His great love for the awa was a life-long affair. Man of river lYorm Hubbard leaves lasting legacy By David Scoullar

It was once said of a great of six or seven rnan - "if you wish to see his leg- the river started acy, look around you." That can to draw me like truly be said of Norman Freder- a magnet. The ick (Norm) Hubbard who died at days were nev- Wanganui Hospital on February 9, er long enough 2011, aged 84. when you have We can look around and see a river, particu- the restored Kawana Mill at Ma- larly during the tahiwi and Cameron Blockhouse summer." rrq' at Marangai, just two examples Norm's of Norm's handiwork. There are adventures in- many lnore as he had roles in cluded catching renovating the Colonial House and cooking fish at , rebuilding Poutama on the riverbank (sleeping house) at Ko- swimming wharepuni and Norm Hubbard explains his part in restoring Te the riniti and restoring Te Rangihek- across to Rangihekeiho wharenui at Atene during a Friends' eiho wharenui (meeting house) at Duchess Theatre trip along the Rd in 2004. Atene. He also built the informa- and back, which tion kiosk at the junction of State he admitted was a bit tricky some- books he had collected of news- Highway 4 and the Whanganui times on a fast tide. There was a paper cuttings about the river and River Rd. close call when he tipped out of a its history. These are the source Then there were the smaller caRoe in rough water by Calver's of a number of articles in this An- Hubbard touches, such as the sign Corner and eventually crawled out nual and will continue to be a gold he carved and gifted to the Pipiriki on the Wanganui East side of the mine for many years to come. School" Norm always had a proj- Dublin St bridge. Norm chaired or was on the ect going and it often involved the When the Wanganui River committee of the local branch of river. Scenic Board was established in the Historic Places Trust for some As a young carpenter work- 1957, Norrn was appointed honor- 25 years. He also served on the Ta- ing for the Wanganui Education ary ranger for the bottom end of ranaki/VVhanganui Conservation Board, he helped build the school the river. As a keen outdoorsman Board. The award of the MBE for at which still stands, and hunter, it was a job he hugely his community services was well- though now a DoC facility. enjoyed. In that capacity he was received in Whanganui. Norm did have disappoint- responsible for building Te Puha For many years he was the ments. One was the restoration Hut below Pipiriki in 1974. (The commentator on bus trips up the he began at Te Poti over hut was dismantled and taken to Rd as part of the the river from Pipiriki. After two in 1990). DoC Summer Nature Programme, working bees were held at the Ko- Norm was deeply interested something he had to regretfully angaorehua wharenui local oppo- in the river's history. An article he forgo in the last few years because sition saw the initiative die. wrote on traditional Maori fishing of increasing frailty. Born beside the Whanganui appeared in the 2006 Annual. He Norm's home in Rees St over- River in 1926, Norm's love for had a wonderful slide collection looked the river. He said in the the awa was a life-long affair. In and gave many public talks on the 2007 Annual: "I planned out how I an article in the 1993 Annual, he river. could see most of the river. We can recalled his Wanganui East child- In 2010 he gifted the Friends' watch river activity at breakfast." hood: "Probably around the age executive more than 20 scrap-

