The Paddle Steamer ''Waimarie'' is an historic
riverboat
A riverboat is a watercraft designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury un ...
based on the
Whanganui River
The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the country's third-longest river, and has special status owing to its importance to the region's Māori people. In March 2017 it became the world's second natur ...
in New Zealand. She is the only coalfired paddle steamer still operating in New Zealand. ''Waimarie'' was built in 1899 by Yarrow & Co. in London and transported to New Zealand in kitset form to be assembled at Whanganui. She operated on the Whanganui River for 49 years before being laid up. In 1952 she sank at her moorings and lay in the mud for the next 40 years.
However, in 1993 ''Waimarie'' was raised from the riverbed, and a six year restoration effort led to her return to service in 2000. PS ''Waimarie'' is now a popular tourist attraction in Whanganui, with 2 hour cruises on the river available most days during the summer season.
History
This paddle steamer was ordered by the Wanganui Settlers' River Steamship Co, and built as a kitset by
Yarrow shipbuilders
Yarrow Shipbuilders Limited (YSL), often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde. It is now part of BAE Systems Surface Ships, owned by BAE Systems, which has also op ...
in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
in 1899. She was shipped to
Wanganui
Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whang ...
in 64 crates plus the boiler, and was assembled by David Murray & Co in March 1900. On 29 June, she took a party of about 100 people upstream to a meeting at Koriniti on a trial run, and commenced regular services to
Pipiriki
Pipiriki is a settlement in New Zealand, on the east bank of the Whanganui River, due west of the town of Raetihi and upriver from Whanganui; it was originally on the opposite bank. It is the home of Ngāti Kura, a hapū of the Ngāti Ruanui iwi ...
three weeks later. For the first two years, she was named PS ''Aotea''.
The company operating the new vessel was in competition with existing passenger, mail and cargo services on the river operated by
Alexander Hatrick, who at that time was
Mayor of Wanganui
The mayor of Whanganui (previously Wanganui) is the head of the Whanganui District Council. Since 1872, there have been 29 mayors. Andrew Tripe is the current mayor.
History
The Wanganui Town Board was first formed in 1862, and its first chairman ...
. Hatrick had a well-established business on the river, and had been carrying large numbers of passengers to Pipiriki, on a tourist route promoted as "The
Rhine
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of
Maoriland" into the interior of New Zealand. The Wanganui Settlers' River Steamship Co could not sustain the competition and Hatrick's company purchased the ''Aotea'' in 1902. She was then renamed ''Waimarie'', a
Māori-language word meaning "peaceful waters".
The ''Waimarie'' operated a regular service on the route between
Wanganui
Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whang ...
and
Pipiriki
Pipiriki is a settlement in New Zealand, on the east bank of the Whanganui River, due west of the town of Raetihi and upriver from Whanganui; it was originally on the opposite bank. It is the home of Ngāti Kura, a hapū of the Ngāti Ruanui iwi ...
for 49 years, carrying cargo, mail and passengers.
The opening of the Whanganui River Road in 1935 reduced the demand for river transport, and the ''Waimarie'', needing her boiler replaced, ceased running in 1949. In 1952, she sank at her moorings in Wanganui.
Restoration
On 14 February 1990, a public meeting was held with 90 people attending, to promote the salvage and restoration of PS ''Waimarie''.
The Whanganui Riverboat Restoration and Navigation Trust was incorporated in July 1991 to plan and undertake the project. An important initial step was securing the use of the near-derelict Wanganui Rowing Club building as a workshop where the vessel could be restored. The Rowing Club building was renovated to serve initially as a workshop, and then as a museum facility. It was renamed as the Whanganui Riverboat Centre, and re-opened on 24 February 1995.
After being buried in the river mud for nearly 40 years, the ''Waimarie'' was salvaged by volunteers in 1993. The restoration of the vessel was adopted as a sesquicentennial project in Whanganui. After a six-year restoration project, the PS ''Waimarie'' was re-commissioned, and commenced tourist cruises on 1 January 2000.
She is the only coalfired paddle steamer still operating in New Zealand.
Tourist vessel service
In the first year following re-commissioning she carried over 25,000 passengers.
PS ''Waimarie'' is owned by the Whanganui Riverboat Restoration and Navigation Trust. In 2003, a separate organisation, the Waimarie Operating Trust was formed to manage vessel operations.
PS ''Waimarie'' has been described as Whanganui's main tourist attraction.
She typically carries more than 8,000 passengers each year, with a maximum of 90 per trip. During the summer season she operates on the lower stretches of the river, and is also available for charter. The typical daily cruise is a trip upriver to
Upokongaro and return.
The operation of the vessel is undertaken by 8 staff and 12 volunteers. In 2020, it was reported that the operation of the vessel had been supported for several years with annual funding of $65,000 from a Community Contract.
''PS Waimarie'' is hauled out of the river every 5 years for survey, on a site near to the Dublin Street bridge. The haulage operation is undertaken using vintage traction steam engines. In June 2021, the trust reported that in the previous season, the vessel had carried 10,000 passengers.
In August 2021, the Waimarie Operating Trust announced that they were contributing to an environmental restoration project in association with the Pungarehu Marae to plant trees and harakeke (flax) near the marae and the banks of the Whanganui River as a means of offsetting the carbon emissions of PS ''Waimarie''.
Gallery
File:Wanganui Rowing Club Building.jpg, Whanganui Riverboat Centre (formerly Wanganui Rowing Club building)
File:Wanganui Rowing Club Building 879.jpg, Remains of original water-tube boiler
File:Paddle Steamer on the Whanganui River, New Zealand.jpg, PS ''Waimarie'' on the Whanganui River
File:Waimarie and rowers.jpg, Looking down on the Whanganui River and the Paddle Steamer ''Waimarie'', rowers and the Union Boat Club, from Durie Hill War Memorial Tower Durie may refer to:
* Andre Durie (1981– ), Canadian football player
* Andrew Durie, (?? -1588), bishop
* Clan Durie, a Scots clan
* Dave Durie (1931–2016), English football player
* David Durie (1944– ), British civil servant and former gove ...
File:Waimarie being hauled out.jpg, PS ''Waimarie'' being hauled out
File:Waimarie hauled out for survey.jpg, PS ''Waimarie'' out for survey
References
External links
PS ''Waimarie'' official websitePaddle Steamer Preservation Society (Great Britain)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waimarie
Ferries of New Zealand
Whanganui River
Paddle steamers
1899 ships
Steamships of New Zealand