Retaruke River
Encyclopedia
The Retaruke River is a river on the North Island
of New Zealand
. It joins with the Whanganui River
just above Wade's Landing and downstream from Taumarunui
. The river flows through the farming communities of Upper and then Lower Retaruke Valley. Downstream from this junction is the Mangapurua Landing with its Bridge to Nowhere, servicing the ill-fated Mangapurua Valley farming community.
(Image) building. This has been converted into a stop over hostel for down river canoeists. Here the current Lacy's Bridge crosses the Retaruke River. (Built in 1932, to replace an earlier bridge built 1915/16.)
Historically, Whakahoro's Wade's Landing was a stopover point for the riverboats
steaming up and down the Whanganui River
. This landing was located just below at the confluence with the Retaruke River. It was here that wool from the Retaruke valley's sheep farms was originally freighted to Wanganui for eventual export.
Just above the confluence still stands Lacy's hotel, which is now a farm house. It had its own separate landing, tennis courts, and on occasion (in the 1920s) locals would meet (come out of the bush) for a friendly game of Rugby union
in their hobnail boots.
Over the Whanganui River was the site of a Māori community, the land was subsequently leased to the Rusling family for sheep farming, but now has reverted to regrowth. (The Roadway and Camp Road from here to the Republic of Whangamomonahttp://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/newtaranakistories/whangarepday.asp are nolonger maintained by the New Zealand
Government.)
At one point there was a river boat (Image) semi-permanently anchored at the junction. This river boat served alcohol beverages. As the King Country
was a dry area, such beverages were actually banned; the boat was considered "offshore" from the King Country
.
Interestingly, Wade's Landing has made itself into various modern hand-held GPS databases, probably due to its historical nautical significance. Today a Jetboat
can be chartered locally to take passengers up river to Taumarunui or down river to Pipiriki and Jerusalem
.
to stock the hills.
The valley previously had a tiny Mangaroa Primary School
(39°7.22′S 175°8.06′E). At a location further up there still remain the community hall and sports field, here there are annual children's Christmas parties, occasional Dances/Social and the annual Retaruke Easter Sports Day are run.
Access to the Valley is via three main roads: Oio Road, Kawautahi Road or the Raurimu-Kaitieke Road from Raurimu
. However on foot the valley can be accessed via the old Mangapurua Road, or by jetboat
or via the Whanganui River
. (Other access routes such as the Kokako Road & Kuotoroa East Road (to Ruatiti), Te Mata Road from Whakahoro to Taumarunui have long since been abandoned. Some of these roads were examples of pack horse tracks that were expanded to roads during the Great Depression
1930s as job creation schemes.)
Historically the wealth of the valley has come from the production of wool. Early on there were also some small dairy farms producing cream/"butterfat
" for the Kaitieke dairy factory that was located in Piriaka near Taumarunui
.
memorial, a set of stock yards
for auctioning of sheep stock, and a defunct manual telephone exchange.
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It joins with the Whanganui River
Whanganui River
The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand.Known for many years as the Wanganui River, the river's name reverted to Whanganui in 1991, according with the wishes of local iwi. Part of the reason was also to avoid confusion with the Wanganui River in the South Island...
just above Wade's Landing and downstream from Taumarunui
Taumarunui
Taumarunui is a town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway....
. The river flows through the farming communities of Upper and then Lower Retaruke Valley. Downstream from this junction is the Mangapurua Landing with its Bridge to Nowhere, servicing the ill-fated Mangapurua Valley farming community.
Whakahoro
Whakahoro (39°6.65′S 175°3.98′E) is a small (now mostly empty) settlement located on the junction of the Retaruke and Whanganui Rivers. It had several streets, notable Lover's Lane, and Dempsey Ave. Here still stands the old Whakahoro SchoolWanganui Education Board
Provinces were abolished in New Zealand and the Central Government took control and education. The Education Act 1877 established twelve regional Education Boards, including this the Wanganui Education Board.-Primary schools:-Secondary schools:...
(Image) building. This has been converted into a stop over hostel for down river canoeists. Here the current Lacy's Bridge crosses the Retaruke River. (Built in 1932, to replace an earlier bridge built 1915/16.)
Historically, Whakahoro's Wade's Landing was a stopover point for the riverboats
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
steaming up and down the Whanganui River
Whanganui River
The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand.Known for many years as the Wanganui River, the river's name reverted to Whanganui in 1991, according with the wishes of local iwi. Part of the reason was also to avoid confusion with the Wanganui River in the South Island...
. This landing was located just below at the confluence with the Retaruke River. It was here that wool from the Retaruke valley's sheep farms was originally freighted to Wanganui for eventual export.
Just above the confluence still stands Lacy's hotel, which is now a farm house. It had its own separate landing, tennis courts, and on occasion (in the 1920s) locals would meet (come out of the bush) for a friendly game of Rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in their hobnail boots.
Over the Whanganui River was the site of a Māori community, the land was subsequently leased to the Rusling family for sheep farming, but now has reverted to regrowth. (The Roadway and Camp Road from here to the Republic of Whangamomonahttp://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/newtaranakistories/whangarepday.asp are nolonger maintained by the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Government.)
