Riverton, New Zealand

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Riverton
Aparima (Māori)
Riverton fishing boats
Riverton
Coordinates: 46°21′S 168°01′E / 46.350°S 168.017°E / -46.350; 168.017
Country  New Zealand
Island South Island
Region Southland
Territorial authority Riverton/Aparima
Population
 • Total 1,431
Time zone NZST (UTC+12)
 • Summer (DST) NZDT (UTC+13)
Postcode(s) 9822, 9847
Area code(s) 03
Website http://www.riverton-aparima.co.nz/

Riverton or Aparima is a small town 30 kilometres west of Invercargill via State Highway 99 on the Southern Scenic Route. It is situated on the south-eastern shorelines of the Jacobs River Estuary being formed by the Aparima and Pourakino Rivers, which leads through a narrow outflow channel into Foveaux Strait.[1] The main part of the town is on flat land (the Southland Plains) and the northern end of Oreti Beach but South Riverton is built on the hills (the Longwood Range) between the eastern shore of the estuary and Taramea Bay.[2]

Riverton is the oldest permanent settlement of Southland and one of New Zealand's oldest towns. In 2011 the town's people of Riverton celebrated their 175th anniversary.

The main industry is fishing. However farming (esp. dairying) is fast becoming the industry of influence as the fishing slowly dries up. Support services such as transport, irrigation, engineering and various farm related contractors now play an important part in the local economy. The fish factory based on its main wharf has now been converted to a butchery. However, the harbour is still quite busy, because, along with Bluff, it is a safe harbour for access to New Zealand's south / west seas. It is also popular for water skiing, rowing, fishing and catching the occasional flounder. Taramea Bay is a popular spot in the summer for Southland residents to swim as it provides safe swimming and excellent surf spots. Riverton is well known for dolphin spotting as they like to travel up into the estuary for feeding. Sawmilling has been important to Riverton and Pankhurst's Mill still supplies timber locally and to wider Southland.

Demographics

At the 2013 census, Riverton had a population of 1431, a decrease of 78 people since the 2006 census. There were 663 occupied dwellings and 405 unoccupied dwellings.[3]

History

Known to the Maori as Aparima[4] (named for the Kati Mamoe mother of Hekeia of whom the Longwood Range is named)[5] but with the arrival of the European who settled the area in the 1830s the settlement became known as Jacob's River.[6] The name Riverton was adopted by the residents and their choice was ratified officially in March 1858.[2] One hundred and forty years later with the passing of Section 450 Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 the town was given the dual names of Riverton / Aparima.[7]

On the grassed plateau above the estuary channel stands a stone memorial to the founder of Riverton, whaler and runholder, Captain John Howell. Who while in the employ of Johnny Jones was dispatched with three ships, to establish a whaling station at Aparima in either 1835 or 1836 to replace the abandoned station at Preservation Inlet. The settlement becoming known as Jacob's River due to a local Maori living at the mouth whom the whalers called Jacob.[8] Jones's purchase of all that land from Colac Bay to the New River, and extending some fifty miles inland from the Ngai Tahu chief "Bloody Jack" Tuhawaiki was formally acknowledged in October 1838.[9] At about the same time Howell secured the Pakeha tenure to the area by marrying Kohi-Kohi the daughter of Patu and Pipikihau, the local Kati Mamoe chief based at Raratoka Island or Centre Island in the Foveaux Strait.[10]

The year 1850 is generally taken as the one in which settlers at Riverton/Aparima definitely changed over from ploughing the sea to ploughing the land. By that time whaling along the Southland coasts gave only a precarious living and the setters of Riverton saw they would either have to take to the land or move to a more favourable locality. The settlers had their plots of land and as much stock as they could afford. This however immediately raised the question as to who really owned the land. As long as the whalers confined themselves along the Jacobs River estuary, it was not thought worth while to challenge their right to the small area they occupied. With the intricate system of land ownership among the Maori, Captain Howell realised that he was not really the sole owner of those vast tracks of land which he believed were handed over to him at the time of his marriage to Kohi-Kohi. Fortunately the central government found out what was happening and sent Mr W.B.D. Mantell to negotiate with the southern Maori for the purchase of the area known as Murihiku. Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell arrived at Riverton on 27 December 1851, and began negotiations with the various chiefs of Southland. It was not until 17 August 1853 that the area of Murihiku (which encompassed Southland), was purchased from the Maori.[11] The township being surveyed by the New Zealand Government in 1861.[12]

Communication

From 1863-1879 a coach service from the town gave the inhabitants another source of communication with the outside world. Previously the mail had been carried by a Russian Finn, William Flint who carried the mail by foot from Invercargill.[13] The coach-route followed the Oreti Beach to the Oreti ferry and then to Invercargill. Because of the changing nature of the quick-sands at the mouth of the Waimatuku Stream where many lives had been lost, there was jubilation with the advent of the railway to Riverton.

