Mr Syd Ngatai, May 1975

Date7 May 1975Reference NumberAms 524/46DescriptionTyped "Notes from Mr Syd Ngatai about Matakana Island."

Topics include:

Book being compiled by the Matakana Islanders concerning their early history and connections.

Mr Ngatai's spent his childhood in Ōtūmoetai with his grandparents, returning to Matakana Island aged 15.

Pine tree planting began in 1924 and by 1938 was ready for thining and pulping.

Mr Hunter, the second Pāhekā to buy land, purchased an ocean side block for 2 shillings and six pence. Otapu was later renamed Hunter's Creek after him.

Mr W.F. Sinclair purchased Mr Hunter's land and planted trees, and by 1975 the land and timber was owned by New Zealand Forest Products.

Mr Paama (Mr Ngatai's grandfather) was constable attached to the Tauranga constabulary, and gave an acre of his land at Te Kōtukutuku for one of the two schools on Matakana Island.

The old church in 1975 was thought to date back to around 1920 and was dedicated by a bishop bought to the Island by the first sea-plane to come down on Tauranga Harbour.

The new church in 1975 was built entirely by volunteer labour.

Kauri gum was able to be dug up in the early days.

School children used to be collected by wagon travelling across at low tide.

All families living on the island trace their antecedents to the first canoes.

Kūmara and gourds from the original plants brought in the canoes were grown extensively on the Island.

1930 the telephone arrived, and electricity carried across in 1952.

1928 a ferry service started across to Tauranga, around the same time as the opening of the Tauranga railway bridge.

Early 1930s cream produced on the Island was carried by ferry, rather than gig and buggy to Katikati over the ford at low tide.

Jerry Williams started the ferry service, and people would board from dinghy or card. He also called at Matakana Point, commonly known as Flax Point.LevelItemFormatTypescriptExtent5 pagesPhysical DescriptionPage size is 297mm by 210mm by 1mmLanguageEnglish

Asset Location

RoomClimate controlled room - offsite

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Kaitiakitanga StatementPlease use taonga Māori materials provided by Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries appropriately. This includes being respectful and mindful of the creator/s, as well as the mana and dignity of people, iwi and hapū group/s, and the environmental subjects depicted in the material.Cultural/Ethical StatusAukatiRestrictionsRestrictions apply, this item is not available online. To request access please contact the Heritage and Research Team at research@tauranga.govt.nz. A written recording agreement for the interview has not been located and may not have been completed at the time of transcription. Retrospective agreements are being sought and if you have information regarding the interviewee please email research@tauranga.govt.nzCopyrightCopyright may apply. Please contact us if you have information regarding the copyright status of this item.AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Ams 524/46

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Part of Archive CollectionAms 524

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Mr Syd Ngatai, May 1975