Infrastructure and communication Akitio

shipping wool @ akitio



akitio beach , remaining piles

at peak, shipping call once week mouth of akitio river, which, before region s conversion farmland (and subsequent erosion), provide safe anchorage in storms due tidal ebb , flow reaching 10 km inland, flushing debris , minimal sediment river. today, river-mouth can passed on foot @ low slack-water, approximately in front of old harbour master/postmaster s cottage site; , estuary flanking 3 historic homesteads characterised mud-flats @ low tide.

akitio point approximately 1.5 km south of river mouth, offers local fishermen protective reef, paua, crayfish , many types of game fish caught. annual fish akitio competition draws amateur , professional fisherman on region.

point historically home 3 historic landing sheds, held thousands of bales of wool produced annually local sheep stations, , served receive fencing wire , other manufactured goods passing shipping.

a jetty, remains of characterise low tide landscape, run out surf lighters ferry passengers , valuable cargo , freighters. wool loaded onto lighters bullock train. several ships have been lost in akitio bay, including peladies (1,020 tonne) in 1899, parts of can still found @ low tide or scattered around local historic landmarks. beach remains popular attraction surfers , fishermen alike.

public (or party line) telephone connections available @ main homesteads until late 1988/89, private telephone wires between riverside homesteads , block station quarters had been installed on century.

riparian remnants of old saw mills , various hydro infrastructure survive day.

s s white swan wrecked 29 june 1862 en route napier wellington

dannevirke, modern service town akitio, located 74 km inland coast, , hour car.

in living memory, journey dannevirke take 3 hours, coastal families making trip town infrequently - staying several days @ time in local hotel located dannevirke s kfc presently situated. prior this, steamer travel wellington or napier preferred route civilisation; although active local community flourished, , more 5 rugby teams competing local bragging rights @ peak of labour-force employment.

although travel sea no longer routine necessity residents, akitio s connection river , ocean have continued late 20th century through multi-sport events, sport of ocean racing (see below).