More Info →Group at the opening of the Opiki suspension bridge

The suspension bridge was built over the Manawatu River at Rangitane (now Opiki) in 1917-1918, by the Tane Hemp Co. Ltd. It was known as the Opiki Toll Bridge for many years and was closed in 1969. Parts of it can still be seen today (2007). People identified as (from left): Unknown; Mr Joseph Dawson, bridge designer holding Mavis Henderson daughter of Elsie and Ernest Henderson; Unknown; Mr A W Hogg; Elsie Henderson holding her 4mth old son Lewis; Unknown; Mrs Whitewick, cook at Tane flax mill; Mr Whitewick, cook at Tane flax mill; Unknown; Miss Taylor; Unknown; Ernest Henderson holding rod, who fashioned most of the ironwork on the suspension bridge.