On 9 June 1879, a branch railway from Invercargill was opened by the mayor Theophilus Daniel to Riverton.[14] Over the course of the next four decades further extensions were made as far as Orawia. The line became known as the Tuatapere Branch.[15] The original railway (that eventually reached Tuatapere in 1909) crossed the estuary at Riverton using the bridge opened in 1875, the towns inhabitants sharing a road-rail bridge for twenty-six years.[16] With the construction (1902-1905) of a combination of two Howe truss bridges and a causeway the Tuatapere Branch railway had a crossing of its' own over the Jacobs River Estuary. The main bridge on the south end consisted of seventeen built beams of 9.2 metres and two Howe trusses of 18.3 metres span, giving a hybrid form of design. The supporting piers were of braced timber piles. This bridge provided a good illustration of the timber technology of the period, with its three elements of truss, built beam and piled piers.[17] On 30 July 1976, it was truncated from Tuatapere back to Riverton and became known as the Riverton Branch. The railway bridges and causeway being removed in 2001.

Historic Buildings

Five buildings in Riverton are listed with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga :[18]

  • Howell's Cottage 22 Napier Street

With its hipped roof and verandah, Howell's Cottage is representative of a style of cottage built early in New Zealand's European history. Dating from 1837–38, it retains much of its original character. It is thought to have been the first house erected at Riverton, and one of New Zealand's few buildings dating from before 1840.

  • Daniel House 85 Palmerston Street

Daniel House has architectural significance as an example of a vernacular timber Georgian influenced, English Colonial style residence dating from the early period of earnest European settlement in New Zealand. Characteristic features found at Daniel House include the symmetry of its features, the form of its windows, the presence of verandahs, and its hipped roof. Two-storeyed examples of English Colonial houses are reasonably rare, and therefore Daniel House has architectural importance.

  • Palmerston Street Cottages 82, 84, 86 Palmerston Street

These cottages are representative of a type of building that became a vernacular New Zealand form from the mid to late nineteenth century. All three houses are box cottages, with lateral front gables and verandahs. The basic nature this type of building was developed for people of limited means, or as a first residence, and had provision for the addition of rooms as required, as well as a certain flexibility of function. This is reflected in each building being individualised through various forms of rear addition, the simplicity of their form, as well as one or two of the buildings initially being used for commercial purposes. As such, this group of cottages has architectural significance as a characteristic grouping of mid to late nineteenth century New Zealand box cottages.

  • Former Riverton Court House 170 Palmerston Street

Built in 1883 Riverton Courthouse, now incorporated into Te Hikoi, the Riverton Tourist and Heritage Centre, was the centre for the administration and application of law for over eighty years. The Riverton Courthouse is a representative example of nineteenth century public works architecture, the Classical detailing of which emphasises the formality and solemnity of the judicial process, but one befitting a small provincial town.

  • Saint Mary's (Anglican) Church 173 Palmerston Street

St Mary's Church has architectural significance as an example of the work of prominent Invercargill architect Edmund Richardson Fitz Wilson. Wilson was notable for his designs for public buildings in Invercargill, and also for his churches for the Anglican Church elsewhere in the South, including Otautau and Christchurch. It is also a representative example of a modest Anglican parish church designed in Carpenter Gothic style.

Education

It has a high school called Aparima College (years 7-13), and a primary school called Riverton Primary.

Art

Riverton has a great art gallery that runs mainly summer hours, plus two private galleries. Local artists include Wayne Hill, a surfing local who creates mainly sculpture from beach scavenged materials; John Husband, who features often in the local newspaper and has a nice historical feel to his paintings and drawings; Dawn Barry, who paints often with a sea based theme. Dawn has her own gallery 'around the rocks'. There are a number of other practising artists and craftspeople such as potters Karen Bickley and sculptor Kere Menzies. The sturdy wooden toys made by Ross Shaw have a market that extends to Auckland. The local Community Board has commissioned a public work titled 'Pahi'. It is by local artist Kere Menzies and features sculptured sails made from steel that reflect the historic nature of the town.