WI{ANGANUT RrvER emu;er - Page 13 Top run provided some adventures including fire. Waireka - a liale riv erb oat that could - and did! Bv Drvro Scoullan Thearriva1ofthenewriverboatr.--ffLaunchedin1909,theWaireka Adventurer11ontheWhanganuimwasinitia1lyusedontheTaumarunui- River,itsepicjourneyTaumarunuimHouseboatrun'AccordingtoRap- andsubsequentmovetoWhakahoroUt...... kidsandRiverboatsontheWanganui drawsattentiontoupperriverforaysWRiver,shewasafair1ybasicpassenger'"|:.,.....fX in the 1980s by the Waireka. I launch, 62ft1ong. Everything on board When the craft was owned by f,;, -Y,,,:,& ffi was designed for lightness and abso- Winston Oliver, he raised eyebrows trl " i lute minimum draughts as she was to when he took it to in 1980 Ifr: IlI,,:,::.::tt1!l be employed on the most difficult sec- fortheopeningoftherebuiltKawanarc.::l.,:l....::::llltionoftheriveratthepeakofthesum- Mill. This was believed to be the first Efry'ryf" ,r:'::::::,:tr::.tt mer tourist season and at a time when time the Waireka had travelled so far Err 'X{'*l{&$l river levels were at their lowest. upstream since it was involved in oil- {- W The top run provided some which drilling operations 20 years earlier. , - ;W adventures including a fire TheWanganuiChroniclereport_reguttedtheWairekaatTowhenua,about-.--', ed the river was running 3m above MarmMaria Thomas,lhomas, ofoJ 6km below , in 1916. The normal and this enabled the Waireka Jerusalem, waves from the engineer accidentally set the oil bilges to safely negotiate the many underwa- deck of the Waireka during ilit1rt, and in the ensuing panic the ter obstructions which *ooid normally its surprise visit to Matahiwi crew had to forcibly restrain a woman - in make such a trip impossible. 1980' passenger from stepping overboard - With the river running strongly, the Waireka into 6m of water. The Waireka was out of service for could only make two knots against the curent but some months after that. reached Matahiwi without mishap. The same current The craft passed to Wanganui River Services worked to the vessel's advantage on the return trip to in 1928 and later through various ownerships Whanganu which was reached in only three and a half before reaching Mr Crozier in 1986. These include hours after taking all day to reach Matahiwi Landing. Tangahoe station owner Howard Davey, W H Bain Mr Oliver said with the river running so high (leased), Bruce Williamson, Wanganui River Jet there was nothing to have stopped them going all the Tours, Winston Oliver, and a partnership of Raewyn way to Pipiriki, had they had wanted to do so. and Ken Howorth and Dawn and Kerry Bramley. Pipiriki was indeed Waireka's destination in 1988 for then owner, Vance Crozier. He operated the craft from there for a few months. The Wanganui Chronicle was aboard to record a trip the Waireka made from Pipiriki to to collect about 20 weaner steers for sale in . The exercise, which was expected to take four and a half hours, took the best part of two days" Mr Crozier had never used the Waireka to ferry stock and Parinui farmer Tommy Treanor had only ever barged beasts down the river. Floodwaters from heavy rainfalls meant the craft made such slow progress that an overnight stop at Parinui was needed. The Waireka is now based on the . Both Mr Croziet and current owner, Shane Jones, Waireka skipper Vance Crozier (left) andfarmer were among passengers on Adventurer 11 when it Trevor Soler struggle to load a steer during made its trip to Taumarunui in June of 201A, said to Waireka's time at Pipiriki in 1988" Mr Crozier be the flrst by a riverboat there in 82 years" owned the craft from 1986 to 1990. lrlu,lr -Page 17 o . o BvDevtr Scoruen EDITORIAL the annual river of the Tira Hoe waka' more exciting signiflcance MP Ji,l another Annuar ang **ri' former Another year, pirg'i""e" o.f whT'-il a , ir'" river means to her and stories emerse. uuJ r"* y:nd"l lL;;il;"*yams "1 p"*, irit' uuoor *t"t as whanganui'nir", the barrel is close ;,'f* ." :X"fflJ;;%"T*orvins "[ffi ill;'** zo v,?1,,#. ; :-f;*#i.'*iff:y5 0f liquor on the Manuwar' Darton rr^ ,'p*i"rr"rrv Maurict Cole' provides flood of rg4o.N"ri'" *" "i*;iu!e^rregular w'it"r' urro poi"ltially fatat enott"i articles about an old exciting..*.