About The Event

Four of Havelock North’s beautiful historic homes are opening their doors for our inaugural fundraising event for Keirunga.

This is a unique opportunity to experience the grandeur, gardens and history of four of our exceptional historic homesteads – Waiana – Tuki Tuki Road, Turama Home  – Duart Road, Havelock North,  Arapata –  Middle Road, Havelock North and Te Mata Homestead – Te Mata Road.

The trail includes local insights and Homestead history from history buff John Vickers and including a delightful lunch at Keirunga for $130.

Keirunga artists member and board member, Richard Moorhead has very generously offered to give a painting to raffle for $5 a ticket. This raffle will be drawn under JP supervision on the 28th April 2022.

About John Vickers

John is a fifth generation New Zealander with a lifetime interest in New Zealand Heritage.

A childhood spent in a large district homestead, and being familiar with all the other homes on the tour, gives John a broad knowledge of their history, design aspects and place in New Zealand’s development.

Restoring a “Chapman-Taylor Courtyard” house with his wife Sarah, as a home for their three children, Woodleigh reveals the interesting philosophy of the Arts and Craft movement.

His experience in Local Government, including a term as District Mayor, gives him further insight into the interesting Rangitikei District.

Details of each Homestead below:

Waiana – Tuki Tuki Road

Architect – Warren & Mahoney 2003

Waiana Estate’s terroir is in good company with Te Mata Estate adjacent to it on the other side of the Tukituki river and Craggy Range just a few minutes upstream. The name “Waiana” derives from the Maori words “Wai” which means water and “ana” which means continuous. Crudely translated the name effectively means “running waters” and is aptly named as the estate borders the Tukituki river in the Tukituki Valley in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Waiana Estate was acquired by the Plowman family in 1993. In total, the estate comprises 70 acres which have been extensively planted in woodlands areas almost from the day the land was purchased. The vineyards were subsequently established and planted in 2000, with initial plantings of Merlot and Malbec grapes. These vines are now well established and produce outstanding fruit. More land was acquired in 2006 and subsequent plantings have included both Grenache and Cinsault.

The estate also has a well-established olive grove which was also planted in 2000 and produces fantastic olive oil under the Waiana Estate brand as well. The olive grove consists of Frantoio, Manzanilla and Barnea olives which produce a fabulous blend of olive oil.

Turama Home  – Duart Road

Architect – JW Chapman – Taylor 1919

Two storied, five bedroomed house in the arts & Crafts style by James Walter Chapman Taylor. Turama translates from the maori as ‘lantern’, source of light and enlightenment.
Built for Reginald & Ruth Gardiner who were members of the Order of the Golden Dawn.

Arapata –  Middle Road, Havelock North

Architect – CJ Natusch – 1919

My parents Dick and Ann were born on sheep farms on the East coast on the North Island.

My father was determined to own his own farm and his pathway started in a tent in the middle of the scrub and bush where he set about clearing the land and building a beautiful farm. By the time he died he owned approximately 9000 acres including Arapata, which was 400 acres.

Bought in 1970, Dick and Ann farmed sheep and cattle at Arapata and lived in the lovely old homestead, which was built in 1910. Arapata had never had children living there, so it became a playground for me and my siblings and a wonderful home for the whole family to always gravitate back to. I came to live at Arapata in 1998 after my wife died, while continuing to farm sheep and cattle and develop my deer farming.

Te Mata Homestead

Te Mata is constructed of Oregon and Jarrah framing solid studs extended from floor to attic in Oregon balloon framing. The exterior is stucco plaster, with timber posts in the porch. The roofing is clay tiles.

The original Queensland maple panelling in the dining room and walnut doors, including the large arched door leading into the house from the prominent porch, were salvaged from the 1921 ‘Te Mata’. The remaining interior is a smooth plaster finish in cream tonings and oiled jarrah floors.

Schedule

9.30am Meet at Keirunga   – morning coffee/tea (maps provided – follow tour guide – John Vickers)

10am Waiana – Tuki Tuki Road Architects Warren and Mahoney 2003

11.30am Turama – Duart Road Architect J.W. Chapman – Taylor 1917, with later John Scott additions

12.30pm Lunch break at Keirunga – finger food – wine /tea/coffee/ cold drinks. 

1.30pm Arapata – Middle Road Architects CT Natusch and Co 1913

2.45pm Te Mata Homestead – Te Mata Road Architects Gummer and Ford 1936

3.45pm Conclusion

A valid vaccine pass is required to participate for this event.