Whanganui’s Waimarie paddleboat’s 25-year milestone

Whanganui's Paddle Steamer Waimarie is the only one of her kind still operating in the southern hemisphere.

It’s 25 years since Whanganui’s Waimarie paddlesteamer was relaunched for operation on the Whanganui River. Fin Ocheduszko Brown reports.

New Zealand’s oldest operating paddle steamer, the Waimarie, is celebrating its 125-year journey and 25th birthday in its current form.

After being built in London in 1899, the vessel operated in Whanganui for more than 50 years.

But in 1952 the boat suffered damage and sunk to the bottom of the Whanganui River.

It was salvaged 40 years later, thanks to community enthusiasts, and set sail on its first tourist cruise on January 1, 2000 - almost 100 years after it was originally launched.

The vessel’s operating trust manager, Jen Britton, said making it 25 years after the restoration was an incredible achievement.

“I think it’s a pretty cool milestone for a a vessel of that nature to still be operating today and be in the condition it is in is no small feat,” she said.

“It hasn’t always been in a straight line.”

The longevity of the boat since its revival is down to the work of the Waimarie Operating Trust and the Whanganui Riverboat Restoration and Navigation Trust, who take ownership of the vessel.

Chairwoman for the Whanganui Riverboat Restoration and Navigation Trust, Marion Johnston, has had strong ties to the vessel and was proud to see it still thriving in 2025.

“It’s very rewarding to know that all that hard work and money raised back in the late 90s has paid off in terms of now having this valuable asset,” she said.

“It’s pretty exciting to see that 25 years on, she’s going from strength to strength and she’s well fermented into the tourist scene and the hospitality scene, it’s awesome,” Johnston said.

Britton said the boat got most of its attention from tourists but there could be more engagement from Whanganui residents.

“From a local’s perspective, and I was guilty of this, it’s very much, ‘it’s the Waimarie, it’s always going to be there.

“It would be cool to have more engagement - we definitely do need more support from the community.

“If it’s in your backyard you take it for granted.”

Britton is hopeful that the oldest surviving paddleboat steamer in the southern hemisphere can continue for a further 25 years and is on-track to doing so.

“It would take a catastrophic event to kill her. The boiler has not long been overhauled, that won’t have to happen for at least 20 years.

“From here it’s really just ensuring that the maintenance is done as it should be so that we stay on top of everything - I don’t think it’s impossible.”

The Waimarie is still actively looking for a fulltime skipper as it is currently operating with a contract with the skipper of the Wairua vessel.

The month of January 2025 is set to be a busy one for the trusts and Waimarie.

On January 1, two commemorative cruises with performances from musician Dave Griffiths will mark the first commercial operation.

Britton also said there will be a skipper for the day competition, gin competition to flaunt their partnership with Papaiti Gin and a riverside open night on January 17.

Britton said the open night idea is to activate the river’s edge and to have the boat as the stage for the community.

“It was a way that we could do it without being cost-prohibitive.”

They also wish to capitalise on events such as the Vintage Weekend and the Riverside Shindig (January 17-20), as well as hosting a stakeholder cruise to thank those involved with keeping the vessel going on January 25.

Chairman of the vessels operating trust, Stuart Hylton, wants the busy month to be celebrated by all.

“It’s a chance for the city to celebrate the iconic restoration of the vessels 25 years ago by a group of people and community that funded and co-funded it,” Hylton said.

“It’s something that we can all celebrate, the vessel is iconic Whanganui, it’s how we show off our historic river and Awa and celebrate the Hatrick vessel’s turn of the century.”