



KEEPING OUR
HISTORY ALIVE
Update re Otaki Historical Society and Otaki Heritage Bank Preservation Trust Amalgamation
A Special General Meeting was held on 23 April 2023 to ratify the motion passed at the OHS AGM in September 2022.
The following motion was tabled:
Confirm the resolution passed in September 2022, wind up the Society as at 1 June 2023 and transfer all assets to the Otaki Heritage Bank Preservation Trust (Museum)
We are pleased to report that the motion was passed, and the legal and commercial changes required can begin to be carried out.
One of the main changes is the need to have a new bank account from 1 June 2023. We have updated our website and will send a member’s newsletter with the details before this time.
Please continue to use the current form when purchasing journals through the website.
Our email otakihistoricalsociety@yahoo.com will continue until the amalgamation is completed. Contact us with your queries and purchase needs…we love to hear from you.!!
Our 2023 journal is well underway and will be launched in October.
Journal
The Journal can be purchased from Otaki Railway Bookshop, Books & Co, Otaki Post Shop and Otaki Museum. It can also be purchased by an email request to the society or by using the online form available on this site. Access the Journal page which will direct you to the form.
Index
Please note that the index for Journal 43 is available from the link on this page. This tool is invaluable for finding articles relating to your whanau, school, research interests etc. Journals and digitised articles can be purchased online using the form on the Journals page.
HISTORICAL JOURNALS

The Otaki Historical Society exists to foster an interest in Otaki’s history. This is achieved mainly by publishing the annual Otaki Historical Journal, which records the town’s history through researched and contributed articles that include personal and family memoirs; researched articles about aspects of Otaki history; reprints of relevant extracts from magazines, books or historical documents; and occasionally personal opinion.
INDEX
Our popular Journal Index has been updated with the entries from issue 43.
Click here for Volumes 41 - 43 Index
Click here for Volumes 1 - 40 Index.
Use the indices to check if your research topics or family names have been covered in one of our 43 issues. Follow up your findings in your journals or contact the society to purchase the relevant issue or article.
43 YEARS OF HISTORY
Kia ora
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.
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.
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.
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
Noho ora mai ra, Sarah Maclean, Editor

OTAKI MUSEUM
Otaki Museum is a small local museum housed in the restored 1918 BNZ building at 49 Main street, Otaki. The story of our town and its people are told through a changing programme of exhibitions. The museum is open 10 am-2 pm, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is free. Please contact the museum 06 364 6886 to arrange group viewings.
More information about the museum and its programme of exhibitions can now be viewed on their website.