Fire guts historic riverboat

By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE

Fire has gutted the historic river boat Otunui, which plied the Waikato River daily between Huka Falls and Aratiatia Dam north of Taupo.

Police and Fire Service investigators were late yesterday still trying to determine the cause of the 7am blaze.

Owner-operator Dave Kilmister got a telephone call at 7.30am to say New Zealand's oldest operating paddlewheeler was burning at its Aratiatia mooring.

The steel hull remained but the rest of the 16m vessel was virtually destroyed, he said. "It's not looking very good at all."

Gone was the saloon, the interior timberwork and plush upholstery, along with the piano.

The boat, licensed to take up to 50 passengers, was the sole livelihood for Mr Kilmister, his wife, Angela, and their baby, Hanna.

They bought the Otunui 18 months ago and, last year, had her out of the water for 4 1/2 months for a total refurbishment.

Since she was relaunched in September, business had been good, Mr Kilmister said. "We had a fantastic holiday period from Christmas really, until now.

"It's a bit of a blow."

Otunui was built in London by Yarrow and Company in 1907 specifically for the shallow New Zealand rivers. Shipped out in sections, she was reassembled to join a fleet travelling the Whanganui River.

The paddlewheeler ran off a diesel motor, with the paddles independently driven.

She was brought to Taupo four years ago to replace her sister ship, Waireka.

Mr Kilmister, who would not reveal what he had paid for the boat, said he did not know what the future held and had yet to talk to insurers.

He said it would be a "pretty big undertaking" to rebuild the vessel, and would take a long time.