- By Rev Dr Richard Waugh
It is exciting to begin the final countdown to our fast-approaching Howick & Districts 175 anniversary events.
It was in November 1847 that the first Fencible families came ashore and so this November we remember that arrival after a direct and arduous four-month voyage.
What a time at sea they had and what a brave new life they were beginning; very different to what they had known in England and Ireland. All of us with migrant family backgrounds can relate to such new beginnings.
Certainly, the Fencible heritage we have in east Auckland gives us an especially rich and interesting settler history to acknowledge. It is distinctive compared to all other parts of the Tāmaki Makaurau region, as Howick was the largest Fencible settlement.
We are fortunate indeed to have the good work of the Howick Historical Society these past 60 years to foster such unique history and the ongoing work of the Howick Historical Village, Auckland’s living museum of the 19th Century period.
I commend and thank all our many volunteer teams and 175 ambassadors who are working so diligently on so many community events, and with the support of the Howick Local Board and numerous local organisations and businesses.
Please do visit our Howick 175 website for many more resources and event calendar: www.howick175.co.nz.
- Rev Dr Richard Waugh
Chairman of Howick & Districts 175th Anniversary Celebrations 1847 to 2022 Steering Committee
