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What are the things you miss most about your childhood on the West Coast?
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DescriptionWhat are the things you miss most about your childhood on the West Coast?
ContributorHeather Newby
ContributorHeather Newby
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Location (city or town)West CoastEventWhat are the things you miss most about your childhood on the West Coast?
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Date Created4th December 2020CommentsMartin Burt
Playing in the bush, catching crawlies and an open fire
Martin Burt i remember catching crawlies
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Martin Burt me too
Dianne Johnson
Heather Newby me too!
Rebekah Fairhurst Geer
Martin Burt ditto
Craig Crestani
Growing up with the entire South Island as my backyard. Used to leave home early with a sandwich and an apple and be home at dusk. If your kids did that now you would be worried sick
Craig Crestani exactly
Dave Bj Henderson
And no money or water.
Anne Miller Mcmillan
My father . My best friend Joy Harris. And fun at school
Anne Miller Mcmillan awww
Anne Miller Mcmillan
Heather Newby thanx Heather. Dad died suddenly aged 48. Joy was killed tragically when we were in our early 20s and loved the friends i made at school. Many im still in touch with
Anne Miller Mcmillan
Bill Stephenson that went to Grey High same time as myself and twin Carolyn ?
Anne Miller Mcmillan 48 is young..
Anne Miller Mcmillan
Heather Newby yes Heather. Heart attack .
Anne Miller Mcmillan sorry to hear that
Jason Murly
the rain the old way of finding out if ya mates are home before the cell phone came out push bike races to see who had the fastest bike
Peta Jones
Having adventures in the bush. Walking down to Cobden Beach. Picking blackberries near the beach.
Peta Jones omg... loved picking blackberries
Dianne Johnson
Peta Jones me too!
Keiran Shefford
The Bush,the surf and concrete
Sandra Arnott
Riding my horse up Arnott heights and on beach!yes miss my father,grandmother and friends!
Jessie Pinkman
Hanging out at my grandmother's picking blackberries , making huts in the bush
Sue Lyon
Going to the swimming pool all day and then playing at Dixon Park. Building huts in the bush and coming home at 6pm. Collecting mussels and catching crayfish off the rocks up the coast and dodging the waves.
Joanne Conroy
My wonderful cousins Mandy O'Sullivan Michael Hiha and Craig Hiha. People rather than things
Joanne Conroy yes.. exactly
Craig Crestani
Joanne Conroy where is Craig these days
Naomi Georgina
My Dad. Picking blackberries, they were in abundance when I was a child. Getting Tadpoles. Taylorville School.
Rhonda Donaldson
Rapahoe ,the beach, Pub, and my childhood friends
Fay Glasson
Crowds swimming at the Cobden beach in the 50’s and 60’s
Dianne Johnson
Fay Glasson where I learned to swim, miracle I wasn’t drowned as I was fearless.
Fay Glasson
Dianne Johnson me to the good ole days
Bronwyn Hibbs
Our family get-togethers, my childhood friends and the the community feel that's hard to find today
Butch Cadigan
with ya Bronnie
Trish Rennie
I miss the people and the "place"... No where else like it....The sunsets ...the rain on the roof at night...the beach at your front door and the mountains at your back door...so many things
Guy Fawkes Day!!
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Heather Newby yesss
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands the guy... and the bonfire and taking the guy around in a wheelbarrow and singing.. and getting money for fire crackers
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Heather Newby oh yes, just loved dressing up and going around all the homes singing For money. One highlight was going into the bar at the pub, we were all served a raspberry and lemonade.
Lance Wakefield
Building huts on cobden beach, fishing for herring off greymouth warf, swimming up coal creek. Hanging out with mates and life seemed so simple as kid. Also getting a 5c cream freeze from grays at Runanga after a swim at the school pool.
Lance Wakefield omg.. I remember those cream freezes..Dad used to stop there on our sunday drives.
