Tinui Times

04/09/2026

A few shots from this evening's drinks, nibbles & catchup....

Photos / Judy Cameron

Please add some names

04/09/2026

The Tinui School 150th Celebration and Reunion is officially underway.
A few pic's taken by Judy from this afternoon's hall preparations......

04/09/2026

Great photo.

A bulldozer assisting a truck in relocating a building across farm paddocks to a new home at the Mount Bruce Pioneer Museum.

The building was previously a mechanical workshop at Wairarapa College, and thought to have been part of Featherston Military Training Camp before that.

Photo taken by Ken Garmonsway, and printed in the Wairarapa Times-Age on this day in 1990.

04/09/2026

CAN YOU SOLVE A MYSTERY ?

This is a photo of the youngest and oldest Tinui students at the time of 2001 Tinui School Reunion.

We know who the little boy is, but no-one knows the name of the oldest then Tinui alumnus cutting the cake?

If you know who it is, or think you know, let us know in the comments. She was probably born around 1910-20.

04/09/2026

TINUI SCHOOL REUNION, FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE

The much anticipated reunion is now underway, launched by the Friday night drinks and registration.

Tinui students were superb waiters, graciously providing delicious platters of beautiful cocktail food.

Group photos and various activities are promised for tomorrow. Stop by the hall and have a look at the excellent photo display and check out the school which had a significant makeover following the 2023 Cyclone Gabrielle flood. It looks brand new!

Food trucks will be on hand to cater for all tastes, then the Reunion dinner is on in the evening, accompanied by the Emerald Brothers.

Sunday morning features a short Reunion church service at 10 am in the re-located and upgraded Church of the Good Shepherd (now nextdoor to the hall). This will be followed by the unveiling of the memorial plaque to Tinui's Rehab farmers, between the hall and the church.

The next post has a few photos from Friday night. There will be many more to come from Judy Cameron.

04/09/2026

04/09/2026

A great accolade to one of the finest minds and leaders in farming today - Derek Daniell.

More celebrations on Founders' Day

On behalf of the Rathkeale Old Boys' Association, Mr Rusty Donworth presented the association's highest honour to Mr Derek Daniell. Mr Daniell is widely-known and respected as a leader in the New Zealand agricultural sector. He also holds the unique distinction of being a Foundation student of Rathkeale and one of the 62 ‘Originals’. His years at Rathkeale helped foster a lifelong passion for the outdoors and the many challenges and opportunities it presents.

Founders’ Day provided a fitting opportunity to celebrate Rathkeale’s history, recognise those who have contributed to its story and look ahead to the generations of boys who will continue to build on the strong foundations laid by those who have gone before.

04/09/2026

'REHAB' FARMERS' MEMORIAL TO BE UNVEILED ON SUNDAY

After the Tinui School Reunion church service, at 10 am, a memorial plaque to Tinui's rehab farmers is to be unveiled in the paddock between the Church of the Good Shepherd and Tinui War Memorial Hall.

The unveiling is likely to be between 10.30 and 10.45 am.

All welcome.

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The Rehab farmers were:

Aberfoyle
Jock and Adelaide Perry
William and Audrey Jennens

Awatea
Brian and Zoe McLennan
William and Doreen Savage
Robert and Elizabeth Dillon

Eastwood
Donald and Coie O'Brien
Pat and Muriel O'Brien
Arthur and Jean Astwood
Alan and Dorothy Lee
Ross and Beverley Seymour

Ratanui
Tony and Justine Lawrence
Leonard and Ngaire Isbister
Gerald and Dawn Stewart
Joseph and Eileen Bullen
James and Airini Pottinger
Wilfred and Joan Laws
Oswald and Gwendoline Percy

Tawhero
William and Evelyn Cromie
Daniel and Di Studholme
Denis and Kathleen Sheild

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After World War 2 was over the government was keen for veterans to have an opportunity to get onto the land.

Tinui was one of several Wairarapa districts where the government bought up large stations, then chopped them up into smaller blocks of around 600 - 1,200 acres.

Successful applicants had to pass various character and other tests to assure the government that they were suitable applicants before they could enter the ballot. There was a preference for married couples.

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With a long term Crown lease and government loan they had sufficient funds to cover farm development, housing and stock. Field officers monitored ongoing progress.

Transforming undeveloped hill country into productive farmland was a major undertaking. Extensive fencing was required before stock could be managed.

Farmers cleared scrub, formed tracks, planted trees, installed troughs and tanks, and built dams. They built sheds, woolsheds, and yards. This work continued throughout the 1950s and demanded years of labour and careful financial management.

In the early years, rehabilitation farm neighbours often shared equipment and facilities, and helped one another with crutching and shearing. They formed strong bonds that became central to community life.

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Nissen huts were a feature of these farms. Supplied as a kitset of curved galvanised iron panels, they could be quickly assembled with the assistance of neighbouring farmers.

The Nissen huts were a single room, prone to condensation dripping on cold nights and rain pounding noisily on the hut in wet weather, together with a complete lack of insulation.

It was often several years before rehab farmers were given a loan extension so they could graduate from a NIssen hut into a permanent weatherboard house.

In 1955 these farms were hooked up to the electricity network and shortly after phone connections were added.

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Photo / Paused in their work drilling holes in the large rock that forms the backbone of the plaque are Bill Maunsell, Steve ? and Ian Perry.

02/09/2026

A great video by Chris Percy of a stock truck making its way through the beautiful garden at Rahui.

Thanks, Chris.

01/09/2026

Chris Perry on attending Tinui School

"I went to Tinui School to play bull rush, study George Pottinger's notes and check out the Triangle and Lawrence girls.

The only thing I didn't like was being used as practice material by the dental nurse and looking through the grill at the Post Office at Mrs Sharpe. A very stern face.

Got my revenge though by redecorating the PO fence after a hard night of East Coast rugby celebrations at the pub. [Must have been confused about the way home to the Tinui Valley. Ed.]

All great memories, apologies for not making it to the reunion, still in Africa. Ian will stand in for all of us. 😅