*urur"a a wild *rrrir,r t ,Jrry:":^{ir *ittr after diving ir"* baure with flood *u,"r, ";;;;a trying to rescue threatened to the barge he,d been [*"J;t;r"1ilirffiiT1f:"irh}##"1i,i:; *t*'r.rrnair-raisingbutano{e11n1e5::1T:*?"1?::i area' who alutary targ.oj the men reaches and ,J,""T"f;,*Hi:#*i*J*'1'yfr'tr"";Ixy;;x ,::: ;Tli:ffiJl:i'".1;i';i" middle I "n"T::1J;#ll31I,"" to appear and to them *o"#,,f,x1**:$'#dli,r'l#i"- ttrrr"' itrir ir your Annual' ,*" ,uv, ,ii,[r, uut dgn't all the way "op oawn Bramley' proof waimarie; 30.,*"y 1earr1 ,rrgt, a iipiri- for the ,ir".uout e, ur*uvr, and to Kelvin to Taumarunui on ,r.i Crawl3v o],iJ lot", Kojis from whanganui latter day *"#,.1,.,Jn' ru ,".Irr1i," *aireka undit, Adventurer a new;ili" th; ea"*"'n&ADesignandPrint' upriver foravs; *q.d"":5i: of the Otunur' interesting career vv the wTs,-"l]}wanganur serlers *#,#:::#;k#,';l{;:TY:":'2';X"'"";;;;;"'"yrtlli';ifi!'';:;;I:!:: """ii;;n;we chart th"the d"*it"demise of ?:"lT^'. 82 River Steamship co yh"',':::*.1:1tii"li;* trip bv a riverboat for vears' H;'"?::ffiIr#,JTft':qy.*di:^* ;,"" such ;ri,r#riirffiJ*ittt others who tried to the river' "*'-Ti;.*"" a business on "* fabled MangaPurua. Y".11"' prouia., its usual t5il:'ffi'#;'Ui:f, a focus on early s a tribute to a pionee'- *otl:l Tester, bY two:"d ;tr*; the nridge to Nowhere

t- -i*ilrlru whanganut f-UnAs2010walton' P*g:#:"?49 Drive' Pauline Whanganui ';;;;;' wo"-' lo,l'tti'o' Street' Chairperson: Vice i7'i'il:'*ley' 14 ward Steet' whanganui secretary: Brassev Road' whanganut rreasurer: ;;;;'Lz;'*tit' 1t-7 Laing Ridgwav Lv'lhg'e' 'i!::,;i:;l'X:"Y;:;,:;;:l'{l'Z7,X;"v,rav ,,";lil; ert Wills n oa Ut d"tYre, Rob

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niver r.ert the Friends or the whanganui ryy?rboat amv-,.H il"Y:#;Tffi-:JiiiTtfril'i;"Tffihis 1 0. with Ridgway announcing gam April, 20 *uy frorn-Auckland' centre at s"*a^v"ro a"*']"ff tt'" were all "n ."i"fr. #-*J;""1 u we Lvthgoe in charge t l, of all the **i1{;l1tl,Yt'ui "t'*u"ter' parap*u-,rr"r""f "'r, days taking note "rr"l;, iorr*.y up the we usual sreal n]:al and t-'+,;;*x"*:l#i'*'lffiH=* followed *,r :]:"tr#T*",[f'#l;&git'* rr'" si"i" familv'' fl ;; 1"i1r ourmorning,"uro3oo;'oJ"r*"01*"i"i"vrrar",, "fx1';:r:"';'fiyJ3' I]"ir' rr$ Tl *f[#:ffifr ;l:fi rTun1,,Tj,:Tiir"H#1:t ponidg"l t'"'f Richard *iF; *ud" the ".r i: jetboat ride II"i.:Jf#:""*i#trJllA#[*,,."1"=.l;;';"ru;*&"f"Xl;;-;::1,'&ano,herbeau'liruldavLodge *t* ,#" before including-a^"il we arrived u,-p*ror' ri"g;;i""-rrffis' old to spend # ffi;-;" vattev to the lunch for those i*rirrJ "#lu'" ,n3 r1',*i"r*ta along *t u, i. known 1J';;n:;d1 wr'" tukrn up with enthusiasm' walking in the uort-opposite uv u"p"iir of which w€ lrnique building il"o*n.a and much appreciation' as Doris, tracks. ir,ir ';#;;"-iu"*tu btuU ft'" ."rr,t l' the Wanganui tramping T1 jx*r,,;uffi ]T:i#r:I f :;ffi if:"#,ffir ffi H,:t:}tttr'";[t$""T3?#ff was aprrvilege' at8r tomtitst*ttf#lt;Hffi;ache1 ----r Di^rror.r Steele'sSreele's Xln*tilri. George,t1^^aft^ who.,,hn staved and .Rictrard " "Tir'lti1 Friends, prus *tJ;y distingui shed himself Retaruke Station' #; st""r"i,-uuagreedthat*";J'm"arvellousweekend' u'o, with great company' once again by drivirig-trr" "r;..11"'o.i;;;; u'"f trappy time sleepinfarru"g?T:'t'::,'oit sorted out the walks,"uJ'yo""' sat t."*Jr"lk went for Dep.ot in the KaiwhakaukaValley For the next couple^"? ,isit to the old at hotno:t:{:'**lt on the huge new deck Fe the i;':::y"f:r:':,f;#i:i;;f;t:-i:i/-"?:,,!;'*"#;i!"