Sharyn Lodge
The smell of the bush. The people. The wild weather. The rain (real rain, not that dribbly stuff that can't make up its mind what it wants to do). The hills. The dark sky (in the country where there are no streetlights). The sunrises and sunsets. See More
Joanne Lilley
Kumara, Hokitika, life was easy most of the time... miss my family, friends and the wonderful scenery... 45 years in Australia and today 34 degrees in Brisbane, I miss the cool fresh air of the coast... not the rain... no, I have never missed the continuous rain.... however a few drops here would be appreciated
Frances Keating
Joanne Lilley look forward to seeing you again one day
Joanne Lilley
Me too honey .
Joanne Lilley
Sorry that tongue is sooo wrong.... without glasses thought it was a grin...
Tony Nolan
Kumara races and going to school on the back of the tractor
Sista Bob
Taking my gummies off on a frosty morning and standing in a warm cow paddy..... school holidays
Nora Mcquarrie
Sista Bob WOW me too Miss them times 50yrs ago
Joanne Lilley
Yes, Kumara races, my have to do before I die
Gareth And-Gill Davies
The old swimming pool
Chippy McLean
All of the above
Marlene Coleman
Sunday roast at our great grandparents house in Mokihinui. Spending all day at the beach swimming, drying off in the sun, swimming again. My grandad singing Puff the Magic Dragon. Getting soaking wet in the rain and not caring.
Murry Tengu
17 mile kina Paua mussels good sand bar for body surfing afta got kai whitebating an picking moss but most of all the pub's
Brian Hemera
10 cent bag of pick n mix lollies from Pat the Rat at the Kumara shop.
Catherine Cameron
Brian Hemera Haha, yep, me too!
Greg Hine
Freedom, freedom,freedom and freedom. (To hunt, fish, spotlight, 4wd, light fires at the beach, Explore the bush, explore the old train carriages, climb the quarries, whitebait under wharves, the list goes on
Linda King
Miss the big Bon fires we had at Cameron's beach. Playing cricket with the whole village after tea. Just spending time down at the beach.
Susan Barlow
Linda King We also used to have Guy Fawkes & a bon fire at Bryce's place on the Bundi (now Cameron Rd) They used to put on a great evening and I remember seeing crackers there that were amazing to me, as a kid. Good people! I won't ever forget Jim & Amy Bryce.
Alan Messenger
Swimming ( I still can’t swim), fishing and playing in boats in front and back Blaketown lagoons.
Leah Whitehead
All the cousins and friends getting together to play cricket on the back street of Dobson during the long summer evenings.
Robyn Hoglund
Little bro, dingy, dog, fishing rod, pkt of biscuits, shorts, barefeet, all day on the lake, not a care in the world.
Vaughan Smith
Playing monkey's Perotti Park bush. Going to Lake Brunner for BBQ. ATC camp's keeping everyone up all night
Paul Agnes Smith
Growing up with Parents and Grandparents..
Gae Galway
Freedom to go wherever we wanted. Rough seas with big waves. School friends although most have remained friends for many years. Trawling nets for fresh flounder,
The bush. Not the sandflies
Karina Cook
Sliding down the grass hill on a cardboard box by the swimming pool in Greymouth. Lots of fun walk over the Creek and go for a swim.
Amiee Manawatu
Freedom, swimming, scenery and Coasters
Diana Goodall
Fred misses catching whitebait & eating it fresh.
Nova Hichens
I miss the family, rain,& beautiful scenery, also friendly people.
Dianne Johnson
I miss the freedom to be a child. My mother used to pack a little bag of food for me and I would walk down to Cobden beach and spend the day exploring, reading my book etc., and all on my own. Wonderful memories of the roar of the surf and the solitude. I also miss the Guy Fawkes bonfires on Cobden beach, we had so much fun - sausages on sticks, firecrackers and raspberry fizz. Travelling on the rail car or steam train to Hokitika to stay with grandparents in Rimu who had no electricity. I am so blessed to have experienced that lifestyle, I can still smell the food my Nana cooked on the wood fired range, the best food ever which I have tried occasionally to recreate, but sadly no success. The smell of the kerosine lanterns, the DDT flit for mosquitos (which didn’t kill us), blackball lollies hidden under our pillows by Nana for us to find and enjoy before we fell asleep, all such wonderful memories which very sadly my children and grandchildren have not had the pleasure of.
