The port of Wanganui and its influence on the City of Wanganui

Abstract

I became interested in the Port of Wanganui when, in searching for some unwritten aspect of New Zealand history, I found myself in the realms of an enterprising City, one which, for a number of years, held fifth position in New Zealand. Today, the City of Wanganui, while not exactly demoralized, has nevertheless to suffer the indignities of seeing other cities grow at a faster rate and obtain the plums of being made university and training college centres, getting larger grants of State houses and being made the centres of newly established industries. In this thesis I seek to bring out the reason for the contrast between the past and present. Wanganui is different from most cities in New Zealand in that it is dependent on areas outside its own hinterland. This hinterland is a poor one and is not capable of maintaining by itself a city the size of Wanganui. Wanganui has risen to its present position by trade, the trade coming through its port to be distributed over a wide area.