#'7ZZi,"i ffi}"*!y'il:'^l':ws and iro'iayPautinewatton HtH.":[ffiH Lacy home' ufl"*iio"t to the century old Quiet AGM but bigger turn out Bv Devm Scourlen The Friends of the Whanganui River's annual went from playing in the mud to playing in the mud." general meeting at DoC in Whanganui on 30 May, Hannah enjoys coming down the Whanganui 2010, was a quiet affair, as usual, but we were River with the annual hikoi and her enthusiasm for heartened at double the attendance of 12 of the the waterway and her work with DoC was obvious. previous year. Back from a year in Australia, Pauline Walton The highlight was an illusffated address by resumed the chair from Ridgway Lythgoe, who Hannah Rainforth, a locally-based DoC community remains on the committee. The only other change relations ranger with a passion for Whanganui River was the addition of Gloria Barr to the executive. water issues and freshwater species. Hannah said she Members were invited to offer suggestions for trips spent a lot of time in mud as a child. As an adult, "I the group can run. Summer day on River Rd r what could be better? Bv Pau KrrsoN

On Sunday, 21 Novembel 2010, a total of 27 of on the huge willows, it was easy to think back to the days us left from the Riverboat Centre at 8.30am on a real when several of Hatrick's fleet would have been moored summer's day for a journey through the Whanganui River there. A couple of canoeists came paddling in to add to the country. From the top of Gentle Annie we had a superb interest. long-distance view of the valley ahead and as the road is Continuing to Raetihi on a much-improved highway, now sealed as far as and considerably wider, it's the obligatory icecreams were found and on an also much- former tight corners and lack of passing-places are in the improved highway returned home on the Parapara. past. Many thanks to Ridgway for the driving skills and We took in the usual interesting features,such as the information. Thanks also to the group for allowing two oyster-shel1 cliffs and the new Mayor's residence,The South African friends from Johannesburg to take part as Flying Fox, just south of and then went on to far as Jerusalem. They were rapt with their unexpected the Kawana flour mill for morning tea. Coming back out experience. on the riverbank north of Ranana, we looked down on and across at the Tawhitinui pa site above Friends enjoy morning tea at the Kawanaflour mill at which many of the dead from the battle are buried in the Matahiwi. Photo by Pauline Walton. aspen groYe. Further on, the old Flower home is still visible amongst the gorse and folk were interested in a few memories of my childhood there. Arriving at Jerusalem, we went off to wander around, some going to look at Hemi's (James K Baxter) grave up the little bush walk and the church interior which people found delightful. Sister Sue greeted most of us on her way to cook lunch for a group of nuns having aretreat there. We all found shady picnic places around the grounds and enjoyed the peaceful environment while we lunched. Then to Pipiriki where most folk wandered down to the wharf and the boat ramp. The river was low and a glorious green and coupled with the spring foliage wHANGANUrRrvERauNual Page 5 Tsking stock with DoC -Ataims sound overfish deaths been appointed conservator of Alarms sounded with the Department of Mr Coutts has Tongariro-Whanganui- conservancy' Conservation and the Whanganui River Maori the effective from JulY, 2011. Trust Board in December, 2010, when high water temperatures and low flows were suspected to be NEW SIGNS ON RIVER t itting f,sh life in the Whanganui River' DoC has been aware for some time that signage Ifannah Rainforth of DoC expressed fears that along the Whanganui River is no longer adequate , trout and and many other flsh species were being or op to scratch. In a response, it plans to place a negatively affected by several consequences of the series of new signs at signiflcant and historic places t ig't t"-peratures. Water levels were particularly on the river and in the Mangapurua Valley' These are loiv, especally in adjoining tributaries, which meant to be from 2011. water had receded from the banks' scheduled Placed thaitheinhabitable The Friends of the Whanganui River is A trust board spokesman, Ben Potaka, said 15 sponsoring one of these signs - ut Bridge to longfln had been found dead in the water between 11? Iiowhere. A note on the sign says: "These panels