The Whangaehu Valley Road runs from SH 49 south following the Whangaehu River until it reaches the township of Mangamahu (inland from Hunterville). However if you follow the road south on Google Maps you will see something strange happen. The same road ends up with two names. That must confuse a few people travelling along this remote road. To see the history of this problem, read the following account from the Wanganui Chronicle in Aug 2012.
''Residents of both Wanganui and Ruapehu districts living along Whangaehu Valley Rd are set to get their way with the planned changes to their road's name. Wanganui residents want the road name changed to prevent confusion with the township of Whangaehu. Whangaehu Valley Rd cannot be reached from Whangaehu, and residents claim emergency services have gone astray because of the confusion. However, Ruapehu residents don't want the road name changed - they want the rural road numbering system to be standardised across the two districts.
Ruapehu District Council's Waimarino-Waiouru community board last week voted against the proposal to change the remote rural road's name. Wanganui District Council's rural community board will meet next week to discuss what recommendation it will make to the council. At the southern end of the road, Mangamahu Rd becomes Whangaehu Valley Rd past Wyleys Bridge.
Under the proposal, the Mangamahu Rd name will be extended as far north as Koukoupo Stream bridge. From here to Colliers bridge the road will be re-named Burma Hill Rd, and from Colliers bridge right up to the road's end at Karioi - including the portion within the Ruapehu district - the name Whangaehu Valley Rd will be retained. Andy Collins is a resident on Whangaehu Valley Rd and a member of the rural community board. He said while the situation was "quite complicated", the proposal was one that suited all residents on the road. Mr Collins said the rural road numbers would also be changed to become more uniform. Ruapehu residents in particular were concerned by the current confusing system, which saw one set of numbers start at Karioi and the other at Wyleys bridge."
And just to make sure there is no further confusion, this Whangaehu Valley Road, has nothing to do with its namesake near Masterton!
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