Lyla Al-Alawi
Okarito and Franz Josef Glacier
Paddy Sweeney
Tadpoleing
Possum tokens
Tuppence a bottle for beer bottles
Blackberrying
Catching Herring at Okirita
Paddy Sweeney tadpoles!! and we watched them grow into frogs.
]Stacey Mather - Clouston
Paddy Sweeney yes tadpoles!!! Something my kids haven't experienced!
Ann Christie
Freedom and no worries.Whistling singing and lots of laughter.Swiming in the creek and lots more.
Ryan Davy
Punakaiki,Moana
Raewyn Louttit
Just miss my life I had in haast
Di Henderson
Raewyn Louttit I will be going through Haase tomorrow on my way to Hoki
Heather Newby
Raewyn Louttit my late husband and I stayed a week in Haast about 6 years ago.. loved it!! we did the track over to Smoothwater Bay.It was so quiet staying in Haast. there was no traffic.
Teresa Eden
Raewyn Louttit I too loved Haast it has been awesome going back
Bob Jamieson
Coal creek swimming hole, Rapahoe beach.
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Swimming in the creek, blackberries, cooking crawlers and chips outside, roaming the area on our bikes, playing outside until it was dark with all the other kids. So many memories. Learning to embroider, crochet and sew at school or next door with Mrs Banks or Gran. Visiting Gran every Sunday to play cards and beetles. Forgot about dances at Stillwater hall and of course the tennis.
Sylvia Kilpatrick
i miss the bomfire on the hill above theradneedle street and cooking potatoes my child hood on the coast was great
Janice Hahn
Crawlying out the Kopara in the creeks. Cooking them up and eating them.
Linda Griffin
Well Jo there's a few years yet then
Joanne Lilley
Linda Griffin
Robert Mathewson
Heading up to the cross in Cobden and running down fast as i could ,man i had some crashes ,now i struggle to walk lol and swimming at the hockey in cobbo.
Dianne Johnson
Robert Mathewson yes, that was one of our favourite things to do. Couldn’t even imagine going up there now.
Joyce Harris
White bait in the Kerosine tins full of it.
Dianne Johnson
Joyce Harris yes, and Dad spread it on the garden after he had shared it around the neighbourhood - no refrigeration in those days.
Don McNarn
3d a pint
Quintin Wright
My childhood
Kathy Duthie
i miss all the people that i know. nothing like a coaster
Anne Miller Mcmillan
Kathy Duthie hello to u Kathie. I remember u.
Kathy Duthie
yep remember you to anne at kings, bloody good times. bloody good boss, hope life has been good to you
Jenny Leach
I miss the lovely summer nights when it is daylight until 10 o'clock at night and swimming,and beautiful scenery and friendly people
Jenny Leach low spring tides at the beach
Kathy Duthie
Jenny Leach yes jenny those long summer nights, and in summer the squid boats of cobden beach
Kathy Duthie
now i am starting to feel home sick
Julia-Tarn Oliver-Blyth
Simplicity
Kyle Webster
The floods...?
Kathy Duthie
it is a honour to have you all in my life
Jenny Leach
Also the whitebait patties
Martin Griffin
Sand boarding and bush bashing.
Fishing and camping but most importantly The People and culture!
Gina Straker
As kids we were never home and all the kids in kaniere use hang out doing all sorts of things, making our own fun. Not safe these days to allow the kids to do the things we used to do.
Bronwyn Hibbs
Gina Straker those were the days remember we all used to hang out over at Kaniere School until dark - or if Mum would toot the horn and we knew it was time to head home lol - some wonderful memories... as you say, today is so different...
Gina Straker
Bronwyn Hibbs yes definitely remember all the fun we had, even the nightly swimming in the school pool
Denise Biddick
We as a family were only visiting at christmas and special occasions but my lovely great aunties and uncles who my dad obviously respected and loved. And lastly my dad because he was born there and moved away when he was 14. He loved visiting and catching up with all his friends he passed away at 52, 34 years ago.
