Hawkes Bay Branch
Past Events
Visit to Old Woollen Mill
13 Sep 2026
The Old Woollen Mill was established in 1902 when a group of sheep farmers set up the Hawke’s Bay Woollen Manufacturing Company Limited. Numerous products were made there and traded from the site.
Afternoon Tea
28 June 2026
Our guest speaker was Matthew Bonnett, Marketing Manager for the Art Deco Trust. Matthew is highly knowledgeable about the history of Hawke's Bay, particularly Napier's early Regiments and historic homes. He is the owner of Scinde Island House in Brewster Street, which was built in 1866–67
Anzac Day Quiz
April 26, 2026
Members were treated to a perfect Hawke’s Bay day for their Branch ANZAC Lunch, boarding a bus—some proudly wearing their family medals—to travel to Hygge Café at Clifton. During the trip, members were regaled with a light-hearted brushstroke of local historic highlights.
NZ Founders Day Celebration
February 1, 2026
Guest speaker Val Burr talked about her experiences writing about history in the Manawatu/Hawke's Bay areas.
The steamroller survives to this day at the Steam Traction Engine Society's facility at 76 Marewa Road, Fielding.
More stories abut our early beginnings.......
Napier Port Visit & Lunch
November 30, 2025
A beautiful Hawkes Bay morning saw our members entering our coach in readiness for our trip to The Port of Napier. With our informed commentator, Tony, we entered the Port and at once the information began. Only LOGS and CONTAINERS?…. so much more to see and understand.
The history is one from early beginnings.......
Bus Trip
October 18, 2025
Heading south along State Highway 2, with a brief stop at Waipawa, we headed west inland along Tikokino Road, enjoying the lush green countryside to our next stop – Ongaonga. The rural community were hosting a three day celebration of 150 years since it was established.
Chocolate Box Lunch
August, 2025
On the coldest Sunday of the year, over 50 members met at the Taradale RSA for lunch. The room was beau�fully laid out with a small box on each table filled with chocolates. A�er a warming meal, the “Chocolate Box” part of the day began, with Branch Co-ordinator Faye Sherriff introducing seven member speakers
Erica Tenquist
June 25, 2025
Erica Tenquist, Book Launch for 'Legless with Cuthbert'
Winter Lunch
June 24, 2025
A stunning view, great food and friendship attracted a full house of Hawkes Bay members to learn about the Ahuriri history and to hear Kiwi Husbandry Manager Bev Wilkinson talk about Save the Kiwi.
Afternoon Tea
May 11, 2025
A wonderful turn-out of Hawkes Bay branch members to hear an outstanding Speech and PowerPoint about an adventure on the ice at Antarctica, by a well-prepared group of New Zealanders
Bus Trip
April 13, 2025
On a beautiful Autumn day in April, Founders members were picked up from the four designated bus stops and proceeded to Riverslea, the property of Robert Flanders, on the Napier Road near Mangateretere.
Lunch
March 13, 2025
Held at the National Service Club Hastings, on Sunday, March 9th.
After a generous and scrumptious meal served to 51 members, Faye Sherriff, welcomed everyone and thanked the amazing catering team.
Pam Slay asked for anyone who lost relatives on the emigrant ship Cospatrick, which burned and sank in 1874 with the loss of 433 emigrants, to contact her for a research project. This was New Zealand’s little-known but worst maritime disaster.
Lunch
February 14, 2025
This year, Valentine’s Day was made very special for a group of Hawke’s Bay members.
Faye Sheriff our new “Commander” had organized a lovely lunch in Taradale.
Many arrived in Art Deco costumes and this made it very festive.
Lunch
January 19, 2025
On a sunny but pleasantly mild day, 51 guests gathered at the Taradale Bridge Club Rooms, located in the picturesque Park Island Recreation Grounds, Napier. This was the first event held under the New Constitution of the New Zealand Founders Society Inc. and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming.
Feilding Coach House Museum trip
December 1, 2024
Sunday 24th November, members boarded the coach for the 3 hour trip from Havelock North to Feilding Coach House Museum, "A hidden gem of history waiting to be explored". Due to being a very long day, there were only 36 members on this trip.
Smedley Station and Waipawa
October 6, 2024
On Sunday 6th October, 55 members boarded the coach for the very scenic drive out into the Kahuranaki and Elsthorpe areas east of Havelock North to Waipawa. Our lunch venue was the Historic Waipawa Municipal Theatre.
Branch Meeting
August 28, 2024
Branch President Paddy Bayley warmly welcomed the 60 people attending the August lunch meeting at the Taradale RSA.
When she presented two new members with their Membership Certificates, Paddy noted that one of her ancestors also came on the same ship as Diane Frater's. This ship was the "Slains Castle" to Wellington in January1841
Winter lunch - Talk "I WOULD NOT STEP BACK…"
June, 2024
A large banner, featuring a photograph of a wartime hero, with a British fighter plane on fire in the background, with the words:
168 Condemned Allied Airmen
A Nazi firing squad
Three days to execution
Mystery Trip
May 16, 2024
Leaving Havelock North, we travelled along Middle Road, one of the first local roads of any length connecting Havelock North with Central Hawke's Bay. It runs close to the route of an ancient Maori foot track from East Clive to the south. In her commentary, President Paddy informed members about the following Historic areas on Middle Road:
Hawkes Bay Student Literary Awards
Jack Blyth (2017)
Pete O'Shaughnessy & Jackson Reynolds (2018)
Liam Spence (2021)
Dean Winlove (2023)
Hawkes Bay Heritage Tales
The People of Pendle Hill
Top Hat Ballroom, Napier
Keirunga Homestead
Thomas Tanner, father of Hastings
Taradale Hotel
