Wairau Bar is gateway to province

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 28

Wairau Bar is gateway to province

In the historical sense at least, the Wairau Bar could be said to be the gateway to Marlborough. For it was through the Wairau rivennouth that the first settlers passed to establish and found the province of Marlborough in 1832. 7 The Wairau Bar is also one of New Zealand’s oldest ports, although it was closed as a harbour by the Marloorough Harbour Board in August 1965. Recently though, the lagoon behind the bar has become a popular anchoring place for several fish-1 ing boats, and the fishermen feel something should be done to make the crossing of the bar safer. It was suggested to the Harbour Board that a navigational light be placed on the bar, Mt it was noted that as the bar was no longer an official harbour, the board may not have jurisdiction to install a light.

No decision was made on the matter, but the fishermen are still quite happy to take their boats over the bar. The board may even have to declare the Wairau Bar a harbour again to enable it to install a light. But light or no light, the Wairau Bar is still a favourite spot for picnickers during the summer, as well as being historically vital in the founding and subsequent progress of the Marlborough province.