Friends of the Whanganui River ready to hit the road after revival

Friends of the Whanganui River chairman Alan Donald says the group has received renewed interest after some lean years.

Long-standing organisation Friends of the Whanganui River has a new lease of life as interest in the society picks up.

As part of the Whanganui Summer Programme, the group will run a scenic, informative bus tour along the Whanganui River Rd.

The organisation has had a recent revival in operations thanks to the sales of its two reprinted books, The Bridge to Nowhere and Whanganui River Stories – River Ripplets.

“There have been big developments taking place by the group and our financial position has substantially improved with the sale of some merchandise,” chairman Alan Donald said.

“We are also continuing to hold our stall at the Saturday River Market every second week, in which we have been encouraging new membership applications and selling a number of items as well as providing information about the society.”

The Whanganui Summer Programme consists of bus trips, walks and talks in the area and is organised by the Whanganui Summer Programme Trust which started in 2008.

The trust announced that it would be “slimming down” in 2025 because of a financial hit and decrease in interest but it has been able to add the River Rd trip to its programme of six out-of-town trips.

Through the help of iwi guide Don Robinson, a bus trip taking in several townships and landmarks will be held on January 31.

The bus will venture up the Whanganui River Rd, stopping at Koriniti Marae, Matahiwi Cafe, Jerusalem and its historical church before the trip switches to a jet boat.

It will take passengers to the restored Te Poti Marae at Pipiriki and back to Whanganui, but not before stopping at Raetihi Royal Theatre to watch a short film about the Whanganui River.

Friends of the Whanganui River treasurer/secretary Graeme Moffatt said the motivation was to honour the founding principle of the society.

“Our society has been in operation since 1989 when local newspaper editor Arthur Bates founded it with the primary aim to source and record the many stories about the river that have been told over the years,” Moffatt said.

“The society was set up to assist in conservation efforts along the length and breadth of the river and in order to achieve these goals, the society needs funds – up until now they have pretty much been entirely provided by members' subscriptions.”

The organisation had been through tough times, with the costs of publicising the Whanganui River Annual rising and membership numbers reducing, Moffatt said.

However, the recent increase in memberships and book sales had allowed the group to go ahead with the bus trip to inform people about the river’s history.