Marlene Green
I miss Kotuku where I grew up on a farm near Lake Brunner . A beautiful place that I call paradise
Ian Murch
Just being in Greymouth
Kathy Duthie
true ian.
Margaret Malloch
Just living on the coast
Dianne Johnson
I have been reading all the comments and it shows how very blessed we all were to have been lucky enough to live on the Coast. I haven’t lived there for many years, but one a coaster, always a coaster.
Joy Drake
Being Young. Able to do the tramps though the bush.
Natesha Ramsay
Miss fishing off the wharf and blaketown tip, which is now closed off......Miss going to reefton on boxing day as a family to swim in the river and play good ol cricket.
Margaret Standen
Picnic days at the Reefton races, blackbeerrying at Waiuta, Whitebaiting.
Lynette Pauline
Walking or riding over the ponds on the pipe to blaketown often meeting people along the way courteously giving way
And Walking the bridge from greymouth directly to blanketing i think it was around talleys over the lagoon to blaketown
Lynette Pauline yes.. the pipes were a favourite of mine too
Karina Cook
Me to i lived in Franklin street down the stairs and into the pipe
Malcolm Kym Campbell
Loved my time with Uncle Doug and Aunty Nola Aitken best memories ever at 9 mile xxx
Arlene Hutcheon
Staying with my grandparents in Hokitika, the beach, the sound of the sea at night, whitebait patties, I could go and on.
Helen Fennell
Childhood friends, some of which are no longer alive
Tracy Alford
Playing in the paddocks with the neighbours, going into the bush. Swimming in clean rivers. The feeling of community and belonging.
Tracy Alford yes.. you dont get that in the cities
John Patrick Ward
I miss the Kopara and all who I annoyed
Jeannie Preddy
The smell of the bush after rain and swimming in the Grey river all summer!
John Hunt
My grandmother.
Jen Dick Stevens
Right back at you Kathy Duthie you are a lovely lady and will always be a coaster and it is a pleasure to know you
Tony Ellen
I loved the family thing no tv we played scrabble monopoly draughts snakes and ladders cards etc and at about nine pm out would come the open fire fork toaster and we would do toasties and sometimes crumpets ooh so yummy and no politics
Carrol Barnes - Baker
Bon fires at beach, freedom never having to be home before dark, always groups of friends together , never being bored, driving at 15 years, barn dances, New Years Eve at Post Office and thats just a start
Terri Prince
Loved the good old days when Dad worked on the steam trains, he'd take us 3 kids from Greymouth to Moana in the driving cab with him. Mum followed in the car, pick us kids up and head to Te Kinga for a picnic and swim. GR8 memories
Alex McGrath
Hearing waves & rain at night, being able to safely ride with friends down the main road to both Grey & Hoki, the beach and various bush trails. And bush adventures!
John Coffey
Just being surrounded by West Coasters, people who knew it was something special to be born and raised west of the mountains. Sadly, the Coast's greatest export has never been gold or coal but its youth -- heading off to find employment, education or sporting opportunities elsewhere.
Heather Newby
John Coffey yes.. most of the kids I went to school with left the coast around 1970
Helen Joan Forrest
Playing with no thought of danger, hens in the garden, massive whitebait patties, going to Grandads farm in Barrytown, playing in the hay shed. Having toast that was cooked over the hot coals of the sitting room fire. Having quiet snuggles with Mum after a bath. I could go on and on. What an ideal place to grow up in.
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Helen Joan Forrest oh toast made on the open fire, it was so scrumptious.
Dianne Johnson
Helen Joan Forrest was always our Sunday tea treat, toast and crumpets toasted over the fire.
Rebekah Fairhurst Geer
Gold panning in various spots, waipuna favourite, going through the tunnels the miners had left, searching for bottles, mushrooming and catching eels at night with a spot light
Richard Leach
NOT BEING THERE NOW
Peta Jones
I just remembered this! I wrote it in 1994, Heather mentioning Guy Fawkes reminded me! Cobden memories...
Heather Newby
Peta Jones wow,, thats cool!
Pauline Matene
Peta Jones beautiful!
