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It is with great pleasure that we can finally announce the launch of our Ebook “Making a Stand, The Waitākere Ranges Heritage Act” by Wayne Thompson. The passing of the The Waitākere Ranges Heritage Act in 2008 represents a milestone in the life of the Society. Wayne Thompson documents the story behind the legislation coming into force. Read about the people, the politics and the passion!
In 2017 Te Kawerau ā Maki established a rāhui in the Waitākere Ranges in response to Kauri dieback. Some people were confused by the kaupapa of this strategic move, and yet it precipitated a significant effort on the part of Auckland Council and central government to take action on Kauri Dieback. James Littlewood and Hank Snell spoke to Te Kawerau ā Maki whānau Robin Taua Gordon and “Uncle George” Taua about the significance of the forest from the perspective of tangata whenua.
This short documentary was produced for Radio New Zealand with funding from NZ on Air.
Mary (Bobbie) Woodward (3 July 1928 -14 July 2023)
WRPS passes its sincere condolences to the family of Mary (Bobbie) Woodward who died recently on July 14th in her 95th year.
Bobbie was a daughter of the Waitakere Ranges, a member of the pioneering Bethell family.
She was present at the first official meeting of the WRPS Steering Committee on 31 March 1973, and was an early member and activist.
She spent 2 years on the committee (1989 – 1990) and was elected secretary for a year in 1990.
Bobbie was a recipient of one of the Society’s Millennium Medals in 2000 (for “hard working members of the Society”) and she was awarded an Honour Certificate at the celebration of our 35th year in 2008.
Bobbie has spent years researching and writing about the first Waitakere West Coasters, from Maori to early Pakeha settlers.
Her books include “The Bethells of Te Henga”(1988), “The Landscape of My Heart – the Bethells and their neighbours” (1995) and “Shimmersea” (2018, e-book).
At our AGM in 2019 we had the privilege of recording an interview with Barbara Lusk, where Mary talked about her life growing up at Te Henga.
We have lost a friend.