Newspaper Article 2017 – Tomoana name returns to showgrounds

Tomoana name returns to showgrounds

By Victoria white
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The relationship, which shaped much of Hastings’ history is to be recognised with the official return of the Tomoana name to Hawke’s Bay Showgrounds.

The showgrounds have been home to the Hawke’s Bay A&P Society since 1911, however the land’s history extends much further back and links the Tomoana and Nelson families.

This history will be acknowledged by the grounds’ reinstated title of Showgrounds Hawke’s Bay Tomoana.

When the A&P society held its first show at this site in 1925 it was called the Tomoana Showgrounds, but somewhere along the way – thought to be when the Tomoana freezing works closed – the name slipped from common use.

Now, it is hoped reinstating the name will reconnect the community with an important part of the region’s heritage.

Hawke’s Bay A&P Society board president Richard Chambers said the desire to reclaim the Tomoana name came from wanting to connect the rural and urban communities, including the neighbouring Waipatu Marae, of which the Tomoana family was a big part.

Hawke’s Bay A&P Society general manager Brent Linn said their desire was to see the showgrounds as a community asset, which reflected and worked for those who used it.

“Hence the opening of the front gates, to see people using the showgrounds as they all have a deep association with it,” he said.

The offer to change the name has been welcomed by the Tomoana whanau – whose ancestor Henare Tomoana once owned 20,000 acres of the Heretaunga land.

His great-grandson, Ngahiwi Tomoana, said the A&P society’s surprise offer had “blown us away”.

Henare and William Nelson had been like-minded, and had a shared vision for education, employment, and entrepreneurship which benefited the whanau of Heretaunga Marae and the wider community.

The two men had been peers, Mr Tomoana said, and had accomplished many things even when faced with adversity.

“It was a special moment in history that is put into the current context,” he said.

Returning the name would bring provenance to the region, while allowing the whanau and Ngati Kahungunu to add “a bit of cultural texture to everything that happens there”.

“We’ve always been supportive but we didn’t see how we could really get involved. Getting the name changed like that we’re suddenly totally involved, we’ll put a cultural texture to the whole thing.”

The news was also well received by William Nelson’s great-granddaughter, Margaret Walmsley.

She was pleased her ancestor’s association with the name through the Tomoana Freezing Works would be restored in the title of the showgrounds.

A powhiri at Waipatu Marae to formally acknowledge the reclaimed name is due to be held on Friday.

It would take time to officially implement the name change through branding and signage.

But “in our thinking and our actions … from the day after acceptance the name association will be there”, Mr Linn said yesterday.

Photo caption – HISTORY: Ngahiwi Tomoana (left), and his whanau welcome the offer from the Hawke’s Bay A&P Society’s board, represented by Dave Nelson (middle) and Richard Chambers, to restore the Tomoana name to the showgrounds.   PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR