PO Box 56076, Tawa Wellington 5249; Secretary ph 232 5901
Website: tawahistory.org.nz
The Tawa Historian
Newsletter #49 – October 2019
Dear Members and Friends,
A History of Takapu Valley
Mike Steer has been working on collecting information, trawling through local and regional newspapers, speaking with Takapu residents past and present, and conducting other research over a considerable period of time in order to put together a History of Takapu Valley. The book is now in the process of being printed, and while there will be a local launch of the book, it seems sensible to have it available for presentation to members of our Society and members of the general public at the Spring into Tawa 2019 ‘festival’ on 19 October 2019.
The book is a most worthwhile addition to the material we have published since our first book, The Streets of Tawa, in 2005. In fact, the History of Takapu Valley will be the 20th book that the Tawa Historical Society have published over the past 15 years. I hope that many of you will want to purchase a copy, so please come down to the THS stall on the Main Road during the Spring into Tawa event on the 19th of October. It was also agreed at our last Executive meeting that we should have a formal launch of Mike’s book in the Tawa Library from 6pm to 7pm on Monday 4 November 2019.
Takapu Valley’s history is indeed a most interesting one, and even today the road which runs some 5 kilometres up the Valley is one of the most critical in the whole of Wellington. That road gives access to three critical services: the electricity transmission lines feeding the Haywards Substation; the Kaitoke to Karori water pipeline; and the gas line which brings Kapuni gas to Wellington.
Other recent books
Other recently published books from THS include:
• The Mexteds of Pluckley, Kent, and Tawa Flat, Wellington, 2019;
• Willowbank Reserve, Tawa, and its environs, 2018; and
• Tawa; the tree, the community and its reserve, 2017.
The latter of these three books is almost out of print, so do not delay in purchasing it before
it is gone.
Tawa Memorial – additional names
At our latest Executive meeting we formally passed a motion adopting a set of Rules to be followed if in the future another name or names are suggested for placement on the Memorial. The approved Rules have been sent to the Wellington City Council with a request that they be safely lodged amongst their files. We will also keep a copy of these Rules, and will also send them to other parties who could be involved in the future, such as Tawa College, and the Tawa Community Board.
Other books/topics to be considered for writing
At our next Executive meeting in late November 2019 we are proposing to have a brainstorming session to set us thinking about new books which could be written or new topics to be explored. Perhaps some of our books which are out of print need to have a 2nd edition. If any members have aspects of Tawa’s history which they believe warrant exploration or action, please let our Secretary, Ken Woodgate or me know what you are thinking or suggesting by Monday 18 November 2019.
Kind regards,
Bruce Murray
Chairman,
Tawa Historical Society