- Countdown to 175th anniversary celebration
The countdown is now down to 59 days until we celebrate the 175th anniversary of the settlers landing at Howick Beach with a picnic.
Remember to look out for the 175 bunting going up around Howick Villlage.
And as part of the Howick 175 events and celebrations, we have asked Howick/Pakuranga residents to share some of their memories, Today we hear from Kay Reid
We moved to Howick in early 1975 which was a lovely little village at that time. If we visited Clem’s sister in Otahuhu, coming home was like driving through the country.
We did our grocery shopping at the Big S and quite often went upstairs to the coffee lounge. Our children Jason and Natalie went to Shelly Park Primary School. As it wasn’t built when Jason started school, he went to Cockle Bay Primary.
They had set up a classroom for starting age school children who would be going to Shelly Park. Clem was chairman of the Shelly Park school committee for many years (I think till Natalie had almost finished there).
I worked in Howick for over 33 years, first with Bennett and Bain and then Parelli Fashions. After that I owned Taking Shape with Clem for over 20 years.
I have watched the changes in Howick over the years, not always for the best as we lost that village feeling but what a lovely place to raise a family.
People were so friendly and helpful. Those were the days – they watched out for your children as well.
I remember the mall being built and Foodtown going in downstairs. Chris, the Howick Village Jeweller, being downstairs in the mall and later moving to the main street.
We also had Christine’s Lingerie down the bottom of the main street and many years later Judy opened Lily Whyte Lingerie; absolutely gorgeous shop. I was working for Parelli next door at the time.