RIVERHAVEN HAS BEEN ADVISED TO REMAIN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL THE VALLEY HIGHWAY IS REBUILT.
The vineyard is fully operational.
River Haven delays summer opening as storm damage impacts Great Taste Trail, Motueka Valley access and the surrounding roads.
In the 3 years we've been open, River Haven has become a major attraction for all of the region's car and motorcycle clubs, cyclists and of course tourists.
Tasman District Council spent millions of dollars of taxpayers' money to build the Great Taste Trail, to encourage cyclists to visit the Valley, and constructed riverside walks. Unfortunately, the winter storms have destroyed many walkways and picnic areas and extensive lengths of the Great Taste Trail. TDC have acknowledged that reconstruction, even if financially viable, will take months and possibly years.
Hopefully, returning the Motueka River Valley to its former glory will be a priority for TDC and central government, which will benefit all who live, work and visit this very special part of New Zealand.
In the meantime with the highway access to Riverhaven now only passable with care and with some of the finest touring roads in the region reduced in places to gravel tracks we are delaying opening for the summer season.
A PERSONAL MESSAGE
Liz and I have faced many challenges in our lives, some mundane and inconsequential, and many significant but manageable. A few have been totally unexpected and colossal.
We've always risen to every new challenge and achieved positive outcomes by drawing upon our deep spiritual belief that we are guided and protected by a universal energy, the Cosmos as we call it.
So it is with the disastrous winter of 2025 that has resulted in the destruction of many of our neighbours' homes and livelihoods here in the Motueka Valley. Compared with so many, we've got off lightly, which has allowed us to offer our grazing pastures to those whose farm land has been decimated. We've teamed up with Daisy and Greg and their incredible Repost initiative and thrown open the Riverhaven kitchens and food vaults to provide our worst-affected neighbours with provisions and prepared meals. Our team has worked tirelessly to distribute supplies to many of the most remote properties in the region.
Everyone in the region appreciates there's no quick fix. No fast track to normality. It's going to take many years of hard work and communal commitment before livelihoods are restored and the local economy rebuilt.
Liz and I are more determined than ever to play a significant role in the recovery.
Noel & Liz Edmonds
The winter storms of 2025 will be remembered as a defining moment in the history of Tasman and the Motueka Valley. Many homes were destroyed, thousands of livestock drowned and livelihoods were wrecked.
As often happens when visited by tragedy, the people of the Valley have come together in an exhilarating demonstration of the power of united endeavour and collective determination.
The Riverhaven team are proud to be playing their part in the huge task of rebuilding lives and livelihoods.
During the darkest days Riverhaven became a beacon of hope for so many and we intend to continue our work providing support services and a social hub.
How can Riverhaven help you?
The entire Riverhaven team is eager to learn how we can continue to support our friends. All suggestions will be very carefully considered.
Please contact us
Riverhaven a Trading Post?
We're exploring ways in which Riverhaven can revive the principles of the Trading Post which in a bygone era formed the economic core of communities across the world. Long before we all succumbed to the dominance of multi-national corporate retailers, all trade was conducted through Trading Posts. Such venues were particularly important in rural areas as they provided an opportunity for barter and product exchange.
If there's sufficient local demand, the Trading Post would embrace the traditional values of quality, honesty and affordability. Trading would be conducted upon the historic principles of barter and cash.
The intention would be to support distressed farmers, small producers and those seeking quality, affordable food.
So we invite interested parties to submit suggestions as to how a Trading Post might
operate at Riverhaven via our contact form.