Lottery grant helps Rangiriri restoration

Protection of the historically significant vessel the PS Rangiriri received a boost today as the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board announced a $181,000 grant towards the project.

The PS Rangiriri was commissioned by the New Zealand colonial government in 1864 for use on the Waikato River during the New Zealand Wars. However, it arrived too late to be involved and was not engaged in any conflict. Named after one of the most historic battles, the PS Rangiriri brought Hamilton’s earliest settlers to the city, including Lieutenant Steele, namesake of the Hamilton East park.

Since the vessel ran aground in 1889 it has suffered a range of degradation risks due to river silt and erosion. While the eroded hull was retrieved from the river floor in 1981, the degradation continued and regular flooding of the location inhibited preservation attempts.

Strong supporter of the restoration project, Hamilton City Councillor Peter Bos says it’s a wonderful achievement to see this project’s next stage underway and boosted by today’s grant announcement. The size of the grant indicates the significance of the vessel’s restoration. When Museum staff brought the project to our attention some six years ago, it was clear to us all how valuable this piece of Hamilton’s history is to the city and nation.

“Over the following years we worked together to get the PS Rangiriri the recognition it deserved and to make the restoration project happen. This is a tangible memorial to Hamilton’s beginnings, one which the community has expressed a real desire to see preserved. It is our Mayflower. This initial conservation stage was made possible through Council’s commitment of $242,900. Thanks to the commitment the whole team has shown in seeing this project through it will now be safeguarded for many generations to come.”

Council also drew in the support of DoC, Tainui and Environment Waikato to secure a resource consent to lift and conserve the vessel as well as providing interpretive panels on site to educate visitors about the vessel’s history and significance. The major concerns were the length of time the vessel has been exposed to the elements, while in need of protection and the threat of flooding, which could have washed it away. The conservation stage commenced earlier this year with de-silting the hull of the boat, building a retaining wall and supports, re-siting the boat, water blasting and repainting the hull and surrounding it with new timber and cobble work.

The New Zealand Lottery Grants Board’s Environment and Heritage committee have now approved $181,000 funding which will enable the protection and interpretation stage to take place. This stage will see a canopy and lighting put in place at the vessel’s new site along with interpretative panels.