Wanganui's celebrated paddle steamer Waimarie has hit rough waters, with one board member and the manager resigning.
Board member Ed Boyd said yesterday he had quit and confirmed that manager Peter Hardy had also resigned.
Mr Boyd said he would not be making any comment at this stage, other than to say he needed to give more time to his business.
The Chronicle could not contact Mr Hardy but, according to Mr Boyd, there were contractual arrangements that would probably prevent Mr Hardy making any comment.
The Waimarie and Riverboat Museum are run by the Whanganui Riverboat Restoration & Navigation Trust. A message was left with trust chair Chris Jones but she had not responded by late yesterday. It is understood she is in Australia.
The shock resignations come 12 months after the Chronicle reported that after several years of financial struggle, the historic tourist attraction was debt-free.
Mrs Jones said then that the trust was looking at funding options and had applied to the Lotteries Commission, the Whanganui Community Foundation and the Lion Foundation.
She said the Waimarie shouldn't be a burden on the ratepayer, and there was no intention of going to Wanganui District Council for financial assistance. She gave a great deal of credit to Mr Hardy and the crew who contributed many voluntary hours.
"Without their passion and dedication, along with several other volunteers, we could not carry on."
But the trust has asked the council for $60,000 to enable the paddle steamer to continue operating and meet its fixed costs. That sum is included in council's 2015-25 10-year plan which also provides for $60,000 in the subsequent nine years.