Newspaper Article 2002 – Hundreds at history book launch

Hundreds at history book launch

About 200 people crammed into the Sherenden Hall last night for the launch of a book about the area.

West to the Annie, Renata Kawepo’s Hawke’s Bay Legacy is a 400-page history of the area between the Tutaekuri and Ngaruroro rivers from Ohiti to the Gentle Annie hill at Kuripapango, west of Hastings.

Its 18 chapters cover everything from geological history, Maori settlement and pioneer pakeha settlers who established the eight huge original stations, to the social life, clubs and community organisations of the area.

It was written by descendants of those first settlers – names which include Lowry, Russell and Harper – who still farm in the area.

Hawke’s Bay historian Patrick Parsons wrote the chapters on pre-European history.

The book is the creation of the RD9 Historical Trust. Chairman John Russell said work began almost two years ago and it was a relief to get it finished.

About 250 copies of the book were presold and more than 150 sold last night. The book was printed by Central Hawke’s Bay Press in Waipukurau.

A review of West to the Annie will appear in Saturday’s edition of Hawke’s Bay Today.