Koiinlti and Pungarehu. He said they were extremely were funded partly by the Friends of the Whanganui hardy creatures but the discovery suggested some River from the estate of the late Arthur P Bates, a drasiic changes may be occurring in the river's prominent local historian and author'" ecosystem. The Friends'executive decided some yea'rs ago He said a similar occuffence 20 years ago went to give $5000 from the legacy left to our group by unexplained due to the lack of scientific knowledge Artlur towards such signage. It suggested to DoC about eels' living habits. that the Bridge to Nowhere would be a good place for our contribuiion since it was Arthur's research that MANGAPURUA CYCLE TRAIL PROMOTED part in leading to its current prominence' DoC is billing the new Mangapurua Valley played a big cycle trail as an eiciting experience' valley is -The NEW IIUT TRAMPER DRAWCARD dlscribed as the adventurous section of the Ruapehu/ DoC is optimistic that use of the Matemateaonga Whanganui Trails Nga Ara Tuhono' - - Track, which runs from eastern Taranaki to the A"lthough rugged in places, the 36km Ruatiti Rd Whanganui River, will increase following the Mangapurua leg exists as a multi-day ot a4-6 hour - openirig in 2010 of a new hut, planning for which mountiin bike ride experienced riders will do it - began six years earlier. quicker through to the Whanganui River, crossing - Built by Taranaki-based contractors over two the Bridge to Nowhere on the waY' months at a iost of $160,000 on the site of an existing Upfrading from Ruatiti Rd to the river for cyclists shelter, the 10-bed Ngapurua hut is fully-insulated in 2010"cott $400,000. Cyclists will eventually be and double-glazed. able to also enjoy the Kaiwhakauka section from As it iJ three-and-a-ha1f hours' walk from the Whakahoro to the Mangapurua trig' About $300'000 river and halfway between the Pouri and Puketotara is being spent upgrading this track in the summer of huts, it meets DoC policy of maintaining a network 2010-11. with huts no longer than four hours'walk apart' BOUNDARIES CIIANGE WIIANGANUI The new NgaPurua hut on the 's four national parks' Three of Whan g anui N ati onal P ark's National Park, are contained in including Whanganui M atemat e aon g a Track w ill DoC's nEw Whinganui conservancy' The boundaries probably be the onlY new hut in of the lower North Island conservancies have been the Whanganui area alteredtobestfltcommunitiesofinterest,according for a long time. to Whanganui conservator Damian Coutts' Hawke's Bay and Wellington conservancies Nowhere combined, and the Whanganui- Bikes on the Bridge to were recently common sight now combined with the are likely to be a Taranaki conservancy is now onwith the uPgrade conservancy to create a new from Taupo-Tongariro of the Ruatiti Rd - MangaPurua tongariro-iVhurgunoi-Taranaki conservancy' Its track to the river. new-boundaries took effect on December 1,2010'

Page 6 - wnaNceNul RrvER ANNUAL Whan s anui R r w er&mw$ ffsvx $rs Ye I w,$ Wairilarie hits snag but sails on Bv Davm Scoullln PS Waimarie sailed into 2010 and the 10th vessel went on the Q-West slipway for its 10-year but anniversary of its return to service on a wave of survey which was estimated to cost $193,000, having euphoria. In February came another landmark, the came in under budget. The following month, was to 20th anniversary of the founding of the Whanganui passed with flying colours, Waimarie back Riverboat Restoration and Navigation Trust formed home berth and running triPs again. no longer to salvage and restore Waimarie and to establish the Fares have been lowered andWaimarie perceived lack Whanganui Riverboat Centre Museum. stops at because of a But storm ciouds were gathering on the horizon' of attractions there. However, locals have banded get the In March, behind closed doors, the two trusts which together to come up with more so they can which run the vessel appealed to