Kia ora

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It is important to record the histories of our elders and the people who have gone before us, that's because we can understand historical events and trends more easily, whether worldwide or in Aotearoa New Zealand, when we see them reflected in the stories of our own area. The people we write about have made a significant contribution to Otaki, three in particular gave their talent and energy to preserve our history through the Otaki Historical Society and we acknowledge their work.

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Our 43rd volume of the journal is full of interesting material. It ranges from new research about Maori-owned flourmills in the 1800s to features where history is recorded through art. There are many types of pioneers and we highlight those who brought new ideas and services to our area, along with one who developed new ways of protecting people at work.

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Sometimes we are asked why we put out a journal and there are many answers. We want to preserve and publish stories about interesting events and people from our past. Then there is the fun of research, of hunting for clues and finding information that is new or has been lost. We interview people, read, check dates and records and then weave everything together until the story emerges from all the data. But often there are things we can't solve and so we welcome input from you, our readers to fill any gaps and find more pieces of the puzzle.

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We'd like to make these stories available for others who enjoy living here and for families and researchers everywhere. We also want to share these stories with our young people as they learn about the past in the new history curriculum. Most of all, we hope that you enjoy what we have put together for you this year

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Noho ora mai ra, Sarah Maclean, Editor