Frances Cherry: washing up in Paekākāriki

Judith Galtry writes on the life in Paekākāriki of her late friend, the prolific author Frances Cherry. Frances and her whanau’s life in the village from the 1960s on reveals many a story about Paekākāriki’s rich social history.

Celebrating Paekākāriki’s photographic past

Finns Hotel in Paekākāriki recently hosted a celebration at the completion of Paekākāriki’s historic photo display and the launch of two books on local history. Local museum and history volunteers along with a group of students from Paekākāriki School attended the celebration. 

Captain Sanderson: a visionary among the Paekākāriki dunes

Conservation visionary Captain E.V (Val) Sanderson devoted much of his life to preserving Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna. Judith Galtry profiles this tenacious and committed man, a one-time resident of Paekākāriki, where he restored his property to native bush and from where he could keep a keen eye on Kāpiti Island’s burgeoning bird population.

The Last Shear & More

‘The Last Shear & More’ exhibition at the Paekākāriki Station Museum honours the Smith and Perkins families who farmed land locally for 150 years. Dave Johnson, Station Master, worked with the families and Bride Coe, whose photos of the last shear at the Perkins farm in 2011 feature in the exhibition.

Intelligible Cities: An interview with David Groves

Fantasically, ‘Intelligible Cities’, a new book by Paekākāriki resident David Groves, sees Marco Polo and Emperor Kublai Khan discussing the weird and wacky ways in which the inhabitants of 26 cities communicate with strangers who arrive at their gates speaking an unknown language. 

Unveiling the Mural on the Weaver’s Whare

Read Paranahia Broughton’s kōrero around the development and unveiling of the beautiful new mural on the Weaver’s whare/ Wai Ata studio. Dedicated to Ngāti Haumia ki Paekākāriki’s Kuia Miriona, a huge mihi goes out to the artists, Anthony Paaka and Ryan Daly-Paranihi for their awesome mahi.

Whareroa walkway

Paekākāriki.nz proudly presents the third in its commissioned series of creative writing to go with our walks. In an allegorical and thought-provoking story, Apirana Taylor winds his way along the Coastal Track through Queen Elizabeth Park between Wainui and Whareroa pā sites. Our writers received funding from KCDC’s Creative Communities Scheme.

Carol Reihana – A life of service to others

Janet Holborow (Kāpiti Coast District Councillor and Deputy Mayor) in conversation with Bonny Ranfurly about her beloved sister (and community member) kuia Carol Reihana (1945-2021). Haere atu rā e te kuia, Carol.

Paekākāriki History Walk launched

The recently launched Paekākāriki History Walk by the Station Precinct Trust adds new layers to our village’s telling of its local history. Bride Coe looks behind the scenes at the making of the walk, which will feature in the Directory of Everything, ‘Walks & rides’ section on paekākāriki.nz shortly.

The Ballad of the Triple Track

Paekakariki.nz proudly presents the second in its commissioned series of creative writing to go with our walks. In an epic poem, itself like a track, Michael O’Leary writes historically and contemporaneously about the the three tracks between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay. This series sees our writers paid through funding from the Creative Communities scheme.