Book launch the highlight of Motueka Wharf centenary

February 3rd, 2016

Celebration of the centenary of the present Motueka Wharf will be marked by the launch of a 176-page book detailing the facility's 100 year history.

Twelve months in the making, "Motueka Wharf 100 years" will be launched by former harbourmaster Robbie Williams and author Carol Dawber at the Motueka marina at 2.00pm on Sunday 14th February.

On 14th February 1916 the steamship Nikau ceremonially entered Port Motueka by breaking a white ribbon tied between the Motueka wharf and Jackett's Island.

It was a day of celebration for Motueka, the culmination of four years of planning and building a new harbour entrance and wharf. Exactly 100 years later another celebration will be held at the port, this time to launch the history book.

"Motueka Wharf 100 years" was planned and commissioned by the Motueka and Districts Historical Association. It covers the history of the present Motueka wharf and the one before it, using black and white photos from the Association's archives, the Motueka Museum and private albums.

The book project is a collaboration between the Motueka and Districts Historical Association book committee who arranged funding, selected images and researched the information; writer Carol Dawber who wrote the photo captions; and Picton-based publisher River Press which co-ordinated and produced the book.

It is the fruition of over 12 months researching, fund raising, writing and proof reading.

The new wharf was sorely needed by 1916 because Motueka had become the fruit basket of New Zealand. Apples, pears, raspberries and other fruit were carted down to the port along with other produce from beeswax, honey and horsehair to tobacco, timber and marble.

Seventy-three percent of New Zealand's export fruit went out over the old Motueka wharf in 1915, even though boats could only load for a few hours each side of the high tide.

And with more and more of the Moutere hills being planted in apples there was an urgent need to improve shipping access. It was not until after the Second World War that road transport became a viable option.

Sailing vessels, steamships and scows feature in this book, along with the carriers and contractors who progressed from horses and drays to trucking companies. Other associated businesses were jam factories, canneries and coolstores.

The Nelson-based Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company operated regular freight and passenger services from Motueka to Wellington, as did a number of smaller shipping companies, and there was regular employment for the watersiders who loaded the boats.

The book has photographs of commercial fishing boats from the earliest days, the scallop fleet of the 1970s and the modern trawlers of the 1980s, along with locally-built pleasure boats, the Sea Scouts of the 1960s and the professional tourism operators of today.

Folk musicians Jiggery Folkery will entertain at the book launch, books will be on sale ($45.00) and everyone is welcome. The book will also be on sale in bookshops after the launch.

The Nikau cutting the ribbon on opening day, 14th February 1916

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