“It started as a dream when I was young.”

Barry Anderson had travelled past today’s site of Waimarino and wanted to buy a house on the hill that overlooked the river.

“I wanted to teach kayaking to children of all ages,” said Barry. He kayaked as a kid, growing up near the Manawatū River in Dannevirke. “My dad would drop me at the river with a kayak.”

He never lost the love for it.

Waimarino Adventure Park founder Barry Anderson in the early days. Photo / Supplied

It was when Barry was a policeman – a youth aid officer – in Tauranga, wife Barbara was a nurse, that he drove past Wairoa River and knew he wanted a piece of paradise.

“We bought the property in 1971 when we had one child, Brigitte, and started Waimarino in 1975. Blair was born a few months before,” said Barbara.

Local school teacher Dean Reweti suggested the name ‘Waimarino’ which roughly translated to ‘calm waters’. Barry and Barbara loved it!

Six kayaks

The couple started with six kayaks and a small wooden shed.

“On weekends, mum and dad would bring their kids. Dad always tried to show he knew how to kayak…that was always fun to watch...”

But the couple struggled to make ends meet, so opened a plant nursery in 1978 to help keep the kayaking business afloat.

The business started to grow as Barbara “the Waimarino salesperson” travelled from Katikati to Te Puke encouraging schools to visit.

“We thought if we could get five a week that would be unbelievable,” said Barry.

Waimarino Adventure Park founder Barry Anderson doing what he loved - teaching kids to kayak safely. Photo / Supplied

Peter Scott of Otumoetai Intermediate was the first take a school to visit.

“He was great advocate for what we were doing,” said Barry. “I was able to pick how he would project things to the kids.”

Soon, the park became a successful education facility. Every year Barry and Barabara tried to introduce a new activity. Starting with kayaks, the low dive, high dive and then the Flush and Fly (now hydroslide) which is much longer today.

The Waimarino Adventure Park back in the early days. Photo / Supplied

Over the years the Slip ‘N’ Slide was added, plus the low ropes course and beach volleyball.

Blair

Blair grew up at Waimarino with his two siblings.

“For me, kayaking is something I’ve always been able to do. I just absorbed it,” said Blair. At 15, he became the first person his age to paddle Grade 5 from the top of the Wairoa River in a C1. “Still today, nobody has ever done it – not their first time paddling in a C1.”

A younger Blair Anderson, who grew up at Waimarino Adventure Park on the Wairoa River, and now owns the tourism attraction. Photo / Supplied

Off overseas, he returned home from university at age 21 to the family business. In the 1990s, the rock climbing wall was built, the kayak shop opened and computers were introduced.

Shortly, Blair figured he needed more funds coming in to sustain his and Barry’s jobs. “We started taking two tours a day.” Then three, then eventually four...

Blair and his wife, Charlotte, purchased the business in 2005 and it became Waimarino Ltd. Their two sons, Marco and Alec, have both worked there.

Three generations of the Anderson family, who have owned and operated Waimarino Adventure Park for 50 years - Alec Anderson, his father Blair Anderson, and his father Barry Anderson - the park's founder. Photo / Brydie Thompson

In the next 18 years, Blair and Charlotte developed a range of new additions and created Waimarino Group.

In 2007, Waimarino Kayak Tours was developed and began the company’s launch into international tourism.

In 2011, the Waimarino Riverside Venue (then Waverly on Wairoa) was opened for weddings, conferences and events. Also in 2011, Waimarino Education Trust was founded to continue the original dream and offer after-school and holiday programmes for children.

Today, generations of families have created beautiful childhood memories at Waimarino, said Barbara. “Grandparents come here who’d been here as kids.”

Thousands of children - including multiple generations of Kiwi families from throughout New Zealand have learnt kayaking and water safety skills on the Wairoa River at Waimarino over 50 years. Photo / Supplied

Highlights

What have been the biggest highlights?

“Seeing people succeed,” said Blair.

“People having a good time, coming here and enjoying themselves,” said Barbara.

Barry said: “Barbara, from her nursing days, implanted in my brain: ‘Whatever you do, at least do no harm’, and I stuck to that.

“Push the boundaries – but do no harm.”

Thousands of families from throughout New Zealand and overseas have enjoyed the fun on the Wairoa River offer at Waimarino over 50 years. Photo / Supplied

The most challenging time was the Covid-19 pandemic. “The 2019/2020 summer as our busiest on record,” said Blair. “Then you go from a multimillion-dollar turnover to less than 10% overnight…The scariest thing was telling the staff: ‘I don’t know what’s going on… It was surreal.”

After three years of hell – “during that time I built a house, went through divorce and had to come up with a magical equation to keep Waimarino alive”, said Blair – things started to pick up slowly.

The hardest challenge

Since Covid, Waimarino Group has continued to grow and to employ nearly 50 staff ready for summer. Waimarino Education Trust has new offerings being developed.

Last year, Waimarino Group invested $250,000 into thrilling new features – including NZ’s largest inflatable climbing frame and water slide combo on water, affectionately named ‘Mother’s Nightmare’.

Bazza’s Burger Bar, in honour of Barry, was also opened.

Blair believes it was rare to teach children how to kayak in a river at a park back in 1975 – and Waimarino’s special way of doing so is still unrivalled today.

Thousands of school students from throughout New Zealand have learnt kayaking and water safety skills on the Wairoa River at Waimarino over 50 years. Photo / Supplied

The family is equally proud that they’ve taught thousands of youth water safety skills.

Thank you!

The Anderson family and their staff said “a big thank you” to all who’ve come through the park and supported Waimarino Group over the years.

“There would be hundreds of thousands of people who have added something here,” said Blair. “A big thank you to everybody in all the generations. Also, thanks to the other charitable organisations that keep Waimarino Education Trust operating, so the kids can receive many cool programmes.”

Waimarino founders Barry and Barbara Anderson, and their son Blair Anderson, who now owns and runs the park alongside Wairoa River today. Photo / Brydie Thompson

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