the Wanganui stopover to resume. District Council for flnancial help. The bombshell Other issues are that the boat only makes money more fundamentally, came in June when the public learned thatWaimarie's for six months of the year. And self- coffers were empty, it had stopped sailing and could the big question is: Will it ever be flnancially people have been be lost to the community unless it received a serious sufflcient? Meanwhile, Whanganui want to monetary input. warned that they must use the boat if they of the It emerged that the vessel had been operating at a keep it, and everyone, including the Friends support loss for years and neither of the trusts had any money Whanganui River who have offered their left. As well, passenger numbers had declined since throughout, hopes for a happier year in20ll. a DVD titled 2006, dropping 40 percent between 2006 and 2010' On a more upbeat note, in February For the past two years they had remained steady at Return to the River - the Story of PS Waimarie, a cameraman the late Mac Brechmanis, about 9000 visitors a Year. tribute to The bottom line was that about $70,000 was was presented to the Riverboat Centre. It shows the and is needed for the following four months to ensure salvage of Waimarie from the river in 1993 continued operation in the upcoming summer said to show some remarkable footage. season. While Waimarie has operated since 2000 with no council funding except for a small amount Waimarie is winched up the slipway for its l)-year photo. for marketing, councillors responded by agreeing to a survey in August. Wanganui Chronicle $70,000 grant, but with conditions. These in- cluded drawing up a business and marketing plan and setting up a Rew transitional trust tasked to see Waimarie is effec- tively marketed and returned to financialiy vi- able operation. Added flnancial help came from Powerco Wan- gani Trust and the Whanganui Com- munity Trust. In August the NEWS BRIEFS PEOPLE AI{D PLACES' Activrty at park Z,,4,theRotarv tll9^:,t^y:"sanu1 l stormy February of projects For 11years, apartfromthe L"-:'T;"H;" o. n"* construction river or"'go y"*t two commercial ?'ilt#;r*';"t**mr*ffi:[HT;':l#ffi;;;'r'"011"r'"''to see for the il:? ffi; Rotarians were delighted at the u"rr"tt tied uP Park' Hipango Park' ll share the wharf at W Wairua and 'qdJ'enru"' G*xwr Left: :- +l"a nnrrnfla/' according Dangerous river mouth or oiu yo"rg boy caught in a zoto,-ioltowing the'"** ,",#"l,,,_y,TxxJi5J,",."ffiHf.x':ililF:l*:frH#,"f;'J#.";;f#r""1t.,ililJ:1ffi*:hcfHe commenrllrrr r"r*.fi, warning signs in the a1ea. ,t North Mole' Jp ** " river sites trav:Il,:1i:::*'X;;T;; Minister tours i Neootiations, Chris Finlayson' I rheMinistert-t otwlitalqiNee-o-t1atio'::!I"iili*1,1,#fl[l[1ii':lJffiX]f-iffiil,l11f;lw "u,v related to the Whanganul 2010' tJJ;;;es A"t'i" Taiaroa ;U in January, by i'ffi**?*ir""a"'-Sit ""t6W to Pipiriki by jetboat'.*:."::,,"*ed :;;t" ;"' fium' rohn wood'

Iff *l:crg*'r+"l;ryg';:+ug#**1ffi W thJUnionBoatClub.Right:ou,*i*)ii;;-;,,reflectontheirBridgercBridgeperfoule uruurr L'voL vr-"- - t' -'^ their+t^i+orrcnfq events' *" The calgndi released river users g9.-or$inate River calendar q newne\r, calendartohelpriverusert:9.-t9'"t"^l:.T:#;;;"'calendar to help revle Reg*ilt-corrrr", released a ;;;;rjir river safety management Horizons p,,uri. purt :i# are happerun: made d ,* T. rneck when other events a direcr response to'ffiestions or tnlir .r.**,,J poiithe time, date iffi;; allows river users to ",1d near Jerusalem enaeo lost hat the bank gf-lhr river Rescue follows to retrieve hr1_lalfrom -s."r, of the bank next Nortr, man,s attemlt 57, f+ over the side Apalmersto, zorg l"t and a helicol g;-*r*, " Ambulance personnel his rescue uy ;;i;", _", Service #;; -i; "*"rffi una ur"tr" riu. rirt the Mangapo.u.r rrir-*-driag" rescue' were involved in his ;;;;;""*;i;#fi :T"uqthe,,"":':::T"ffiil#*ffi The mtngtt;:;;t;';; spokesperson said'h3:+fl;ffi,li:llT"lil,,TilJlipi} t with ih"."u.;;;;"" *hanganui sitt-laden.iu., *ngiing foam blown uprlver could weather '"";;;;h'"-"o1o"t"d certain ""iJiii"t' for concern' nriag", but was not a cause 2010' t9 be ot uncovered was declared in April' Local historY putiki durilg,.roadworks found c the rivel at to 60b y"ut* old A midden t"rra on lank i"wrr"rg*ri, with it"*'.o' flll * u" *^o" rstrti""t"'y io early road the most ,igrin"#ir;aetogicatfinat *"i'it"?"