On the 28th of March 2024, Save Our River Trust and Horowhenua Pop-Up Eats combined forces to host a community Easter Egg Hunt with the support of Foxton New World and Foxton Barber and Beauty. Over five hundred people attended, and hundreds of children searched for the hidden rabbits at the Te Awahou Riverside Cultural Park.

Local photographer Jacob Brookie took this photograph of the Easter Bunny awarding chocolate treats at Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom. Save Our River Trust volunteer Pou is taking a photograph and Horowhenua District Council staff member Grayson is handing out chocolate eggs behind the table.

Jacob used a 1958 Mamiyaflex C2 to take this photograph, part of a series about Foxton's volunteers made with vintage cameras. Jacob climbed the stairs to Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom's overhead walkway to take this picture. When he did, the event was almost over and the table, once full of treats with more waiting to be placed, is almost empty.

POROUTAWHAO SENIORS1933 

Back: …….., George Tamihana, Waaka Hapeta, Treanor Hartley, Hilla Winiata, Tama Paurini, …….., Audrey Speirs, ? Edna Doney, Reg Lethbridge, Colin Tait, Ray Scott.

Middle: Rita Kiriona, Wiki Hapeta, …….., Huri Hartley, Rangi Hirini, May Tamihana, Maire Tait, Kathleen Webb, Rae Tait, Vena Aldrich.

Front: Moses Hartley, Timi Hirini, Whi Whi Winiata, Ernie Lethbridge, Peter Blaremburg, Neville Webb, Brian Kilsby, Ernest Sloan, Ted Hagley. 

Pencilled on back - Old Levin Library From the left: Mrs Goldsmith, ...?... , ...?... , Mrs Walker, Bert Phillips, Mrs Clark, ...?... , ...?...

Group seated outside old Levin Library

From the left: Mrs Goldsmith, Mrs McDonald, Mrs Roe, Miss Bowen (previously identified as Mrs Walker), Bert Phillips, Mrs Clark, ...?... , ...?...

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

My Nana, age 16.

Photo re: National Skating Championship Winner

Penciled on back - Levin Wanderers under 18 grade, 1969 (winners of the Sisson Cup). Back row, T. Davey, P. Rewita, P. Karitiana, S. Walker, D. King, D. Wilkinson, M. Kingi, R. Peachy, B. Paul. Front row: B. Kildey (manager), B. McGregor, P. Warren, R. Ngahona, V. Millard (coach). Sat. Nov. 15, 1969.

Written on back with black ballpoint pen – Sport Today

Written on back with red ballpoint pen – Wanderers Rugby Team

Stamped on back with black ink - Horowhenua Historical Society. Acc. No. 137 Date.

Levin Wanderers under 18 grade, 1969 (winners of the Sisson Cup) 1 B&W photo print

Formal group photo. Left to Right - Back Row: T. Davey, P. Rewita, P. Karitiana, S. Walker. Centre Row: D. King, D. Wilkinson, M. Kingi, R. Peachy, B. Paul. Front Row: B. Kildey (manager), B. McGregor, P. Warren (holding Sisson Cup), R. Ngahona, V. Millard (coach).

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Police awarding cycling trophy to Foxton Schhol pupil. In photograph from left to right:- Evan Jennings, Unknown, Dave Merrifield, Pat McGrath (school principal).

Black and white photograph.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Black and white photograph.

Larry Sykes, a magician who resided at Foxton Beach 1980-90s.

Black and white photograph.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Black and white photograph.

Joy Cowley, well known author particularily of children’s books, who used to live in Foxton.

Black and white photograph.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

This photograph shows a decorated truck and 13 women, possibly from Shannon, dressed in the clothing from 1840 through to 1940.

Unfortunately we do not have names for the people - so if you think you know them, please let Kete Horowhenua know. Thank you!

Photo provided by Kathleen Roach.

Names identified so far:

Back Row: _____, [1900] poss. Mrs C. Young_, _____, _____

Middle Row: [1901]_____,[1940]_June Roberts_?_, [date obscured], poss. Mrs Murray_, [18??]_____

Front Row: [1913]_Sybil Roach____, [1840]_____, [1880]_Mrs Enoch Chester_, [1895_____

Ship

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Family group

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Man on a rope ladder

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Foxton flax mill

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Foxton flax mill

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Printed on front of mounting board, top right, with black ink: “P 74”

Penciled on back: “ATL [Alexander Turnbull Library] Coach on the beach road.”

