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Along with other excellent articles in your Winter 2019 magazine, I enjoyed Sharon Stephenson’s account of your wallpaper collection and history. It tweaked my memory of a great-grandfather, Peter Gourdie, who came out from Scotland in 1875 on the ship Wellington. He tried goldmining in Otago, then [growing] kumara before becoming a prominent builder in Ashburton. Peter brought his wife and first child from Dunedin on the first passenger train to Christchurch, pulled by the locomotive K-88 Washington, which has been restored and now runs at The Plains Vintage Railway and Historical Museum in Tinwald, Ashburton. The locomotive had been dumped in an Otago river but was recovered and restored by rail engine enthusiasts.

Peter Gourdie built many town and rural houses, as well as banking and other commercial buildings in Ashburton. Despite having a family of 15 children, he and his wife made a couple of trips back to Scotland. In 1913 they bought a Willys Overland Model 69 Tourer car and travelled 4500 miles [7200 kilometres] around Scotland and England before filling the car with wallpaper rolls bought for sixpence a roll, and selling the rolls in Ashburton for two shillings and sixpence a roll. Canny Scots!

It took me a while to get to the wallpaper bit, but I hope you enjoyed the story. David Field (abridged)

Regarding the article in your Summer 2019 issue on the film projector at Te Araroa, I was reminded that, many years ago, my wife and I stopped there to see a film. At that time, the small complex was owned by residents who lived in a house next door. You called in there in the evening and were charged a nominal sum to enter, with the owners pointing out that the proceeds went to the upkeep of the theatre and projector.

We were instructed to close the door behind us and if anything went wrong during the film to knock on their door to fix it. At a certain time the lights went out and the projector started on a time switch; later the projector turned off and the lights came on.

All went well, the film finished and we walked out to our small campervan.

Eric Strickett (abridged)

I have just been reading the item on Meretoto in the Summer 2019 issue. I was one of the crew on the Spirit of New Zealand for the amazing Tuia 250 pōwhiri there. The entry to Picton was incredible too, with [HMB] Endeavour and the various waka following the Spirit into port with a huge escort of small vessels.

I feel disappointed that the media have largely ignored the various Tuia 250 events around the country – I have been on the Spirit for three of them. There has been such a wonderful coming together and sharing of our history from all points of view and a celebration of all Pacific navigators over the centuries.

Sheila Budgen

HERITAGE NEW ZEALAND DIRECTORY

National Office PO Box 2629, Wellington 6140 Antrim House 63 Boulcott Street Wellington 6011 (04) 472 4341

(04) 499 0669 information@heritage.org.nz Go to www.heritage.org.nz for details of offices and historic places around New Zealand that are cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT

... WITH BRENDON VEALE

In the last edition of Heritage New Zealand magazine, I promised to share some images in this issue of the wonderful new roof at Ruatuna, which you all helped to fund, and the Open Day, during which we showed off this heritage gem to our members and the local community.

So here they are. For those of you who couldn’t make it to the Open Day, there will be other opportunities, I promise! And for our Wellington-based members in particular, we’re also planning a ‘sneak peek’ so you can look around Old St Paul’s once this work is complete. Keep an eye out for more news on that in a few weeks’ time.

Brendon Veale Manager Asset Funding 0800 HERITAGE (0800 437482) bveale@heritage.org.nz

Auckland, p36, p54

SOCIAL HERITAGE

... WITH JAMIE DOUGLAS Heritage New Zealand Social Media Manager

A 160-year-old octagonal chapel thought to be the smallest church in New Zealand was the standout performer on Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga’s Facebook page (facebook.com/ HeritageNewZealand) heading into the new year.

The Category 2-listed Oruaiti Chapel was originally built near Mangonui Harbour in Northland but now resides at Kiwi North: Whāngārei Museum, Kiwi House and Heritage Park. The post attracted more than 12,600 views, with 46 ‘love’ emojis posted within the 344 reactions, comments and shares.

The chapel’s quirky shape lends itself to all sorts of comparisons, such as the pointy tip of a pencil, the cone of a rocket ship and even a roundabout, once popular at playgrounds around the country. It’s a fun way to be creative with young children (and older, if you like) when you visit. Most important, though, is its original purpose as a 19th-century nondenominational church.

The chapel was also a library for a time in the 1870s, which dovetails beautifully with the mid-November post about the philanthropy of self-made millionaire, American Andrew Carnegie, and his funding of 2700 libraries worldwide.

It’s hard to put a good book down and, fingers crossed, it’s also hard to bring the former Carnegie Public Library in Dannevirke down. The post about the library and its threat of demolition proved to be a really good read, reaching just over 8100 people and garnering 288 reactions, comments and shares. Eighteen Carnegie-funded libraries were built in New Zealand, with those in Balclutha and Marton still open for that purpose today. Here’s hoping Dannevirke’s Category 2-listed former library has an opportunity to write a new chapter in its history. Rounding out this issue’s highlights was the unveiling of a carved pou whenua acknowledging the connections between Aotearoa Māori and their Pacific tūpuna from the Hawaiki homeland at Mangahāwea Bay on Moturua

Taranaki, p42

Maheno, p30

Roxburgh, p16

Island in the Bay of Islands. The post topped 10,000 views, with an impressive 818 reactions, comments and shares. Included in that tally were 15 ‘wows’ and it’s easy to see why, given the craftsmanship of Rāwhiti-based carver Hohepa Hemara.

pou whenua: carved wooden post Ōhaeawai, p20

Pakipaki, p8

Dunedin, p10, p36

The icing ON THE CAKE

One of our regular contributors, Jacqui Gibson, rounded out 2019 by receiving the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association 2019 Excellence in Journalism Award.