?;rh" riom trt, t olr., *ua" bouom layer. rr"*, ,u,g"o ", century' the mid-19th tu concerns around their bond outlined al relationsr'i! River 'uld "l;:"i'"' he heard about the ily#x+::ffi"#$?Tliffixtr"l""Jt#tillifierrv" *tilil'##5:$'T3il-il:ffiwhere peopre-in i,r-ty, zoro. ,i:'i ril; "rrn'"ut*it?iM*;; of rndigenous writangi Trihunal claim' claim, the longest ;";* River Road' it is expectt road sealed the entire whanganui More of the project to seal with two ,"urorr, left to complete ANNUAL P".E R _ WHENGANT]I RIVER most of the link between Pipiriki and Jerusalem will be completed in the 2010-11 season and the remaindet in the following season. By July, 2OlO, the road had been sealed to Ranana and the special targeted section ol Morikau Rd had also been sealed. Public toilets scrutinised Five possible sites have been suggested for public toilets on the Whanganui River Rd to provide for tourists, especially cyclists when the national cycleway links to Pipiriki, the TamaUpoko Link meeting wat told in July, 2010. A number of groups and funders will need to be involved. It was noted that water supplier will also need to be considered. Patience for cure The river's main problem is muddy run-off from its erodible soils, according to Horizons Regiona Council which says it can be nursed back to full health, though it will take at least 10 years of patience an( persistence.The river also has ultraviolet-treated sewage added at Taumarunui. The treatment kills bacterit but doesn't prevent the addition of extra nutrients. Old building, new use The Whanganui River Institute has leased the original Hatrick and Co office and wants to fill it witl a coalition of river users. Until 1958 the riverside building, built in the 1890s, housed Alexander Hatrick'r riverboat business, including crew sleeping quarters and a storage shed. Latterly, it has been the base for TI Calliope, the city's sea cadet unit. Documentary on photos A record of how photos by William Partington of Whanganui River people were discovered, put up fo auction but er,entually secured by the local was the subject of a documentary, I Am the River, on Maor TV in September.2010. Partington lived and worked in Whanganuui from 1892 - 1908. His photos wert displayed at Whanganui Regional Museum in 2008-9. Awa sculpture staying A sculpture depicting From the Mountains to the Sea missed selection in a public vote amonl four sculptures in Whanganui in September, 2010, but will stay in Whanganui. It represents thr awa, the source of the awa and the significance of water-borne travel for the two cultures. Overal it represents the many generations of people that lived on or near the river. ItJi: Front the Mountains to the Sea sculpture by Mikel Durel Browne, Kerry McDonnell and Max Cody. Conservation Field Day Whakahoro's Station hosted its annual Conservation Field Day in October, 2010 Farmers, business people, tourism operators and others interested in conservation attended tr re-acquaint themselves with nature, hear from guest speakers and swap ideas on how tourism, farming anr conservation can work together. Encounter at roundabout A revamp at the Putiki roundabout, Whanganui's southern entrance, featured a sculpture, caller Encounter. It represents a meeting between the first people (tangata whenua) and visitors (manuhiri). One o the figures carries the "Takarangi spiral" in perforated metal, representing Putiki Maori. Other landscapinl incorporates poles reflecting the three