Anaru Mepham of Mau Whenua talks about the history and importance of Shelly Bay.
OPINION: In the early 1900s, citizens worked against property developers to secure ownership of Days Bay, a much-loved public space ever since.
A syndicate of businessmen bought land there in 1905, and, within a month, advertised an auction of 66 building sites. This caused a major public protest. Harold Beauchamp, a Board member of the Bank of New Zealand and father of Katherine Mansfield, appealed to the government to proclaim it a National Park "for all time"; but the auction went ahead.
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Just after 1900, Harold Beauchamp, father of Katherine Mansfield, tried to stop the sale of land for private homes at Days Bay.