14/10/2026
Some history on Karamea's Maternity Hospital on Waverley Street and the subsequent use of the building in later years. Lorna Scarlett (nee Lineham) was aged in her 20's as Nurse- in- Charge. She lived with her family in the domestic wing of the hospital for a number of years. Anne Lowe (nee Higgs) was the Nurse Aid and was on call even when the hospital was closed on a few occasions. Anne worked for the Grey Hospital Board and would clean, vacuum, and air out the Karamea Maternity Hospital on Waverley Street once per week. When a baby was due Lorna Scarlett would ring Anne and say "stat" so that Anne could assist her at the hospital. The hospital was open ( and closed sometimes) between 1964 to 1975 depending on the numbers of babies being born at the time. Laura Harry the local District Nurse (for decades) was instrumental in having it built by the Health Department. It was closed in 1975.
The Department of Health sold the property to the newly formed not-for-profit Karamea Youth Trust. The building was then used as an evangelical outreach particularly to backpackers walking the Heaphy and Wangapeka Tracks. It was called Punga Lodge. It had to be ready and opened by the Christmas of 1975 for the first backpackers who would arrive in that summer. With community goodwill mattresses were donated. Bunks had to be built. At the time no seasoned wood could be bought anywhere and no money to buy it even if it had been available. A previous storm had brought down a row of macrocarpa trees opposite what is now Karamea River Motels on Bridge Street near the Karamea River Bridge. The trees were milled locally. Transported by 'Ruck' Lowe in his truck. The bunks were made by locals in each of the rooms. The finished bunks were big and not able to be removed from the rooms once built. Locals volunteered their time to enable this goal to be reached. Punga Lodge kept going until around the early 1990's. Spreydon Baptist church volunteers and some members of the local churches would keep the doors open over the summer holidays by staying in residence. It was open to backpackers, school groups, community groups. A large lawn to play on for children. Lots of pillows- perfect for wonderful pillow fights while on school camps! Who remembers that? Who remembers the big old wooden table soccer game in the lounge? New Year celebrations. Good times had by all.
When Punga Lodge finally closed its doors it was then sold to the Ministry of Education for a few short years. Then sold again to become Rongo Backpackers in around the mid-90s. Any nice memories to share? Please comment below.
