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Reids Store, Maruia. early 1980s.
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DescriptionSteven Brown
I always bought my petrol of Bill and Mrs Reid.
I was a frequent traveller on the Christchurch Nelson road in the mid 1980’s passing Reid’s Store on every occasion.
Mr Reid always served petrol regardless of the hour of day.
I could travel from Hoon Hay a south west suburb in Christchurch with a full tank of petrol towing the 15m2 Rothmans Special Events Centre to Bill Reid’s bowser at Maruia which got me to Nelson.
I would fill up again on my home journey to Christchurch.
In the mid 1980’s Rothmans did a lot of local sponsorships in and around the Top of the South Island by providing free of charge their “Special Events Centre Caravan”
Hence my very regular trips.
The Nelson Area of the New Zealand Horse Society were one group who benefited.
Brenda who’s {surname escapes me} was the Secretary.
Mrs Dena & Mr Stan Blick were active members of the Nelson Area of the New Zealand Horse Society.
They regularly offered their property in 88 Valley in Wakefield to host local national & international horse events & competitions.
Reply1dEditedDate of Photoearly 1980sMap[1] ContributorBelle White
I always bought my petrol of Bill and Mrs Reid.
I was a frequent traveller on the Christchurch Nelson road in the mid 1980’s passing Reid’s Store on every occasion.
Mr Reid always served petrol regardless of the hour of day.
I could travel from Hoon Hay a south west suburb in Christchurch with a full tank of petrol towing the 15m2 Rothmans Special Events Centre to Bill Reid’s bowser at Maruia which got me to Nelson.
I would fill up again on my home journey to Christchurch.
In the mid 1980’s Rothmans did a lot of local sponsorships in and around the Top of the South Island by providing free of charge their “Special Events Centre Caravan”
Hence my very regular trips.
The Nelson Area of the New Zealand Horse Society were one group who benefited.
Brenda who’s {surname escapes me} was the Secretary.
Mrs Dena & Mr Stan Blick were active members of the Nelson Area of the New Zealand Horse Society.
They regularly offered their property in 88 Valley in Wakefield to host local national & international horse events & competitions.
Reply1dEditedDate of Photoearly 1980sMap[1] ContributorBelle White
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Location (city or town)MaruiaOrganisation (eg business)Reids Store
Category Information
Category TagshopOld buildings
From Facebook
Date Created14th August 2018CommentsTrevor Grant
I remember a couple owned it round 1990 they loved the place but they done up they tryed so hard to stay but they couldn't get citizenship they even went on tv to stay
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Trevor Grant https://www.nzherald.co.nz/.../5FV6X6IAUAN42CW3Y2XRLEVARA/
NZ's door not fully closed on deportees - NZ Herald
NZHERALD.CO.NZ
NZ's door not fully closed on deportees - NZ Herald
NZ's door not fully closed on deportees - NZ Herald
Jim Wilson
Trevor Grant I have a memory of that.
Sharon Arohanui Marsh
Gran & Grandad Reid
Marlene Coleman
Sharon Arohanui Marsh small world. My great grandparents were the Lester's who built the store & sold it to your grandparents.
Dorothy Wills
Remember it well but didn’t notice it looking so dilapidated
Beryl Heperi
Spent most of our holidays there as children.Gran was a fantastic cook and we had great fun.
Beryl Heperi
It really is looking a bit different now!!
John Lester
Bill and Alice Lester decided to build a tea-room and a home in 1926-27. This was after the "Great Flood"of 1926 wiped out their farm.They got some of the timber from Walker's plantation and some from the hill behind the Hall and School. Gus Staid built the house with Bill and Fred's help. That part was the kitchen, bathroom, sitting room, dining room and bedrooms. Just outside the big front window was the porch with steps and a path going out to the road. Alice was a great gardener and soon had flowers growing along the path.
1927-28. They decided to build more bedrooms and a store. They did well out of the store but Bill never had the evenings to himself as people came in at all hours buying goods. Bill Lester kept it going until 1936, when he sold the buildings to Doug and Phil Reid, who began their married life there. Doug's mother and father lived with them. Gran as she was called, ran the kitchen and Pop the store while Doug took on the carting of goods. When Doug moved in he was warned to send his bill out regularly. The natives were mostly honest when it came to paying bills. Doug was very good natured but he just would not send out his bills so he lost a lot of money he should have had.NZ was still in the depths of the depression
Beryl Karena
Hi John, my nana was May Harris, (Lester) she told me lots of tales of living there and of the farm across the river.. when this was being built, she would work on the farm in the morning then cross the river on an old dray horse to bring the guys lunch, and then spend the afternoon primeing the boards.
John Lester
Beryl Karena Please send me early family stories,for our 150th anniversary in 2025
I remember a couple owned it round 1990 they loved the place but they done up they tryed so hard to stay but they couldn't get citizenship they even went on tv to stay
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Trevor Grant https://www.nzherald.co.nz/.../5FV6X6IAUAN42CW3Y2XRLEVARA/
NZ's door not fully closed on deportees - NZ Herald
NZHERALD.CO.NZ
NZ's door not fully closed on deportees - NZ Herald
NZ's door not fully closed on deportees - NZ Herald
Jim Wilson
Trevor Grant I have a memory of that.
Sharon Arohanui Marsh
Gran & Grandad Reid
Marlene Coleman
Sharon Arohanui Marsh small world. My great grandparents were the Lester's who built the store & sold it to your grandparents.
Dorothy Wills
Remember it well but didn’t notice it looking so dilapidated
Beryl Heperi
Spent most of our holidays there as children.Gran was a fantastic cook and we had great fun.
Beryl Heperi
It really is looking a bit different now!!
John Lester
Bill and Alice Lester decided to build a tea-room and a home in 1926-27. This was after the "Great Flood"of 1926 wiped out their farm.They got some of the timber from Walker's plantation and some from the hill behind the Hall and School. Gus Staid built the house with Bill and Fred's help. That part was the kitchen, bathroom, sitting room, dining room and bedrooms. Just outside the big front window was the porch with steps and a path going out to the road. Alice was a great gardener and soon had flowers growing along the path.
1927-28. They decided to build more bedrooms and a store. They did well out of the store but Bill never had the evenings to himself as people came in at all hours buying goods. Bill Lester kept it going until 1936, when he sold the buildings to Doug and Phil Reid, who began their married life there. Doug's mother and father lived with them. Gran as she was called, ran the kitchen and Pop the store while Doug took on the carting of goods. When Doug moved in he was warned to send his bill out regularly. The natives were mostly honest when it came to paying bills. Doug was very good natured but he just would not send out his bills so he lost a lot of money he should have had.NZ was still in the depths of the depression
Beryl Karena
Hi John, my nana was May Harris, (Lester) she told me lots of tales of living there and of the farm across the river.. when this was being built, she would work on the farm in the morning then cross the river on an old dray horse to bring the guys lunch, and then spend the afternoon primeing the boards.
John Lester
Beryl Karena Please send me early family stories,for our 150th anniversary in 2025
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West Coast New Zealand History (21st Nov 2022). Reids Store, Maruia. early 1980s.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 22nd Apr 2026 06:56, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/23768