In 2010, the first full history of the Pauatahanui district will be written and published.  A group of local residents and descendants of early settlers has begun collecting the material that will fill the book.  They are mindful that some of the most insightful views on the past are to be found only in the memories of the area’s older residents.

Gael McRoberts and Wally Brown, both descendants of early pioneers, saw the need for such a book, and began work on it last year. 

The idea appealed to others whose ancestors arrived in the district in the 1860s, so they joined in.  The Pauatahanui History Group, as it is called, also includes current and former residents of the district.

The book will cover pre-Maori times, Maori use and occupation, and European rural and suburban settlement that started in the 1840s.  It covers the land within a line running from Haywards Hill to Moonshine to the top of the Paekakariki Hill Road to the Plimmerton Hill to Paremata to the Belmont Hills.  Thus it will include Pauatahanui Village, surrounding farming and forestry areas, and Whitby.

The chapters in the book will follow a time line from prehistoric days to the 1990s.  As well, it will have two main themes.  These are the developments that shaped the area. 

One is the use of natural resources by Maori and settlers.  Although this is mainly farming, there has also been sawmilling, planting of pine forests, and short-lived attempts at goldmining and oyster farming.

The other is the position of Pauatahanui Village at the centre of the early Wellington road system.  For nearly 90 years from 1849, the main road north out of Wellington ran through the Village, where it was joined by the road to the Hutt Valley and the Wairarapa.  Thus from early times the Village provided services for travellers and their vehicles – inns, blacksmithing, food and petrol.  For many years, it was also the main commercial and administrative centre for the whole Porirua basin.

A professional historian will write the book.  The Pauatahanui History Group intends to apply for grants to help cover the author’s fee as well as the editing, printing and publishing.

The book is a joint project with the Pauatahanui Residents’ Association.

Members of the Pauatahanui History Group are enthusiastically collecting every kind of material for the book.  They are asking for the public’s help, too.  Many residents, former residents and descendants of the pioneers will have photos, newspaper cuttings, stories and family histories that could form part of the book.  The Group would be delighted to hear from anyone who can help.  The people to contact are:

Gael McRoberts (nee Iggulden)
3 Lambley Road
Titahi Bay
Ph. (04) 236 7112
Email  gaelmcr@slingshot.co.nz

Wally Brown
7 Jones Deviation
Pauatahanui
Ph, (04) 237 9004

For further information, contact Gael McRoberts.