Whanganui River History

Alexander Hatrick arrived in Wanganui from Australia in 1875 and went into business as a Trader and Merchant. Seeing possibilities in an upper river service he ordered a 95 foot, 250 passenger flat-bottomed side-paddle steamer from England and named her Wairere. Her successful inaugural trip to Pipiriki, made on 21 December 1891, aroused tremendous interest. One can imagine the critics as such a large and cumbersome vessel with paddles protruding from her belly mastered the 44 rapids without being holed, jammed, or having a paddle torn off.

The fleet increased and by 1903 had penetrated north to Taumarunui, eventually providing a leisurely and sometimes hair raising three-day journey for tourists with comfortable overnight accommodation. In 1904 over 12000 tourists enjoyed the three-day journey and the Whanganui River was known as the Rhine of New Zealand.

His vessels provided a lifeline to the rapidly expanding farming community and all inhabitants on the river as there was no road or rail access. Some of his boats could carry over 1000 sheep or 400 passengers.

The rapids were an endless problem and hard-toiling, hard-living men who, equipped with motor canoes, punts, gelignite, cranes and snagging gear were employed solely to keep the channels open. Every flood undid much of their work but this is the nature of the river.
In the 1920's improved vehicles and road access began to take its toll and in 1928 the firm A Hatrick & Co., Ltd ceased to exist. Some boats continued through the 30's and 40's and in the 50's the service finally succumbed to dry land transport.

As for me! I have loved and enjoyed this waterway for over 35 years. I used it in my training when I represented New Zealand in the 1979 kayaking world championships. I have paddled it uphill from the sea to Taumarunui and I have been active as a tour operator for over 25 years.

I admire Mr Hatricks' achievements and his insight. The transportation side of his vision will never be repeated but his tourism vision is still going strong. This is still the Rhine of New Zealand and its beauty and grandeur still attracts many thousands of tourists every year.

The Adventurer II heralds the return of large passenger vessels to the upper reaches – a sight not seen for about 100 years.

Robert Baldwin (Baldy)
Captain

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