Wharf and Waterfront News
2025 Tim Grant Memorial sponsorship
Another year has passed, and the Wharf Trust again requested that the RŪNĀ programme leads at the Russell Boat Club identify a suitable recipient for the Tim Grant memorial sponsorship for a voyage on board the R. Tucker Thompson. This year’s fortunate rangatahi was Tawhiti Hook, a student at Waikare School, so Jay Howell and Bruce Mitchinson went out to the school to present the award. The voyage was from 29th September – 5th October and both Bruce and Jane [...]
Pontoon escapades – the sequel
Safely back at last The much-loved pontoon moored off the waterfront in Kororāreka Bay is finally back after a fairly lengthy absence over winter. Generously reinstated by the team at Johnson Brothers, and Moorings Northland in time for last Christmas, it developed a distinct list over January as it slowly filled up with water. Most of us were watching its gradual slide into the briny and by the beginning of February, local Tracey Morris messaged the Trust to say it [...]
Russell boat ramp and carpark
Several years ago, the original Wharf Trust Trustees asked Far North Holdings to improve the boat ramp carpark, a dusty metal surface, full of potholes, with no allocated trailer parks. The ramp and carpark are owned by the Far North District Council, but managed by Far North Holdings Ltd, meaning the Council funds the repairs and maintenance from our rates. With so many visitors using the boat ramp being visitors, i.e. people not paying rates, FNHL applied for government funding [...]
Tim Grant Memorial Scholarship
Prior to his death, Tim had tabled an agenda item for the next meeting - that the Wharf Trust should sponsor a local student to go on a Youth Development Voyage on the R. Tucker Thompson. He wanted it to be an opportunity to give a young person who was already interested in sailing the chance to grow their experience, and potentially as he did, think about a career at sea. To honour his memory, this proposal was accepted [...]
High adventures on the high seas
High adventures on the high seas ** Unfortunately since writing this post, the pontoon started sinking - it was probably damaged on its adventure. We have secured a new pontoon, and Johnson Bros have again generously offered to transfer the fixtures across. However, they have a heavy workload, which involves their efforts tackling the exotic caulerpa outbreak, so they will do it when they have capacity.** On 17 September, the pontoon by the wharf decided it needed an adventure! [...]
New Wharf Trust Trustees
The Kororāreka Russell Community Kaitiaki Wharf Trust, or Wharf Trust for short has just completed a refresh and selected a new board of Trustees. The Trust was established in 2019 and the Trust Deed specified that the inaugural Trustees had to step down, and new Trustees appointed. Trustees could choose to reapply, but the places had to be advertised to the local community for them to get involved. There were a number of applications with a wide range of skills, [...]