Stamped on back with black ink: “Horowhenua Historical Society. “

Three unidentified women sitting atop a Cobb and Co stagecoach crossing a river, on the beach ‘road’. The coach is drawn by four horses and driven by a male driver. The three women share two parasoles to protect them from the sun. A boy wearing a cloth cap and another person are barely visible inside the coach.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted – damaged – surface removed lower left hand corner.

See also 2000.103.0001 (duplicate, includes negative)

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

2 copies

Rope works at Foxton (“Jam factory”) in Johnston Street/Peter Robinson stripper keeper/horse and cart loaded withfibre/ Flax leak stacked and fibre on rails/Seaview gardens behind?

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Accomodation for workers at Whitinui flax mill in 1911/

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Must be acknowledged to the Alexander Turnbull Library . Alexander Turnbull Library, Reference No. 19864 1/2

The flour mill which was situated on the banks of the Waiothu Stream at Otaki. This mill was built by T. Dodds & Son about 1848-50.

1 B&W photo print copy

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscription on reverse reads: “Probably Coley’s Mill”

Flaxmill at Foxton probably Coleys. In this photograph a group of men are stacking fibre onto a cart.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Inscription printed on front of photograph reads: “Poplar Mill.”

Inscriptions on reverse read: “Tramming for Poplar Mill.” “Geo Rankin on Tram.” “Fred Allerby on tram.” “About 1919.” “Donated by Mr Fred Allerby of Rongotea 1969. (Copy negative held by I R Matheson.”

Carting flax at Poplar mill c1919. Two horses are pulling wagons loaded with cut flax along a tramway. The two men in the photograph are Fred Allerby and Geo Rankin.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Written on back with black ballpoint pen - Stan Graems car.

Stamped on back with red ink - Printed … G.F. FRAMJEE, Palmerston North

Stan Graham’s car (Stan shown driving ?), c.1930’s 1 B&W photo print

Shadows indicate photo taken very early in morning or late in afternoon.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on bottom of photo with purple ink - At Brown’s Gate

Members of Brown family and others at Brown’s gate, early 1930’s (?) 1 B&W photo print

Back Row (L – R): woman (unidentified), Mrs Sarah Brown (wearing hat), Jeanne Brown, Gwen Graham (nee Brown). Centre: Gordon Mitchell. Front Row (L – R): Alistair Brown, girl (unidentified).

Appears to have been cut from a photo album.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Visit of William Ferguson Massey to Levin to open the War Memorial Gate.

Shows Massey (centre left) standing in a group of people outside the gate, as others walk under it.

Through the arch of the gate, a flag reading "HUIA" is visible.

From National Library. ID: 1/4-023427-G

The Weraroa Memorial Gates in Levin. These were opened by the Prime Minister William Massey on Wednesday 21 March, 1923 at 11.30am.

From: http://archivescentral.org.nz/exhibitions/topics/show/120926-ww1-councils-do-their-bit-remembering-the-dead

Ernie & Dorothy Cresswell on Molly the Shetland Pony.

c. 1945

Back Row: Mavis Mudgway, Ernie Gates, June Buchanan, Lesley Wong Shee

Middle Row: Alan Armstrong, Mary Potter, Phillip Meagher, Judith Todd, Margaret Miller;

Front Row: Mr Ian Ramsden, Heather Read,John Norton, Gillian Nyberg, Patricia Rolfe, Mr George Ball

Ernie Gates with Mother (Iris) & father (Norman)

Ernie, David, Norman (father) Dawne Gates & Ivan Lawton, who was from the USA 7 was based at Kimberley Air Force Base in Levin, had a delayed action Camera which was used for this Picture.

Ernie with his Grandfather W F Cresswell & Aunt Dorothy Cresswell. The cottage, as was all of Waitarere until late 1939, had no Electricity or Telephone.

Inscription on reverse of mounted photograph reads: “Lent by Mrs Kirkcaldie. nee Marjorie Kebbel daughter of John Kebbell. Now given. Cook’s Family Hotel now known as the Foxton but of course re-built.”

Foxton Family Hotel, formerly the home of Thomas U Cook, in Gray Street, prior to 1892 when the building was demolished and a new hotel of the same name was opened on the present site in Main Street.

Two original photographs, one of which is mounted, and two copies

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”