At one point there was a river boat (Image) semi-permanently anchored at the junction. This river boat served alcohol beverages. As the King Country
King Country
The King Country is a region of the western North Island of New Zealand. It extends approximately from the Kawhia Harbour and the town of Otorohanga in the north to the upper reaches of the Whanganui River in the south, and from the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto Ranges in the east to near the Tasman...
was a dry area, such beverages were actually banned; the boat was considered "offshore" from the King Country
King Country
The King Country is a region of the western North Island of New Zealand. It extends approximately from the Kawhia Harbour and the town of Otorohanga in the north to the upper reaches of the Whanganui River in the south, and from the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto Ranges in the east to near the Tasman...
.
Interestingly, Wade's Landing has made itself into various modern hand-held GPS databases, probably due to its historical nautical significance. Today a Jetboat
Jetboat
A jetboat is a boat propelled by a jet of water ejected from the back of the craft. Unlike a powerboat or motorboat that uses a propeller in the water below or behind the boat, a jetboat draws the water from under the boat into a pump inside the boat, then expels it through a nozzle at the...
can be chartered locally to take passengers up river to Taumarunui or down river to Pipiriki and Jerusalem
Jerusalem, New Zealand
Jerusalem was once an important kainga on the Whanganui River in New Zealand where a Roman Catholic mission was first established in 1854....
.
Lower Retaruke valley community
Portions of the Lower Retaruke Valley were settled about 1900 by government run farm ballot. Other portions were independently purchased from the Māori community. The land was then cleared, grassed, and sheep flocks herded in from RaurimuRaurimu Spiral
The Raurimu Spiral is a single-track railway spiral, starting with a horseshoe curve, overcoming a 132 m height difference, in the central North Island of New Zealand, on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. It is a notable feat of civil engineering, having been called an 'engineering masterpiece'...
to stock the hills.
The valley previously had a tiny Mangaroa Primary School
Wanganui Education Board
Provinces were abolished in New Zealand and the Central Government took control and education. The Education Act 1877 established twelve regional Education Boards, including this the Wanganui Education Board.-Primary schools:-Secondary schools:...
(39°7.22′S 175°8.06′E). At a location further up there still remain the community hall and sports field, here there are annual children's Christmas parties, occasional Dances/Social and the annual Retaruke Easter Sports Day are run.
Access to the Valley is via three main roads: Oio Road, Kawautahi Road or the Raurimu-Kaitieke Road from Raurimu
Raurimu Spiral
The Raurimu Spiral is a single-track railway spiral, starting with a horseshoe curve, overcoming a 132 m height difference, in the central North Island of New Zealand, on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. It is a notable feat of civil engineering, having been called an 'engineering masterpiece'...
. However on foot the valley can be accessed via the old Mangapurua Road, or by jetboat
Jetboat
A jetboat is a boat propelled by a jet of water ejected from the back of the craft. Unlike a powerboat or motorboat that uses a propeller in the water below or behind the boat, a jetboat draws the water from under the boat into a pump inside the boat, then expels it through a nozzle at the...
or via the Whanganui River
Whanganui River
The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand.Known for many years as the Wanganui River, the river's name reverted to Whanganui in 1991, according with the wishes of local iwi. Part of the reason was also to avoid confusion with the Wanganui River in the South Island...
. (Other access routes such as the Kokako Road & Kuotoroa East Road (to Ruatiti), Te Mata Road from Whakahoro to Taumarunui have long since been abandoned. Some of these roads were examples of pack horse tracks that were expanded to roads during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
1930s as job creation schemes.)
Historically the wealth of the valley has come from the production of wool. Early on there were also some small dairy farms producing cream/"butterfat
Butterfat
Butterfat or milkfat is the fatty portion of milk. Milk and cream are often sold according to the amount of butterfat they contain.- Composition :The fatty acids of butterfat are typically composed as follows :...
" for the Kaitieke dairy factory that was located in Piriaka near Taumarunui
Taumarunui
Taumarunui is a town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway....
.
Kaitieke Stock Yards
These are located at the junction of the Upper and Lower Retaruke Roads 39°05.55′S 175°14.87′E. There stands the World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
memorial, a set of stock yards
Feedlot
A feedlot or feedyard is a type of animal feeding operation which is used in factory farming for finishing livestock, notably beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens or ducks, prior to slaughter. Large beef feedlots are called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations . They...
for auctioning of sheep stock, and a defunct manual telephone exchange.
Upper Retaruke valley community
Then 1 km up the Upper Retaruke Valley road is the location of the annual Kaitieke Collie club sheepdog trials. Next is the location of a "Victory Hall". Further up the valley there was a coal mine; it was near this mine that fossil whalebones were reputed to have been found.Tributaries
| Tributary Tributary A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean... Name |
Length (km) | km From Mouth | Confluence Coordinates | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Near Erua Road | River source | 39°15.60′S 175°20.58′E | ||
| 39°05.31′S 175°14.66′E | ||||
| Kawautahi Stream | 39°04.22′S 175°13.11′E | |||
| Whanganui River Whanganui River The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand.Known for many years as the Wanganui River, the river's name reverted to Whanganui in 1991, according with the wishes of local iwi. Part of the reason was also to avoid confusion with the Wanganui River in the South Island... |
River Mouth Base level The base level of a river or stream is the lowest point to which it can flow, often referred to as the 'mouth' of the river. For large rivers, sea level is usually the base level, but a large river or lake is likewise the base level for tributary streams... |
0 km | 39°06.65′S 175°03.98′E |