Pahi by Kere Menzies

Attractions

  • Te Wai Koraki Wetland Reserve; A short walking track starts at the eastern entrance to Riverton/Aparima and leads down to loop through the 6 hectare flax wetland. This reserve provides a sanctuary for whitebait/inanga and other native fish.
  • The Big Paua; a large Paua Shell made by a local company Fiordland Souvenirs
  • Te Hikoi Southern Journey is the town's museum. It features the local information centre along with an interesting collection of regional historic artifacts and information. It concentrates on local Maori history, whaling and the local European settlements of the area
  • The Focal Point; a large viewing platform built by the local community board to celebrate the local historic area. It follows the original bridge direction. Also features local art sculpture
  • Jacobs River Estuary; wild wetlands area, native and migrant water fowl and lush flora
  • Harbour; with lots of fishing and charter boats
  • Mores Reserve; offers several short walks and great views over Southland and Foveaux Strait/Te Ara a Kiwa towards Stewart Island/Rakiura
  • Taramea Bay; stretch of beach between Howell's Point and the entrance of the Jacobs River Estuary. Has a soundshell for events including New Year's Eve beach party
  • Soundshell; based at Taramea Bay, that hosted carnivals and events for many years. The stage configuration, with a shell-shaped back, is used in other New Zealand seaside towns such as Timaru and Napier. Many Kiwi bands and singers, including Suzanne Prentice and Ray Columbus, performed at the Soundshell in its heyday during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s
  • The Rocks also known as Riverton Rocks; includes Mitchell's Bay and Henderson's Bay. Southland's favourite beach destination
  • Mitchell's bay; excellent longboard beach for those who like to "ride the waves" and has a great right hand point break that performs well at mid-tide, and occasionally further round when the tides are right.
  • Howell's Point (known by the locals as the Point); headland on the northern shoreline of Foveaux Strait a great place for walking, picnicking and bird watching. It offers spectacular views of Taramea Bay, Invercargill, Bluff and Stewart Island/Rakiura.

Riverton is not far from:

References

  1. ↑ Wises New Zealand Guide Wises Publications Limited 1998
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 McLintock, A. H. An Encyclopedia of New Zealand Volume 3
  3. ↑ Quickstats about Riverton
  4. ↑ Beattie, Herries Moriori. The Morioris of the South Island Facsimile edition. Cadsonbury Publications, Christchurch 1993 page 70
  5. ↑ [Thompson, J. C.] Records of Early Riverton and District The Southland Times Company Limited, Invercargill 1937 page 15
  6. ↑ Pankhurst, E.E. Safe Haven Riverton 1935-1985 Riverton Sesquicentennial Society (Inc.)
  7. ↑ The New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa
  8. ↑ [Thompson, J. C.] Records of Early Riverton and District The Southland Times Company Limited, Invercargill 1937
  9. ↑ Hall-Jones, F. G. King of the Bluff Kiwi Publishers 2003 page 52
  10. ↑ Wilson, Eva Hakoro Ki Te Iwi The Story of Captain Howell and his Family Wilson Family 1976
  11. ↑ [Thompson, J. C.] Records of Early Riverton and District The Southland Times Company Limited, Invercargill 1937 page 12
  12. ↑ Hargreaves, R.P. Nineteenth Century Otao and Southland Town Plans University of Otago Press, Dunedin 1968 page 40
  13. ↑ Lovell-Smith, E. M. Old Coaching Days in Otago and Southland Lovell-Smith & Venner Ltd 1931 page 103
  14. ↑ OPENING OF THE RIVERTON RAILWAY LINE Otago Daily Times, Issue 5400, 10 June 1879, Page 2
  15. ↑ WATT. J. O. P. Southland's Pioneer Railways 1864-1878 The NZ Railways and Locomotive Society Inc. 1965
  16. ↑ Otago Witness 9 August 1905 Page 44 THE LAST TRAIN TO CROSS THE OLD RAILWAY BRIDGE OVER THE APARIMA RIVER RIVERTON
  17. ↑ THORNTON, Geoffery Bridging the Gap Early Bridges in New Zealand 1830-1939 Reed Books 2001
  18. ↑ http://www.historic.org.nz/

External links

Towns and communities in the Southland District Territorial authority
Five Rivers Ward
Riverton Ward
Stewart Island Ward
Te Anau Ward
Te Tipua Ward
Toetoes Ward
Tuatapere Ward
Waihopai Ward
Waikaia Ward
Wallace Ward
Wallacetown Ward
Winton Ward

Coordinates: 46°21′S 168°01′E / 46.350°S 168.017°E / -46.350; 168.017

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