Picton

Following the first attempt to settle the Wairau district which ended disastrously at Tua Marina on 17th June 1843, it was not until March 1847 that Sir George Grey the Governor bought the district legally from the Maoris and surveys and settlement started again. It was soon realised that a port to serve the district was necessary and that the mouth of the Wairau River exposed to the south-east gales was not very suitable. Port Underwood was examined and though a splendid harbour it was much too inaccessible so Waitohi Bay (where Picton is now) was decided on.

But there were difficulties, as there was a large Maori pa on the site. However after delicate negotiations, which took some time, the Maoris were shifted to a new settlement built for them in the next bay, Waikawa, which is still a Maori settlement.

The site of Picton was surveyed and the sections offered for sale on 1st July, 1850. But the place didn't go ahead very fast.

Even after Strachan got the road open it was only a muddy track for years and until the railway opened on 17th November 1875 most of the produce from the Plain went down the river and was lightered to ships anchored off shore or in Port Underwood. But the river trade didn't give up without a struggle. It was the coming of the Aramoana and the other roll-on ferries that finished it. The last trip of the scow Echo was on 21st August, 1965 and if you go down to the Bar you will see the memorial to the river trade that we have put up.