Our stories: The history of Motueka
These pages are dedicated to the history of the town and nearby areas. Articles are provided by history buffs, part-time writers and ordinary folk who have stories to tell about people and events from the past. Please browse the topics below. And please consider adding to the collection.
We welcome any articles and contributions you may have, which you can send by email or by contacting us to sort out how you can get stories, photos etc to us to put on the website. You can also comment on any of the articles that are on these pages already, if you have something further to add to them - if so, simply go to the end of the article and click on the "Comment" link.
Those with a strong interest in the history of Motueka and the surrounding area should also look at the work done, and meetings and programmes hosted, by the Motueka and Districts Historical Association »
History articles:
Gold on the Tablelands
(from the Historical Association)
Mining has taken place in several places in the Nelson region, the most unusual or remote being the tablelands between Mt Arthur and the Cobb and the ranges further south and west. Rough, rugged country which had hundreds of miners camped in huts and tents during the years of the depression. Full article »
Historic and prominent family names in Motueka
(By Patsy O'Shea)
This list of 39 names, based on prominent and historic members of the Motueka community, was put together and submitted to TDC in 2004 when a number of subdivisions were sprouting in the district and people were looking for suitable names for new streets. View the list here »
Historic House makes way for industry
(a request from the Historical Association)
The Motueka Historical Association is appealing for information that may help build a history of the old house in King Edward Street owned by the Underwood family, which was recently demolished for industry. Industry has always been a part of the area of King Edward Street where Alpha Precast has its yard. Full article »
A History of Riwaka Wharf and Shipping
(by H. N. Murray)
This article was published in the Nelson Historical Society Journal, Vol 2, Issue 6, April 1973, and has been reproduced and abridged here thanks to the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre (NZETC - www.nzetc.org). At Riwaka wharf some early history of shipping in the district is of interest. The small port served the local community for a hundred years, and included some operations concerned with the initial landings at Astrolabe Roads of the Expedition vessels in October, 1841. Full article »
Motueka Place Names
(by H. N. Murray)
This article was published in the Nelson Historical Society Journal, Vol 2, Issue 6, April 1973, and has been reproduced and abridged here thanks to the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre (NZETC - www.nzetc.org). It explains the origins of Jubilee Bridge, Moutere River, NZ Company's Ditch, Wildman Road, Motueka's Present Wharf, M.V. Wairau, The Old Wharf, The Gables, SS Janie Seddon, Fearon Street and Bush, Tudor Street, Greenwood Street and many more Motueka places. Full article »
From Granite to Golden Sands - History of Kaiteriteri Beach
(by Sue Clark)
Kaiteriteri Beach is man made and the events leading up to its 'manufacture' make intriguing reading.
Details of Kaiteriteri from 1841 to about 1900 have been sketchy but for a long period Kaiteriteri was owned by G. Daniells, a retired British army major but there is no evidence that he actually took up residence there. From about 1910 onwards the history of Kaiteriteri is better documented. Full article »
Roger "Snow" Finlay and the history of the Takaka Hill Road
(by Murray Owen)
Roger "Snow" Finlay certainly earned his passage as the principal machine operator for Transport Nelson and Fuel and Freight on several roading excavations in the region, from 1947 to 1983. For years the often maligned Takaka Hill road, with its myriad of turns, was a constant force in Snow's working life. He was at the coalface of all the developments, with a modern, reasonably fast road emerging from the narrow, challenging 'goat track' that it was in places. Full article »
History of Phyllis Harriet Moffatt (nee Win) and the Win family
(by Aroha Moffatt and Sue Clark)
In 1973 the Geriatric Hospital was renamed the "Phyllis Moffatt Memorial Hospital" and thereby perpetuating her name in Motueka's history - a fitting tribute to the long and valuable service she gave the Nelson Hospital Board and the Hospital of Motueka. She was a founding member in the establishment of a hospital in Motueka in the first place. Full article »
