Motueka's history recorded along Decks Reserve path

March 16th, 2013
[by David Armstrong]

Eileen Stewart kneels beside one of the plaques, and holding the information booklet "Along the Path"

A series of 55 plaques summarising key aspects of Motueka's history is being installed along the path around Decks Reserve, giving visitors and locals a glimpse into what made our town what it is.

The project to research, design and install the plaques is a history lesson in itself, with the Council-inspired project taking eight years to bring to fruition.

But pleasing to note is the way that several organisations collaborated to make what is a special addition to Motueka and a unique feature among New Zealand's small towns.

The main driver of the project, passionate town historian Eileen Stewart, is very happy that it has all come about at long last.

In the foreword to the booklet that is being published to complement the information on the plaques, community board chairman David Ogilvie and TDC Mayor Richard Kempthorne praise Eileen Special "for her determined and tireless efforts in negotiating the project through sundry obstacles which seemed at times to threaten the project's existence".

In 2005 committee headed by Glenn Thorn (TDC's Reserves Officer) with representatives from the Motueka Community Board, Motueka Arts Council, Iwi and the Motueka and District Historical Association met to discuss the idea of an historical footpath in Decks Reserve.

They decided to use plaques of engraved marble to record events that were of particular significance to the people, both Maori and European, of the Motueka district, such as the area's first establishments.

In some cases exceptions were made. For example, the first hotels had a very short existence while the Hotel Motueka is still flourishing.

The second aim was to record events which affected the majority of Motueka's people, which meant special treatment were given to the volunteer organisations.

Shipping is touched on only lightly. Although it was a vital component in Motueka's history, much of this is already recorded on the information panels by the old wharf at Motueka Quay.

As only a limited amount of information could be given on the plaques, it was decided that a booklet should be written to expand this information. The booklet, titled "Along the Path", does not pretend to cover Motueka's history.

"It is only the froth on coffee, but perhaps in the future the pathway can be extended and the history written in a more comprehensive form," says Eileen.

She says she is pleased that she has been able to put some of the historical information which is available into a form which is readily available to many people. "I have all the records, and it has to go somewhere," she says.

The addition of the plaques along the side of the footpath brings a new and innovative feature to the walkway which links the amenities within the Decks Reserve such as the picnic area, i-SITE and the playground.

The committee has wisely chosen to place each plaque within an identical inlaid stone surround, to make the sequence seem more like a progression through the pages of a book.

At the time of writing, 36 of the plaques have been installed with 19 more to come. The booklet will be launched in April and will be for sale for $20 initially at i-SITE and the museum, with proceeds going to the Historical Association which did such grand work in building the potted history.

The booklet itself provides an excellent introduction with some detail of many aspects of the history of Motueka and is worth the purchase as a stand-alone work.

In the foreword, particular thanks were given to Beryl Wilkes and Glenn Thorn and the Council's Community Services Department, the Motueka and District Historical Association for the use of their archives, local Iwi and Hilary Mitchell for Maori history research, and the Motueka Arts Council and Liz Hoffman for the artistic impressions used on some of the plaques.

The project was funded by Tasman District Council, with $500 coming from the Motueka Community Board. Eileen's next major project is the preservation and restoration of the old wharf at Motueka Quay, and she is already lobbying for work on that.

Part of the walkway along the western side of Decks Reserve

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