Whanganui: PS Waimarie hits 10,000 passenger mark for summer season

PS Waimarie hit 10,000 passengers for the summer season on Friday. Photo / File

Paddle steamer Waimarie has carried its 10,000th passenger for the season, reflecting recent growth in Whanganui tourism.

Waimarie manager Phil Pollero said it had already beaten last year's Covid-19 impacted season by more than 3500 passengers.

He put the increase down to New Zealanders travelling within the country, and "doing some of those things they always meant to do but had not got around
to".

"We've had huge support from people travelling about and travelling on our vessel.

"We were 38 per cent ahead on 2019, and 54 per cent ahead on last year's shortened season."

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment data released in February shows Whanganui was the country's top performing region for tourism growth, growing at a rate of 3 per cent last year.

Out of 31 Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) in New Zealand, only two others recorded growth in the year ended November 2020. Wairarapa was up 2 per cent on 2019 and Northland had 1 per cent growth.

A couple visiting Whanganui from Sydney, Australia officially took the Waimarie's passenger count over 10,000 for the season on Friday, Pollero said.

"They were taken by surprise I think.

"We are really pleased for the organisation, and pleased for the team that have put in the hard yards over the season and made it all happen."

The Waimarie Operating Trust chairman Stuart Hylton said there had been apprehension post Covid-19, as to whether the lack of overseas tourists would be compensated by
greater domestic and local tourism.

"That's thankfully has been the case," Hylton said.

"There's nothing better than seeing the Waimarie on the awa full of passengers".

Stratford couple Gary and Sandra Potroz were onboard PS Waimarie on Sunday. Photo / Mike Tweed

Sunday passengers Gary and Sandra Potroz were in town from Stratford, as part of the Waitara District Services and Citizens Club pool team.

"We'd never [been on the Waimarie] before and it's a beautiful day, so we thought we'd give it a go," Gary said.

"I thought it might have gone up to the first rapid, but I'd still give it a solid 8 out of 10."

Local couple Tiff and Paul Williams were also onboard with their daughters Greta and Alice.

It was the first time for Paul, but Tiff said she had made the trip around 10 times before.

"I don't know how I've managed that, because I'm terrified of boats," she said.

"There have been trips with kids, weddings, all kinds of stuff."

Greta said it was her second time onboard and visiting the engine room had been the highlight of her trip.

The last trip of the season will be on Mothers Day (Sunday, May 9) before the riverboat undergoes winter maintenance.

The Waimarie sat at the bottom of the Whanganui river for around 50 years before being salvaged in 1993.

She was restored and re-launched in 2000, making the riverboat New Zealand's only authentic coal-fired paddle steamer still in operation.