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Kōrero: Bay of Plenty region

Crossing the Whakatāne River

Image
Crossing the Whakatāne River

Travel along beaches or across estuaries or harbours was common in the Bay of Plenty before railways or highways, because it was difficult to traverse the hills, mountains, rivers and bush. Photographed around 1910, these passengers and horses are being ferried across the Whakatāne River to the town of Whakatāne. One wagon has been left behind, and another will meet them on the other side. The first bridge across the river was built a year later.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/1-007528; G

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Malcolm McKinnon, Bay of Plenty region – Settlers struggle: 1870 to 1900, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/5587/crossing-the-whakatane-river (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Malcolm McKinnon, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009, updated 1 August 2016.