The Ranfurly Veterans' Trust is based in Three Kings, Auckland. It offers both direct and indirect support services to veterans, serving personnel and their families/whanau.
For further information, go to the website <a href="http://www.ranfurly.org.nz/">www.ranfurly.org.nz.</a>
All welcome. &nbsp;Our meetings are open to non-members.

April PDHS Meeting - Speaker: &nbsp;Karena Sew Hoy - Ranfurly Veterans' Trust

Once upon a time, the town supply milk was two separate industries. Now it is just one – Fonterra.
All welcome. &nbsp;Our meetings are open to non-members.

May PDHS Meeting - Speaker: &nbsp;Tom Brownlee - ‘The Historical Town Supply Milk Industry’&nbsp;

&nbsp;All welcome. &nbsp;Our meetings are open to non-members.

June PDHS Meeting - Speaker: Cleone Campbell – ‘History &amp; Growth of the Auckland Botanical Gardens’

&nbsp;All welcome. &nbsp;Our meetings are open to non-members.&nbsp;

tram.jpg

July PDHS Meeting - Speaker: &nbsp;James Duncan - ‘Auckland Trams, Part 3’

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Thursday 27 August 2026 - AGM

For detailed information regarding PDHS Trips and Meetings please go to the Meetings &amp; Events page

News

The Papakura Sentinel is the newsletter for the Papakura &amp; District Historical Society and the Papakura Museum.

The Sentinel was first created by Kara Oosterman in 2011, and she remained its editor until issue 15 in

November 2014. Terry Carson edited issue 16 in April 2015 and then took Rob Finlay on as Co-Editor in the

following issue, 17, in June 2015. Terry stepped down as Editor at the end of 2020. Since 2015 it has been a

bi-monthly newsletter of between 11 and 17 pages. While it has provided news and information on events

for members, its main function is to publish local research and allow members to share their memories. It

has also showcased artefacts held by the Papakura Museum. Regular contributors have been Terry and

Edna Carson, Kara Oosterman, Rob Finlay, Alan Knowles (Curator) and Neville Williams, Wendy Deeming,

and we are grateful for the memories of Bridget Bayly, Errol Buchan, Jim Kelly (all deceased) and Maurice

Rice, and the contribution of others. This has enabled a great variety of subjects to be covered.

Its predecessor the Papakura Chronicle provided news and short features. It was edited by Ivan Wills, then

Justeen Taylor, 2006-2010, and Dr Michelle Anne Smith, Curator, 2010-2011.

In earlier years, the newsletters were mainly produced as hard copies and mailed out or distributed by

volunteer couriers. Today the great majority are received by email. Copies of both are held in the Papakura

Museum and are indexed. It can also be read in the major Auckland research libraries.

Feedback and contributions are welcomed.Contact the Editor, Rob Finlay - sentinel@papakuramuseum.org.nz

Papakura &amp; District Historical Society Inc

For any of the following, please contact <a href="mailto:pdhs@papakuramuseum.org.nz">pdhs@papakuramuseum.org.nz</a> (Attn. Rob Finlay).<ul><li class="ql-indent-1">Presentation or consultation - Outline for Local History for school staff.</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Presentations connected to Aotearoa New Zealand History Curriculum at the different curriculum levels.</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Presentations related to themes of Transport, different districts around Papakura, Great South Road, local environment, Kirikiri Valley (Papakura East).</li><li class="ql-indent-1">For Museum visits and handling collections, contact the museum curator at curator@papakuramuseum.org.nz.</li></ul>

Upcoming Events

We gather in the community meeting room in the Accent Point Building (opposite
 the Museum, next to Sir Edmund Hillary (Papakura) Library) on the fourth Thursday
 of each month (February to November) at 1pm. Each meeting features engaging guest
 speakers who bring history to life, and everyone is welcome to
 join. Afternoon Tea provided (gold coin donation).

Museum Talk- Colleen Brown- 2.jpg

Show and Tell was provided by Erwin de Raad who produced a pair of doll-sized clogs, and the following interestinginformation, which he has summarised for us:Clogs—wooden shoes, were once found throughout all of Europe. From around the year 1200 onwards, peoplestarted to protect their feet, where it was common to walk on bare feet before that age. So clogs are not unique tothe Netherlands. But they were very suitable for the Dutch landscape, full of swamps. Where rich city dwellers chosenice leather shoes, farmers in the Dutch countryside stuck to clogs. They are robust, safe, waterproof and, as anextra bonus, were cheaper, too. The European Union have even declared them official safety shoes! They are still thefavourite footwear for farmers and gardeners, although in this day and age there is a lively trade in richly decoratedclogs in various bright colours for tourists. The designs on these painted clogs reflect the area where they are from.Inside a wooden clog people wear a thin, black leather inner which also acts as a slipper for use in doors. Clogs aremade from blocks of willow or poplar wood; believe it or not, clogs are warm in winter and cool in summer. (As ayoung man, Erwin wore them when he dug potatoes for a farmer on an island in the north of the Netherlands. Hehad not worn the clogs he passed around.) Another interesting fact is that the clog dance was the forerunner of thetap dance.Published in The Papakura Sentinel – October-November edition

Nau mai, haere mai

Our Heritage: The Story of PDHS

Kia Ora, Welcome to Papakura District Historical Society

Welcome to Papakura &amp; District Historical Society Inc

Meetings &amp; Events

The Papakura Sentinel﻿

Monthly meetings (February to November)

Inspiring speakers at PDHS meetings

Monthly newsletter

Discounted entry fee to Papakura Museum talks

Exciting trips

The easiest way to become a member with us is to fill in the details in our online form below. If you are more comfortable working offline, there is also a PDF version below that you can print out and post to us directly. By completing this online form you consent to become a member of the Papakura &amp; District Historical Society Inc.

