Taranaki Pioneer Village Inc.

05/09/2026

03/09/2026

Friday Feature Building - McAllister's Photography Studio - Part 2 - James McAllister lived in Mountain Road and had his photographic studio on Broadway in Stratford from 1896 to 1943. He was born in Helensborough, Scotland and came to New Zealand at the age of six with his parents. He was educated in Dunedin, which is where he learned photography. He worked in Christchurch, then Wellington and eventually moved to Hawera before coming to Stratford where he was in business for 45 years. Following his retirement it was taken over by Arnold Kilmister followed by Kieran Best. We are very grateful to Keiran Best who donated the historical photography equipment from McAllister's studio we have on display at the village.

The McAllister Collection of photographs and negatives is held at the Alexander Turnbull Library.

28/08/2026

Friday Feature Building - McAllister's Photography Studio - Part 1 - This building came from Dawsons Falls (Mt. Taranaki). It was built about 1908 and was known as "Top Cottage". It was given to the Taranaki Pioneer Village by the Department of Lands and Survey and arrived at the village in pieces on 19 July 1987.

In 2003 a member of the public advised that this was the "Middle Cottage" and probably built in 1898.

According to the Department of Conservation and Stratford District Council, a hostel (now the lodge at Dawsons Falls) was establised in 1896. There were three cottages, Camp house, Middle Cottage and Top Cottage. The Top Cottage was built in 1908 as cheap accommodation for trampers and family groups. It consisted of two bunkrooms, eight bunks each (reduced later to six), open fire and kitchen. Later a stove, hot water cylinder and kitchen sink were added. One end of the verandah was enclosed to provide a shower and a hand basin.

In 1977 labour, donations of money and materials to upgrade and paint the cottage came from the then South Committee, Lions Club of Kaponga and Eltham Scout and Guide groups and individuals.

Recently our hard working team of volunteers did some much needed gardening maintenance around the building.

Watch this space for Part 2 and find out the story behind what's inside this building.

21/08/2026

Friday Feature Building - Kaponga Jail - In 1914 police had budgetted 750 pounds for a Police Station at Kaponga. In 1915 they eventually settled on a tender from A. B. Burrell, contractor from Hawera in the sum of 1290 pounds, for a residence, stable and lock-up to be ready for occupation on 1 November 1915.

The first officer posted to the Kaponga Police Station was Thomas Joseph Liston, who moved from Whanganui to Kaponga. He had previously been stationed in Taranaki at Te Wera from 1911 to 1913. Most of his work at Kaponga was fairly routine, involving dealing with warrants issued by various Courts for Kaponga residents. Many warrants were for failing to pay fines or maintenance as ordered. Liston also served on duty at the races and shows and served summonses, collecting agricultural statistics.

In January 1916, it seems that a popular occupation had been to throw explosives into streams to kill trout. Liston investigated at least three people alleged to have attempted the same in that month.

Liston resigned from the Police in 1921, aged 39.

Probably the best remembered of Kaponga's Police was Constable John O'Donoghue who, in August 1923 settled into a 28.5 year occupation of the Kaponga Police Station.

O'Donoghue was known as a man with a violent temper when provoked, but with a kind heart for those with problems. The Kaponga Centennial booklet recorded that 'Jack' O'Donoghue, in the manner of many old-style police, dished out his own form of justice for petty offending, scaring young people enough to keep them on the straight and anrrow after that. The people of Kaponga say that Constable O'Donoghue used to keep his fighting skills sharp with regular sparring practice against Dr Hocken (Dr Thomas Morland Hocken (1836–1910)). O'Donoghue even had a limerick about him published in the Kapong Courier in 1937.

"There was a young man of Kaponga,
With drink he went stronger and stronger.
Till Jack ran him in,
Which cost him much tin,
And now he don't drink any longer"

O' Donoghue was also known for onlly wearing his uniform when he had to - ie. when he was being visited by his superiors.

The residents of Kaponga turned out in force to farewell him at the town hall on his retirement in April 1952. As well as receiving gifts and a cheque from the community, O'Donoghue was made a life member of the Kapongo Volunteer Fire Brigade and received a Swiss cuckoo clock from the Swiss residents. Speeches and prsentations were also made by reprentatives of the rugby, cricket, hockey and bowling cluband the local authority. O'Donoghue retired to New Plymouth.

The Kaponga Jail building was moved to the Taranaki Pioneer Village on 15 July 1979.

17/08/2026

Our AGM will be held on Sunday 6 September 2026 at 2pm in our village courthouse. Please RSVP by Friday 31 August 2026 to [email protected]. Bring along friends. family, neigbours or anyone who is interested in becoming involvedat the village.

17/08/2026

Thank you so much to the team from Hunger Contracting for chipping a big pile of scrub and brush at the Village recently (free of charge). Garden maintenance is a never ending job at the Village. Hunger Contracting's time and efforts are greatly appreciated!

13/08/2026

Friday Feature Building - Colonial Cottage/Goodwin House - This cottage was originally part of Goodwin House, 122 Hamlet Street, Stratford. It was built around 1890 - 1900. Paul Allan Eichler lived there in the 1940s (deceased 1943), had three children Ray, Eunice & Ruth. Elizabeth Hart, a descendant of Eichler lived in the property possibly until the 70s. It was moved to the Taranaki Pioneer Village on 15 October 1984.

07/08/2026

Friday feature building - Original Homestead - Mr J Hale built this old house in 1910 at a cost of £531.00. It was first owned by Mr Bertram George Aiken Harkness, who moved into it with his wife and four children on 13 September 1910. Mr Harkness purchased the property from E. C. Morrison who owned the land for a short time in 1910.

Other previous owners of the property and the date of taking ownership were:
24.08.1910 Ellen Caroline Morrison
17.12.1910 Bertram George Aiken Harkness
09.07.1953 Alexander Edward Graham
13.07.1967 George Wilfred and Elise May Dinnan (Butcher by trade)
25.03.1976 Ngaere Gardens Pioneer Village Society Incorporated

Mr Bert Harkness was born in Whanganui in 1872 and educated in Hawera. He was employed by S Luke and Co. Ltd in Wellington for 6 years before moving to Stratford. In 1899 he married a daughter of Mr F Hawkins, of Makara, Wellington. He established an engineer and cycle agency in Juliet Street, Stratford in 1896 which later became Union Foundries. In the early 1920s there was a family dispute and Mr Harkness moved with his family to New Plymouth.

David Harkness, the youngest of their family, lived in New Plymouth. He was born in the homestead on 4 April 1920 and he lived in the homestead for 2 years. He passed away on 10 September 2014 at the age of 94.

Tenants in the homestead included Henry Vosseler Senior who managed the Union Foundries.

The kauri bath in this building is believed to be the only one in New Zealand and is in its original condition.

This is the only building original to the site of the Taranaki Pioneer Village.

02/08/2026

Dahlia Tubers (Bulbs) - Free to a keen gardener! - email us at [email protected] to arrange collection. Colour unknown (likely pink) Image is for attention only. Not actual flowering tubers.

31/07/2026

Friday Feature Building - Mangatoki Church
The Mangatoki Union Church was built in 1904 for all the residents of the district by Mr Blackhall of Eltham. The last church service was held in Mangatoki in 1988 before the building was moved in two sections to the Pioneer Village. For many years it has been maintained by the Mangatoki Womens Institute. The Mangatoki Church can be hired as a wedding venue. Please contact us if you are interested in having your wedding in the Mangatoki Church.