. After a brief stop she continued on to Canton, Sydney and Hull islands, returning to Nikumaroro on the 25th.
1941 November 25 Called at Gardner Island, where Aram Tamia, Bauro Tikana and Esera came aboard briefly and met with the High Commissioner.
1941 November 29 Sailed for Gardner Island at 4:30 p.m. The messing records indicate that Johnny, the handyman at Canton came aboard for transport to Gardner.
1941 November 30 Returned to Gardner Island at 11:00 a.m. The provisioning records of the vessel show a charge of two shillings per diem for the transport of a nurse from Gardner Island to Suva, a voyage of 11 days.
Just thought that there may have been more voyages to Gardner Island than we currently know of and therefore, maybe one or two of them may turn up some new evidence. This particular ship arrived at Gardner Island in 1941 and returned on a number of occasions. The title 'birdshit patrol' was the New Zealand crews sense of humour...' She was on what her crew called "the birdshit patrol" protecting the Phosphate shipping, guano?