Invitation to South Canterbury media, public: Sunday afternoon, November 28.

The Waihao Box, the only functioning one of its kind in New Zealand has turned 100 years old and the South Canterbury community is being invited to celebrate its unique contribution to the region.

“The Box” as it’s known locally, is a unique and ingenious structure that helps create an opening through the gravel beach to the sea for the Waimate district’s Waihao River. It has proved vital in preventing flooding of valuable farmland and helps maintain the health of a natural wildlife habitat of national importance, the Wainono Lagoon.

The current Waihao Box was built in 1910, replacing an earlier structure that was swept out to sea. The fact that it is still a vital and effective contributor to flood protection in the area is a testament not only to the original design but also the on-going efforts of local land-owners to maintain and repair it over the decades.

This work is now overseen by Environment Canterbury. Bruce Scarlett, the regional council’s Timaru-based area engineer, says the 100-year birthday celebration on Sunday, November 28 is a way of not only marking this milestone but also of recognizing the hours of work local people have spent maintaining the Box.

Residents in the area still recall backbreaking 12-hours stints repairing the Box when sea conditions permitted and how typical Kiwi ingenuity was used to source suitable materials to replace parts of the structure that were regularly torn away by heavy seas.

“The Waihao Box is the last one operating in New Zealand and is still working well so we didn’t want to let its 100th anniversary slip past unnoticed,” Bruce Scarlett says.

About 100 local landowners, former engineers and dignitaries have been invited to attend the event, but it is also open to any interested members of the public.

The celebration will take place near the mouth of the Waihao River, beside the Box at 1.30pm on November 28. (The Box is signposted on State Highway 1 near the Yellow Shed)

After brief speeches, a recounting of the history of the Box and a tour of the structure itself, afternoon tea will be served at the nearby Waihao Marae.

ENDS

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