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Haua, Charles William 1903-1984, (Person)

SummaryCharles (Charlie) William Haua was born in Ōpōtiki in 1903, to parents James Haua and Mary Hearling (who was born in Tasmania). Originally from Tauranga, the Haua family moved back there from Ōpōtiki around 1910.Main Body

Charlie was a keen rugby player for Tauranga District High School, then Cadets and was a Tauranga and Bay of Plenty representative. He was also a keen hockey player and rower and won the New Zealand double sculls championship in 1931 with friend Bill Turner. Charlie was a life member of the Tauranga Rowing Club, Rugby Association and the Athletic Club.

He followed in the footsteps of his father James, as a blacksmith. James Haua originally worked in a shop in Devonport Road near the Star Hotel, with business partner William Parker.

Charlie Haua learnt his trade with other blacksmiths, Mr C. F. Washer in Willow Street and Sam Snowden in Spring Street. In 1924 the Hauas', father and son, were the blacksmiths at the McLarens Falls power station, when it was being built.

In 1926, they worked for Alf Davoren in his blacksmith shop, located next to Bill Lane’s stables on a site near the former Post Office in Grey Street. Alf Davoren and James Haua both passed away in 1931, after which time Charlie continued the business on his own. Eventually, he moved from those premises to Elizabeth Street, and later, in 1950, to the corner of Grey Street and Elizabeth Street. He remained there until his retirement in 1969.

Part of his shop was set up at the Tauranga Museum when it was on Hamilton Street and was later shifted to the Tauranga Historic Village and District Museum, which opened in Seventeenth Avenue in 1975. Charlie gave hundreds of volunteer hours to entertaining and educating visitors. In 1976 he was awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to the community and later received an O.B.E.

See also: Rolfe Family

SourcesCharles Haua Obituary » Historical Review, November 1984, v. 32, no.2, p 131.Charles W. Haua, B.E.M. by Joan Mirrielees,Journal of Historical Society, May 1978, Volume 61:p8-9James Haua, Obituary - Bay of Plenty Times, 26 January 1931, p2.Papers of Charles Haua - Ms 81Charlie Haua - A Local Legend cited in Taonga Tū websiteMary Haua Obituary, Bay of Plenty Times, 24 November 1938

Photographs

Mr L. C. Sinton with Mr Charlie Haua (right)

Wedding at Charlie Haua's

Charlie Haua - Tauranga Historic Village

Blacksmith - Charlie Haua

Tauranga blacksmith Mr Charlie Haua works on steel "tyre" for wagon wheel in his Grey Street smithy

Charlie Haua

Charlie Haua at his blacksmith shop in Grey Street

Charlie Haua at his blacksmith shop in grey Street

Tauranga Museum Opened. Charlie Haua with the old forge

Tauranga Museum Opened. Charlie Haua with the old forge, with onlookers

Tauranga Museum Opened. Charlie Haua with the old forge

Keeping old times alive : Charlie Haua's old smithy

Stories - People

Haua Family, moments in history

Archive Items

George Arthur and William Denniston, and Charles William Haua

Archive Collections

Papers of Charles Haua

Charles Haua c. 1930s Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 06-186

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Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within.CopyrightTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesLicenseCC BY 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Haua, Charles

Personal Information

OccupationBlacksmith

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AuthorTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesType of ContributionLibrary authorityTaxonomyStories | People

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Haua, Charles William 1903-1984, (Person)