Kaiapoi Maritime Heritage Trust
Kaiapoi MV Tuhoe Rivertown Trust
The Kaiapoi MV Tuhoe Rivertown Trust was established on 8 March 2004.
The MV Tuhoe was a historic schooner built in 1919 that was stationed on the Kaiapoi River wharf. This ship was secured in 2004 by the M V Tuhoe Kaiapoi Rivertown Trust to ensure this river icon remained in the town. During the season from October until June the following year the ship regularly sailed the Kaiapoi and Waimakariri rivers. The ship was operated by a valued team of volunteers who willingly give their time to ensure that whoever sailed on it had a most enjoyable experience. When it departed from the Kaiapoi Wharf, you would cruise the lower Kaiapoi and Waimakariri Rivers for a relaxing and peaceful hour. Along the journey there were sights of lots of river activities including fishermen, trampers on the walkway, bird life and stunning landscape scenes from the mountains of the Southern Alps to Banks Peninsula and also Pegasus Bay.
On 27 September 2015, while returning to Lyttelton after repairs, the ship ran aground at the Waimakariri bar. The damage suffered deemed the ship to be uneconomic to repair and it was subsequently deconstructed.
Renaming of the Trust
The MV Tuhoe Rivertown Trust was renamed the ‘Kaiapoi Maritime Heritage Trust’ at the Trust’s AGM meeting on 7 September 2016. This change was registered on 23 September 2016.
The Kaiapoi Maritime Heritage Trust will focus on promoting and protecting Kaiapoi’s maritime history.