Sainthood set to boost tourism at remote river settlement Jerusalem near Whanganui

Suzanne Aubert is likely to become New Zealand's first saint.

Tourism at a remote settlement near Whanganui is set to increase sharply if a former nun is made a saint by the Catholic church.

Suzanne Aubert is likely to become New Zealand's first saint.

Better known to many by her cleric name Sister Mary Joseph or Mother Aubert, she was a Catholic sister who started a home for orphans and the under-privileged in Jerusalem, on the Whanganui River in 1885.

Rene Olmos from Whanganui & Partners said as the process towards her canonisation progresses, the economic development agency anticipated large increases in tourist numbers visiting the settlement, 66 km up the Whanganui River Road.

This had led to a review of the infrastructure. "It is important that our public infrastructure keeps up with this growth," Mr Olmos said.

Mr Olmos said a public toilet facility would be installed at Jerusalem next year.

It is part of a $220,00 package of infrastructure improvements to be partly funded by the Government.

Provision for toilet facilities and freedom campers would also be installed in Whanganui.

The government will contribute $120,000 while the Whanganui District Council will chip in the other half.

Work is scheduled to be completed during the first half of next year.

Jerusalem.

Mr Olmos said Jerusalem has long needed a public toilet, often with more than 100 cars parked there each day. The area continues to grow as a tourist destination and there have been many requests for a public toilet.

In Whanganui the freedom camping enhancements will occur along Anzac Parade between the Dublin Street Bridge and Railway Bridge and will include provision for toilets and a campervan dumping station, which will be connected to the council's wastewater system.

"Due to the rapidly growing tourism sector in Whanganui, there was a serious need for new public tourism infrastructure, which will encourage and support tourism growth and visitor expectations," said Rene Olmos from Whanganui & Partners.

Whanganui's tourism sector is worth $128 million per year and visitor expenditure grew by one per cent between July 2016 and June 2017 - six percent higher than the New Zealand average, he said. "The River Road area has seen a lot of this growth due to its natural beauty."

Earlier this year, 68 per cent of residents said the Whanganui District required more public toilets.