175th Anniversary of Elms Mission House, 2013 (Event)

Celebrating 175 Years at The Elms - 4 January 2013

On January 4, 2013, Tauranga marked a significant milestone—the 175th anniversary of the arrival of Reverend Alfred Nesbit Brown and his wife Charlotte to Te Papa, now known as The Elms Mission House. This turning point in Tauranga’s history was commemorated with a special event that brought the past vividly to life.
The celebration featured a dramatic reenactment of the Browns’ arrival, with actors in period costume portraying the couple as they walked through the grounds, reflecting on the dramatic changes since 1838. Stephanie Smith, who played Charlotte and wrote the script, noted how the Browns would be astonished by modern developments like traffic and industrial growth, though they would still recognize the historic oak tree grown from an acorn Brown brought from England.
The event began with a service led by Bishop Rahu Katene at The Elms Chapel, followed by the reenactment and the unveiling of roses at the stone cairn marking the site of the Browns’ original raupō hut. The Mission House itself, completed in 1847, remains a powerful symbol of early missionary life and the enduring legacy of the CMS in Tauranga.

Stephanie Smith and Wayne McIndoe, playing Charlotte and Reverend Brown