Whanganui's iconic paddle steamer celebrates double anniversary

Whanganui's iconic paddle steamer - the Waimarie - is celebrating a double anniversary this year.

It is 125 years since the London-built ship was launched on the Whanganui River and 25 years since it was recommissioned into service after being rescued from the riverbed and restored.

Waimarie Operating Trust manager Jen Britton said it was a little know fact that the ship arrived in New Zealand flat-pack style.

"Originally the Waimarie was named paddle steamer Aotea and had different operators. It was built in 1899 in England and then shipped over as kit-set in boxes and rebuilt on the banks for the Whanganui, so that marks, that brings us to the journey of 125 years."

The Up River Settlers' Company went bust and rivals Hatrick & Co bought the Aotea and renamed it Waimarie.

It serviced the Whanganui to Pipiriki run until the 1930s before being relegated to excursions and eventually sinking in 1952.

A community group salvaged the ship in 1993, restored it to its former glory and it went back into service in the year 2000.

Britton said there was more to a cruise on the Waimarie than a history lesson.

"It is the legacy, the technology itself that that it takes to run this boat because it's so unique, but from a real personal perspective for me it's that you can sit back and someone else does all the work for you.

"You can just sit back and take it all in and some days you can some on and the atmosphere of the rive is so different from the day before but it's so beautiful at the same time."

Waimarie engineer John Tate, who was deep in the vessel's bowels, explained its machinery.

"It's a two-cylinder double-acting simple expansion reciprocating steam engine. At the moment we are running at about 50rpm and probably doing about eight knots. The boiler runs at 150psi and we used between a half a tonne and three quarters of a tonne of coal on each trip and we also use 25000 litres of water."

He is amazed at its longevity.

"When the Titanic was launched this paddle steamer had already been in service for years. I mean this is one of 12 boats. This is one of the bigger ones and this ran in the lower reaches of the river as far as Pipiriki which is 66 miles. I'm not sure how many kilometres that is. And it had to negotiate 40 something rapids."

Rachel Mayer has brought of group of children across from Huntley School in Marton for a cruise.

"I think it's an impressive effort because it's like boats like this there's and incredible amount of upkeep to keep them on the water, keep them running and keep it as a viable commercial enterprise dare I say it. But it's still cool that still running, yeah."

She was enjoying the trip.

"It's a lovely day for it. It's a gorgeous trip. You can't be going up the river."

One of her charges, Dylan Britton, 8, was in his happy place.

"It reminds me of my favourite vehicle which is a train because of the steam and when it starts going it goes chuff, chuff, chuff and the funnel has steam coming out of it."

Christchurch visitor Gerald Robertson was loving it too.

"It's marvellous and the fact that it's been recycled because it's something different and something for Whanganui.

"Yeah it's good. We've just living the dream and taking in the sights and seeing our own backyard rather than flying overseas. We've got it all here."

Denmark's Henrik Westerlin saw the big picture.

"The one thing that struck me is that importance of preserving the history and sharing that across generations, so I see the young kids around and they learn to appreciate the heritage of the area.

"And also we read up that a lot of volunteer hours have gone into it and I think it is super important to have this in a community."

Between 8000-9000 passengers now sail on the Waimarie every year.

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