Membership with Papakura &amp; District Historical Society Inc

Lighthouse trip.jpg

The Papakura&nbsp;Sentinel&nbsp;is the newsletter for the Papakura and District Historical Society and the Papakura Museum.The Sentinel&nbsp;was first created by Kara Oosterman in 2011, and she remained its editor until issue 15 in November 2014. Terry Carson edited issue 16 in April 2015 and then took Rob Finlay on as Co-Editor in the following issue, 17, in June 2015. Terry stepped down as Editor at the end of 2020. Since 2015 it has been a bi-monthly newsletter of between 11 and 17 pages. While it has provided news and information on events for members, its main function is to publish local research and allow members to share their memories. &nbsp;It has also showcased artefacts held by the Papakura Museum. Regular contributors have been Terry and Edna Carson, Kara Oosterman, Rob Finlay, Alan Knowles (Curator) and Neville Johnston, Wendy Deeming, and we are grateful for the memories of Bridget Bayly, Errol Buchan, Jim Kelly (all deceased) and Maurice Rice, and the contribution of others. This has enabled a great variety of subjects to be covered.Its predecessor the&nbsp;Papakura Chronicle&nbsp;provided news and short features. It was edited by Ivan Wills, then Justeen Taylor, 2006-2010, and Dr Michelle Anne Smith, Curator, 2010-2011.In earlier years, the newsletters were mainly produced as hard copies and mailed out or distributed by volunteer couriers. Today the great majority are received by email. Copies of both are held in the Papakura Museum and are indexed. It can also be read in the major Auckland research libraries.Feedback and contributions are welcomed.

SENTINEL ISSUES

The Papakura Sentinel is the newsletter for the Papakura and District Historical Society and the PapakuraMuseum.The Sentinel was first created by Kara Oosterman in 2011, and she remained its editor until issue 15 inNovember 2014. Terry Carson edited issue 16 in April 2015 and then took Rob Finlay on as Co-Editor in thefollowing issue, 17, in June 2015. Terry stepped down as Editor at the end of 2020. Since 2015 it has been abi-monthly newsletter of between 11 and 17 pages. While it has provided news and information on eventsfor members, its main function is to publish local research and allow members to share their memories.&nbsp;Ithas also showcased artefacts held by the Papakura Museum. Regular contributors have been Terry andEdna Carson, Kara Oosterman, Rob Finlay, Alan Knowles (Curator) and Neville Johnston, Wendy Deeming,and we are grateful for the memories of Bridget Bayly, Errol Buchan, Jim Kelly (all deceased) and MauriceRice, and the contribution of others. This has enabled a great variety of subjects to be covered.Its predecessor the Papakura Chronicle provided news and short features. It was edited by Ivan Wills, thenJusteen Taylor, 2006-2010, and Dr Michelle Anne Smith, Curator, 2010-2011.In earlier years, the newsletters were mainly produced as hard copies and mailed out or distributed byvolunteer couriers. Today the great majority are received by email. Copies of both are held in the PapakuraMuseum and are indexed. It can also be read in the major Auckland research libraries.Feedback and contributions are welcomed.

<a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2081%202026%20February%20-%20March.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 81 2026 February - March.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2080%202025%20December-%20January.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 80 2025 December- January.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2079%202025%20October%20-%20November.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 79 2025 October - November.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2078%202025%20August%20-%20September.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 78 2025 August - September.pdf</a><a href="https://papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2077%202025%20June%20-%20July.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 77 2025 June - July.pdf</a><a href="https://papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2076%202025%20April%20-%20May.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 76 2025 April - May.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2075%202025%20February%20-%20March.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 75 2025 February - March.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2074%202024%20December%20-%20January.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 74 2024 December - January.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2073%202024%20October%20-%20November..pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 73 2024 October - November.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2072%202024%20August%20-%20September.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 72 2024 August - September.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2071%202024%20%20June%20-%20July.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 71 2024 June - July.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2070%202024%20April%20-%20May.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 70 2024 April - May.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2069%202024%20Febuary%20-%20March.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 69 2024 February - March.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2068%202023%20December%20-%20January.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 68 2023 December - January.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2067%202023%20October%20-%20November.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 67 2023 October - November.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Sentinel%202023%20AugSep66.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 66 2023 August - September.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Sentinel%202023%20JuneJuly65.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 65 2023 June - July.pdf</a><a href="https://papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Sentinel%202023%20AprMay64.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 64 2023 April - May.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2063%202023%20Feb-Mar.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 63 2023 February - March.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2062%202022%20Dec-Jan.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 62 2022 December - January.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2061%202022%20Oct-Nov.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 61 2022 October - November.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2060%202022%20Aug-Sep.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 60 2022 August - September.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Jun%20-%20Jul%20Sentinel%202022%20(Edition%2059).pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 59 2022 June - July.pdf</a><a href="https://papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Issue%2058%202022%20Apr-May.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 58 2022 April - May.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Feb-Mar%20Sentinel%202022%20(Edition%2057).pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 57 2022 February - March.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Sentinel%202021%20Dec%20Jan%20(Edition%2056).pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 56 2021 December - January.pdf</a><a href="https://papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Sentinel%202021%20Oct-%20Nov%20(Edition%2055).pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 55 2021 October - November.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Aug%20-%20Sep%20Sentinel%202021.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 54 2021 August - September.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Sentinel%202021%20June%2053.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 53 2021 June - July.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Sentinel%202021%20April%2052.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 52 2021 April - May.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Sentinel%202021%20Feb%2051.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 51 2021 February - March.pdf</a><a href="https://www.papakuramuseum.org.nz/site/file/user/5/uploads/Sentinel%202020%20December%2050.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Issue 50 2020 December - January.pdf</a>

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