Historic pathway blessed in moving ceremony

June 1st, 2013
[by David Armstrong]

An eight-year long project for Decks Reserve came to fruition yesterday with the official ribbon-cutting of the pathway displaying 55 plaques that tell the history of Motueka.

The vision for the historic footpath began in 2005 when Glenn Thorn, the Council's Reserves officer, formed a committee with representatives of the Motueka Community Board, the Motueka Arts Council, iwi and the Motueka Historical Association.

The work was driven largely by the Historical Association's stalwart Eileen Stewart, and it has included a book filling out details about each of the plaques. (See our earlier story here.) The book, 'Along the Path', is now available at stationers in town for $20, which will go to the Historical Association.

The simple ceremony yesterday was conducted by Kaumatua Andy Joseph, with a reading from David Ogilvie and a short speech by Mayor Richard Kempthorne (see photo, right). About 60 people, mainly of the older generation, were present, plus the Whanau Class of Parklands School. The class sang a lovely hymn.

Richard said the vision of the pathway plaques had been embraced enthusiastically by many people, and he thanked all the community groups for their dedicated support.

"That dedication of all involved through hours of careful research is now rewarded and is reflected in the high quality of the engraved marble plaques, the combination of considerable planning and detailed preparation," he said.

"This is a visible link with Motueka's past and it adds a unique and long-lasting dimension to this amenity's attractiveness and the appeal of Decks Reserve.

Referring to the first of the 55 plaques, he quoted from it: 'The people's history is the foundation of the future'. "That's a really good thing for us to remember. Here we have a lot of plaques and a huge amount of history."

Turning to the whanau class, he made the connection between the older people in the audience and the next generation. "I'm going to ask all of you young people and all of your friends to take ownership of this place, because this place here - the whole town also, but particularly here - is for everybody.

"So it is for you to say, this is our place and we want to look after it. And any time you see us oldies not looking after it you can remind us we need to."

Appropriately, Eileen Stewart was asked to cut the ribbon, and then Andy led the assembled people to slowly walk the path, blessing each plaque along the way. (Photo at top of story.)

Eileen cuts the ribbon. Glenn Thorn is on the right.

The Whanau Class sing their hymn.

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