NEW ZEALAND FOUNDERS PAST EVENTS
National Events
NZ Founders AGM 2025
April 2, 2025
National Annual General Meeting held at the Devon Hotel, New Plymouth, 22 March 2025
A brief report on the meeting.
NZ Founders AGM 2025
April 2, 2025
National Annual General Meeting held at the Devon Hotel, New Plymouth, 22 March 2025
A brief report on the meeting.
Auckland Branch
Auckland Branch funds study into the merits of Auckland's heritage Special Character Areas
October 20, 2024
Josh Howie, an Auckland University Masters student, was funded by the Auckland Branch of NZ Founders.
A link to the Auckland City Council report which includes his report (2024, page 22) is here.
Waikato Branch
50 Years Celebration
August 24, 2025
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Waikato Founders Society met in the local Guide Hall. The setting was an old Ministry of works wooden building set in a park with bush like settings. One could imagine one was back in the late 19th Century, bush and wooden building with grass lawn, and the area community had met to have a social occasion of celebration in this case a High Tea.
Waikato Founders meeting
July 17, 2025
Christine Barbour spoke to us on DNA and how we can use it to trace our Family.
Marie Ryan was presented her certificate and spoke of her Ancestors arrivals in New Zealand.
Anzac Commemoration
April 25, 2025
Kaye Forster-Hill laid a wreath at the Hamilton Anzac Service on behalf of NZ Founders Waikato Branch
Waikato Founders February meeting
March 13, 2025
Neville Ritchie, who received a recent Book Grant Award, speaking to Waikato Founders on his book "Waterways of New Zealand from 1840".
Waikato branch outing to Waiuku with Auckland branch
December 8, 2024
Waikato Branch invited Auckland Branch to join them at an outing in Waiuku.
We started at Waiuku Museum, a very full and interesting place to explore.
Taranaki Branch
Wanganui Branch
Early history of the Whanganui River mouth
July 2025
There were 21 attendees (including four visitors) at our July meeting when author/historian Laraine Sole spoke about the early history of the Whanganui River mouth and harbour, including accounts of pre-European history. With work in progress to restore the port it was good to look back at what our early settlers would have seen as they entered the river. Laraine has written numerous books, including histories of many Wanganui suburbs and pubs. A very informative and well-presented session, evidenced by the many after-talk questions.
Sarjeant Art Gallery
June 2025
We had an interesting meeting where Jennifer Taylor from the Sarjeant Art Gallery talked about the ups
and downs of relocating the Sarjeant collection to temporary premises during earthquake strengthening
which was galvanized by chunks of concrete falling from the ceiling. It took several years to catalogue and safely pack everything but along the way they relocated several items that hadn’t been catalogued from the early years, and could log the condition of each item for future use. And then there was the equally long process when they moved everything back into their newly refurbished and extended new building.
Fossils found on Kai Iwi Beach
May 2025
Bruce Taylor from the Kai Iwi Beach Motor Camp, and president of the Whanganui Rock and Mineral Club talked with enthusiasm and knowledge about his collection of fossils found on Kai Iwi Beach and other places along this coast.
He brought with him samples of whale, penguin, sharks' teeth and many bits of moa bones that have turned into rock over many millennia. He also showed us two megalodon teeth which he purchased from America, but were known to have been present in this area.
He sends some of his findings to Te Papa for verification and at present they are removing for him an almost complete seal skeleton from its encasing rock.
His knowledge of the best places to hunt and how to recognize a fossil will encourage some of our members to head for the beach on the next sunny day when the tide is right I’m sure.
John Handley who arrived in NZ in 1842
April 2025
Quentin Handley spoke about his family, beginning with the arrival of his great-great-grandfather John Handley who arrived in New Zealand in 1842 with his wife Martha and three children. He was a builder and member of the town council and bought property at Rapanui in 1853, but died an early death after falling from his horse when returning home one evening. Quentin spoke of his family's genealogy and the history of the farm which has remained in the Handley family since its early days.
Home of the Peace Through Unity Trust
March 2025
A good number of us spent a pleasant afternoon at Te Rangi, currently the home of the Peace Through Unity Trust.
The Trust was begun by Anthony and Gita Brooke in 1987 after devoting their lives to assisting a culture of peace in many countries around the world in association with the United Nations. The House at 4 Allison St built somewhere around 1915, is a haven of peace surrounded by trees with a view out over the city and river, and with several quiet lawns and verandahs. It is built in the Transition style between villa and bungalow and is mostly unchanged inside with elegant rooms and furnishings. It was well worth the visit
A tribute for long-serving member
February 2025
A tribute for long-serving member and finance officer Hugh Ramage was read out by Lynley.
Lynley presented an historical review of Founders Wanganui, including editorials written by late historian Hugh Ross and spoke of the strong relationship we have always had both with the Public and Heritage Libraries.
Hawkes Bay Branch
Erica Tenquist
June 25, 2025
Erica Tenquist, Book Launch for 'Legless with Cuthbert'
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.
Remote Branch
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FUTURE EVENTS
ALL are welcome. We host regular events, including discussion groups and gatherings, that bring New Zealand history enthusiasts together to learn and share.
