In this issue–

• The Society’s programme – Kapiti history and more
• Feedback on Larry Keim’s talk last month
• The August session – Mike Alexander on conservation in South Kapiti
• The programme for the rest of the year
• Further down the track
• Suggestions and help
• A varied programme

The Society is based in Kapiti, so logically we have most sessions based on a local theme or topic. Six of our nine talks so far have been, and this month we shift to the environment and the changing scene in the South Kapiti area.

The session is on Tuesday 27 August at 7.30 pm

Down the track we will be offering plenty of variety:

• Visiting the Western Front
• Coastlands 50 Years in the making
• Sailors’ Salty Language
• The Hadfield legacy

We have over sixty people on the mailing list, but we haven’t seen a number of you — so come along and bring your friends!

Thanks to our July speaker: Larry Kime

Larry spoke to an audience of about 30 about the U.S. Marines’ love of New Zealand. He set the friendly invasion in context with an explanation of what was happening in the Pacific in late 1941 and early 1942.

Then he elaborated on how there were some mixed feelings among New Zealanders about the newcomers and even some minor clashes in Wellington and Auckland. However, the vast majority of local people, especially women, were very happy to see them here in our hour of need and acceptance of their presence grew. Many New Zealand women married Marines.

The talk generated some interesting questions and plenty of discussion over supper.

Next Talk – Mike Alexander

A History of Environmental Conservation in South Kapiti

Tuesday 27 August at 7.30pm
Kapiti Uniting Church
10 Weka Road
Raumati Beach
Gold coin koha. Thanks

Enter via the main door of the church at the top of the driveway off Weka Road.

Mike will be looking at how the environment has changed through time in the areas which now include Queen Elizabeth Park, Whareroa and the Maungakotukutuku Valley.

He will also set the importance of conservation in the context of the world’s current environmental problems.

The next four months

SEPTEMBER – Waikanae resident, and former NZ Army Engineer, Howard Chamberlain on his visit to the Western Front.

OCTOBER – Paraparaumu Beach resident, and former Commander of HMNZS Canterbury, John Granville on “Sailors’ Salty Language”.

NOVEMBER – A talk on Coastlands as it celebrates 50 years of operation. (To be confirmed.)

DECEMBER – David Hadfield on an aspect of the Hadfield family story.

2020 – some possibilities for sessions: 

• The Kapiti Coast Museum (Allan Carley)
• Paraparaumu’s First Retirement Village – Seven Oaks (Wendy Houston)
• The history of Paraparaumu airport
• Long term service on the Kapiti Coast District Council
• Gallipoli – Myth and Reality
• Kapiti’s Changing Coastline
• Key Kapiti figures in the early-mid 19th century

We would like to explore for 2020 the possibility of a group effort to bring together and present information on major historical events and personalities, with a particular emphasis on Kapiti personalities whose actions impacted on the national stage.

Three such, who knew one another, and helped establish peace here, are Tamihana Te Rauparaha of Otaki, Wiremu Kingi of Waikanae and Rev. Octavius Hadfield (who was brought to Kapiti by Tamihana and came to support Wiremu in his actions at Waitara, which Tamihana condemned).  Tamihana was an early supporter of the King movement before becoming strongly opposed; Wiremu was initially opposed to the Waikato kingites before welcoming their support.

One question that deserves attention is why Tamihana Te Rauparaha returned from attacks on South Island tribes with his father, the warrior chief Te Rauparaha, to become a Christian – in a remarkable cultural change.  What were the key influences on him as he grew up?

Suggestions and assistance

If anyone has ideas for particular speakers and topics, let us know. Also if people would like to assist with the overall organisation – present speakers, do votes of thanks, help with suppers etc .. – we would be delighted to hear from you.

We will probably have an organisational meeting at the end of the year to set things up for 2020.

Roger Childs and John Robinson

Coordinators, Kapiti Historical Society