Jacqui won the prize for her article ‘The Kings of Creole’, which appeared in the Autumn 2018 issue of Heritage New Zealand magazine, and told the story of New Orleans chefs and food historians who worked to preserve the city's unique culinary heritage in the years following the catastrophic devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

THREE QUICK QUESTIONS WITH ... BRIAN TURNER

For a tiny town, Oturehua has some serious cultural clout. Among the many talented artists and makers who have made the Central Otago settlement their home is poet and author Brian Turner (pictured above with fellow writer and Oturehua resident Jillian Sullivan), who has lived there for close to 20 years.

Oturehua is also home to the Heritage New Zealand-run Hayes Engineering Works and Homestead. And while the historic property is a popular stop for the thousands who cycle the Central Otago Rail Trail each year, it’s also a much-loved meeting place for locals.

You’re a regular visitor to Hayes. What draws you to the place? I’ve had the odd look through the house, which is maintained very much as it has been for ever and a day, and it takes one back. In my case, because I’m in my mid70s now, I can remember a lot of the stuff that’s there from my grandparents’ period.

I also like looking at the old machinery and how it functions; I’ve always been interested in what people were able to do with the equipment they had available to them in the past. It puts you in a situation whereby you think of days of yore and compare them with today. That always interests me because I’m of the view that if humankind is not careful, we’re going to destroy what remains in the world historically – be it the environment or otherwise. All change is not necessarily progress.

2What part does Hayes play more generally in the Oturehua community? It’s in a good spot on the Central Otago Rail Trail, so lots of people who are doing that stop in to go through the works, or the house or the café. There’s a group of women who run the café and you wouldn’t get a more agreeable bunch to present our community to the wider public.

Whenever I’m there we have a good old laugh and it’s the place where you go to meet your friends. There’s a really good mixture and inflow of people, both visitors and locals, more generally in

Jane McFarlane is the cook at Hannah's Kitchen, the Hayes Engineering Works and Homestead café, where all the food is made on site. Here she shares the background of and recipe for the café’s much-loved quiche:

“Hannah’s Kitchen smoked salmon quiche has evolved from a basic quiche recipe of flour and eggs to now using gluten-free flour and baking powder along with adding capers, horseradish cream, feta and, when seasonally available, asparagus. It is cooked in a round dish and presents well in a wedge with a swirl of cream cheese, capers and a slice of lemon on top. The orange colour of the salmon, the green of the spinach and the white of the feta make it appealing to look at. It is our café’s most popular gluten-free savoury item and we are complimented frequently on our tasty food and our food cabinet that ‘looks amazing!’”

HANNAH’S KITCHEN SMOKED SALMON QUICHE 4 eggs 2C milk 2 tbsp horseradish cream 1C gluten-free flour 2 tsp gluten-free baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 medium onion, diced 1 tsp crushed garlic Splash of oil 250g smoked salmon pieces 4 big handfuls of fresh spinach/kale, chopped 2 tbsp capers, chopped Grated cheese

1. Line quiche dish with baking paper.

2. With the splash of oil, cook the onion and garlic over a gentle heat until onion is translucent.

3. Beat wet ingredients (eggs, milk, horseradish cream), then add flour, baking powder and salt and mix.

4. Stir in onion and garlic, spinach, salmon and capers.

5. Pour into lined quiche dish and sprinkle with grated cheese.

6. Cook at 200 degrees C for 20 to 30 minutes.

Oturehua; for a small village, there’s considerable diversity.

3What are your favourites from the Hayes café? The café produces an excellent mixture of snacks, muffins, sandwiches, scones and so on – all of which are damned good. They also make very good coffee and tea.

I’ve just come back this morning from the café with my son Andre, who lives in London and is out here to see me and a few others, and he just smacked his lips together when he had some quiche there. The variety of excellent food you can get there is unexpected in the eyes of many people. www.heritage.org.nz/places/ places-to-visit/otagoregion/hayes-engineering IMAGE: BRIDGET MUSTERS

STANDING TOGETHER

The next two months will see the wrap-up of Tūhono Kerikeri! – a six-month programme of events marking the establishment of New Zealand’s first bicultural settlement at the Kerikeri Mission Station.

Commemorations marking 200 years since the mission station was founded under the protection of Kororipo pā and Ngāpuhi rangatira Hongi Hika kicked off with a dawn blessing and opening ceremony in October last year.

They will round off with the Kororipo Park Heritage Festival Day to be held in Kerikeri on 21 March and featuring live bands, cultural and heritage activities, kapa haka, food, art, tours and talks. A closing ceremony will take place on 26 April.

https://tuhonokerikeri.nz

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