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Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: mare on Monday 16 September 19 11:40 BST (UK)
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Usual reminder to keep in mind the annual event, this year 5th October to 28th October and the theme is Journeys.
http://www.heritagefestival.co.nz/
:) mare
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Thanks for the heads up. :-*
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Hello Mare
Thanks for the notification. This weekend, when I was staying in Auckland, I said to my host that I must check when this years activities will be announced. I usually volunteer with one location [Pukekohe East Church] and try to catch up with some activities.
Alan.
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Hi Mare :)
I have edited the title of your topic to include the dates of the festival.
Spades
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Hello Mare
Thanks for the notification. This weekend, when I was staying in Auckland, I said to my host that I must check when this years activities will be announced. I usually volunteer with one location [Pukekohe East Church] and try to catch up with some activities.
Alan.
An extra week added for 2019 to tie in with the Tuia 250 event this long weekend in Auckland and the voyage theme, still not easy to fit in as many events as would have liked but managed some. We called in briefly Sunday 27th to your location early afternoon, spoke with Tom, very interesting. Had been out and about since early morning and had to go further south on errand, we already spent longer than intended chatting at the Pukekohe Pioneer Cottage, good though and partook in a scone cooked in the coal range :-)
Nice morning at waterfront ...
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That's a wrap for the festival for another year, thanks Spades :)
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Hi mare
Did you sign the visitor's book?
[Some of those scones made their way to us for afternoon tea on the 6th. Tasted good.]
Tom and I got so busy at times, we forgot to ask on this Sunday's open day. I took extra research material with me, and was supplying research suggestions to visitor's whose research covered the Waikato and South Auckland. Then on Tuesday, at the Archives, I looked up an 1861 Raglan crown grant in the name of someone Tom was talking about. Plus prior RC committments, which I hope to forward in the next couple of days. Squeezed in between attending cattle auctions. Tuakau's turn tomorrow.
Alan.
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Yes, I signed the book for both of us, saw a couple of notices to do so before finding it at the entrance and then Tom asked if we had done it as well. There were other visitors while we were there and discussions about various connections, great that you were able to assist with research to make it so worthwhile for interested parties. I took photos of the displayed stories and images, took in reasonably well while there but good reference.
Another visit that we found interesting last week was the Hillary House open day at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in Otara, great opportunity to view the house and displays. An item on Seven Sharp 30.10.2019 featuring an interview with Peter Hillary and Sir Graeme Dingle and some amazing footage re the Ocean to Sky film being released today, 31.10.2019 https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hillary-ocean-to-sky-2019
:) mare
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A photo from the day.
The Chairman of the Pukekohe East Church Preservation Society tells visitors the story of the 14/9/1863 engagement when 17 locals held off quite a number of Maori, until reinforcements arrived. The next day the men, at the garrison, buried the fallen whom the retreating Maori left behind. Various accounts state the number being from six to nine, buried at the edge of the crater adjacent to the cemetery.
On the 1st of December 1929, just two days after the opening of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Governor general Sir Charles Fergusson, and Lady Fergusson, attended to unveil two memorials to those involved in the battle.
The round stone on the plinth behind the chairman's hand, honours the Maori warriors so buried.
With pride, the chairman points out that it is rare to find local communities, who have installed honouring memorials to the fallen Maori, at the various skirmish sites. This one being one of the earliest.
Alan.
PS Edited to remove name of "living" chairman.
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We were given the talk inside by the diagrams on wall and alongside window where he pointed out the round stone. Did notice same group of people indoors looking about and in discussion while we came and went Sunday 27th.
Closer view of stone over on fence line ...
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Thanks for posting the close up photos. I would have had to hunt out a memory stick from an earlier open day, or a Gt Aunt's funeral to find a similar one.
Alan.
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OOP's for the record, I've managed to have used Saturday's date, and NOT Sunday 27th October which was the open day. - Alan.
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Hello Mare.
Last Monday I travelled, from the Waikato back up to the Pukekohe East Church. Their Preservation Society having advised of an open day. A chance to catch up with former chairwomen Suzanne, share in a two minute silence for the late Queen Elizabeth, and see what great work the aging volunteers were doing to preserve the legacy, and the memorial to the conflict there, on September 14th, 1863, 159 years ago.
A community my family branch left, 116 years ago.
The cemetery looked pristine, and the removal of the neighbouring old pine trees [reply #9] opens up the vista all the way to Pukekohe. There was a steady stream of visitors, and society members.
Two photos attached.
Alan.
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Second photo looking more west, towards Pukekohe.
Alan.
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Cheers Alan, a very fine vista indeed from there now ... says peering yonder to locate general locations of family and friends :D
Well done volunteers and an interesting open day for you to get to, great the weather was cooperative as well for the event :) mare