river hapu. WakaAma races Waka Ama racing took place on the river from October to December, 2010. The twilight tournament was the brainchild of the Te Ringa Miti Tai Heke Waka Ama Club to raise funds to enable it to compete in the national championships at and to prepare crews for participation in the 2011 Masters Games in Whanganui. Above: A waka Ama team in action on the whanganui Rive River woman gets top job AWhanganui River woman, Annette Main, who runs the Flying Fox at Koriniti, mad history in October,2010, when she was elected as the first female mayor of Whanganu Annette, who initiated the popular Whanganui River Traders Market, comes to th terms on the Horizons Regional Council. , mayoralty following several I Left: Annette Main of Koriniti is Whanganui's first female mayor *HANGANUT RrvEnesuuar , page ObitwariEs Sir Archie: Tireless fighter, sentinel, statesman Tributes paid to his empathy, honesty, dignity, humour Bv Davp Scoul-len Born on the banks of the Conservation DePartment manager Nic Peat Whanganui River at Tawata, just Whanganui area worked with the upstream from Whakahoro, Sir said Sir Archie many times on a wide Archie Taiaroa has returned home. department projects and brought He died on SePtembet 21,2010, variety of considerable change in the aged73. about Whanganui A leading flgure in Maorid- management of the Park to better reflect its om, Sir Archie was the long-serv- National iwi, its ing chairman of the Whanganui importance to Whanganui its links to the River Maori Trust Board. He lived cultural values and in Taumarunui and was widelY- awa. The Whanganui River Maori known for his work on iwi claims statement follow- over the river and for advancing Trust Board's the death said: "The waters of the growth and development of the ing churn with anguish at river's tribes. Whanganui service, its sentinel and el- A co-convener of the Maori During his lengthY Public the passing of Taiaroa tackled ... your tireless Congress and a trusted adviser of Sir Archie der statesman flght not in vain, Dame Te Atairangikahu, the late complex challenges. for the river was Your people will carry on Passing Maori Queen, he was an interna- Your for Te Awanui- tionally recognised figure for his tion of many contributions led to and determination a-Rua." work protecting indigenous Peo- being knighted in2009. King ple's rights and with the World The many tributes to Sir Ar- At the invitation of Sir Archie laY in state at Council of Whalers. SirArchie had chie spoke of his emPathY for all Tuheitia, Marae at Ngaru- served on the board of the TreatY people, his honestY, dignitY and Turangawaewae later to NgaPu- of Waitangi Fisheries Commission, humour. Prime Minister John KeY awahia, moving Marae at Taumarunui Te Ohu Kaimoana, since 1993. said his leadershiP was insPira- waiwaha Ngati Tu- In the past decade he under- tional and Maori PartY co-leader where his three tribes, took the role of negotiator and Pita Sharples said he tackled com- wharetoa, Ngati ManiaPoto and his peacemaker between the Crown plex Maori challenges including Whanganui, lamented Passing. in the Poumaanu and wider Maoridom on issues af- flsheries struggles and broadcast- He was buried fecting allNew Zealand' Recogni- ing litigation. Urupa at Tawata.

The Whanganui River lost its oldest woman, Te Manawanui Pauro, Kaiwhaiki and Auntie in Septemb er,2070. She was 103. Also known as Nanny Nui I-ucy, she died peacefully at home in Kaiwhaiki and was buried at kuia Kaiwhaiki's uruPa. Mrs Pauro's stories of early life on the river were recolded in a documentary by Kiritahi Takiari, and she was one of those who signed iver's the PakaitoreAyloutoa Gardens agreement with the Crown and the Wanganui District Council. oldest Still spry in her 100th year, she was among the kuia dancing on Te stage at the ciose of the Whanganui iwi's Te Awa Tupua exhibition at woman Papa in 2006. Page 12 - wuaNc.tllut Rn'ER ANNUAT