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Side-Wheeled Paddle Steamers
MPV Otunui Otunui in March 2008 : Photo by kind courtesy of Phil Barnes Built by Yarrow in London in 1907 as a propellor driven
oil driven ship, she underwent various chanes over the years, and was
out of service for many years after sinking in 1949. She was reported
as having been from 60 ft to 50 ft when sold in 1961 and restored
for use as a transport for agricultural produce. In this form she was
known as "Tangahoe". In 1972 she was partially wrecked when she was
driven on to a shingle bed near Pipiriki in a storm. She was rebuilt as
a passenger ship with diesel power and put into service on the
Whanganui River but quickly moved to the Waikato River. Amazingly, in
1982, new owners moved her to Lake Okataina and fitted paddle wheels.
Her less than successful career continued and she was brought back to
the Whanganui under another new owner in 1984 where she stayed for the
next four years, but under various owners over the period. Back on the
Waikato she was more of a success, but under new owners once again in
2002 she was refitted and looking set for a good future until seriously
damaged by fire in 2003. She was rebuilt, and sailed to Paeroa on the
Waihou River in 2006.
She
has been operating on Lake Whakamaru, a long narrow sheltered water
formed by a dam on the Waikato River and then was based at the
Waimarino Adventure Park at Tauranga under the ownership of Peter
Koole from 2009-2015 The boat was subsequently sold in June 2015 as the owner pulled out of the business Use of the boat since the sale is unknown
