Historic Taupō church enjoys new life
5 May, 2021 05:00 PM
5 minutes to read
Ross Fletcher (left), the grandson of the Rev H.J. Fletcher, with Matthew Laity of Northlit Develoments outside the historic church, which is now being restored.
Ross Fletcher (left), the grandson of the Rev H.J. Fletcher, with Matthew Laity of Northlit Develoments outside the historic church, which is now being restored.
Laurilee McMichael is editor of the Taupo & Turangi Weekenderlaurilee.mcmichael@nzme.co.nzTaupoWeekender
He was a man of strength and warmth, hard-working, dedicated to the cause, fluent in te reo and determined to improve life for Māori living in the Taupō district.
SUPPLIED
Eastwoodhill in Ngatapa, is the brainchild of William Douglas Cook. Blinded in his right eye and missing the end of a finger, William Douglas Cook recuperated in England, where he fell in love with the autumnal colours of Northern Hemisphere trees. On his return to his ballot farm, 35 kilometres inland from Gisborne, he began his life’s mission, to plant 135 hectares of trees. Eastwoodhill now holds about 15,000 trees, including 103 threatened species.
SUPPLIED
Douglas Cook s property in 1911 after early plantings. It is the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees, south of the equator and with 25 kilometres of walking tracks, it’s well worth a walk in the park.