Peta Jones
Pauline Matene thanks Heather and Pauline
Caryline Hill
Just being a kid and the freedom we had in Dunollie living under Mt Davey. The bend and chesterfield our fav swimming holes
Kerri Duthie
I miss the whole backyard of Cobden the freedom we had not wearing helmet to ride our bikes
Diana Mattingly
Everything
Berni Veale
The coal smoke smell water pistols at Christmas up the street whitebait for literally every meal
Miles Reay
Bike rides to Marsden and down to the wharf. Playing the bush and along Sawyers Creek. Sleeping on the front porch and listening to the breakers at Karoro Beach in the distance. Gold-panning, and searching for greenstone on the beach with Mum & Dad.
Heather Newby
Miles Reay i did that too.. searching for greenstone on Rapahoe beach.. we did find some on Blaketown beach too
Miles Reay
Mum & Dad favoured the northern beaches like Fourteen Mile, Heather. They’d sleep in the back of their car overnight to be the first to get the pickings of the early morning tides.
Marlene Jackson Perry
I miss whitebaiting on the Grey river with my two brothers.
Debbie Hocking
Being on the Coast
Yvonne Lawson
Riding my bike. Was always on it. Sunshine or rain.
Fran Townsend
I miss one of the best jobs I had there on the wharf unloading trawlers tuna boats jumping from boat to boat in the seasons...the care management provided to keep us going...Then down to the Golden Eagle for a beer
Joycelyn Hiha
just the whole place and the wonderful people. on a stormy night I lay in my bed and think of Collins s . felt so safe warm and loved. oh i do miss itt
Graham Messenger
Fishing off the back fence in Preston Road.
Sandra Sands
Swimming in the Taylorvill lagoon
Bob Laing
I lived in Larsen St. Cape Foulwind about 20 km from Westport
Playing and swimming at the beaches, dragging a flounder net, fishing, white baiting, deer stalking. The rivers, beaches and mountains. The Coast will always be home to me.
Barb Rodway
God yes we do miss Joy. So sad her life was cut so short.
Murray Hay
playing up on Bunny Chun's hill above Threadneedle Street / Murray Street until dark or mum yelled out its tea time!!! which ever came first. as a very young fella playing cricket out on Threadneedle St. with Johnny Knapp, all the Beam's and Magee's, I still live here of course so don't miss the Coast, but happy days
Robin Gibbens
All the great times I spent on the farm with my grandfather and the fun we all had in the bush building huts, best place in the world to grow up
Wayne Nicholson
Robin Gibbens . Heading back over this morning to re live the past. Love it .
Karen Beaumont
Family and the smell of coal fires burning
Amanda Harrington
I miss Rapahoe pub in the good old days, riding the horses on the beach swimming in the lagoon and sea, just beening able to walk the streets and hang with mate . Playing in the bush in the coal mines , we never sat inside on phoned or Xbox, come home from school done ur chores and then it was outside having fun, home for tea then outside again and was told to be home when started to get dark, it was such a great place as a kid
Pam Sweeney
Picking blackberries Going to get Mussels with Dad Tom Hutchison Swimming at Nessis Creek with Grandad Hutchison catching Crawlies at Dillmanstown and Aunty Myra Rochford cooking them for us.Waiting for Mr Blacks Wed rounds at Westland Hosp and him not letting me go home.. Cooking Spuds up on the dredge tailings at Kaniere with Kay Kelly/Nelson ... such great memories
Susan Barlow
Hours & hours just playing in the bush; whitebaiting with Mum and the locals on the New River; swimming in the river, birching, Camerons School & our wonderful teacher, Bill Maher (how lucky we were to have him). table tennis, the village and it's people and the gossip & stories. An idyllic life.
Joy Hill-Cooper
The long walks, swimming in the Mawheraiti school pool
Reg Allan
and now the world's all fucked up
Shelly Baxter
Whitebait patties
Bon fires on the beach
Collecting driftwood for firewood
Canoeing in the lagoon
Pushing my bike through the barber
The roller-skating rink
Gold panning
Looking for greenstone
Go carting down hilly streets
Billy Tea / walks & camping
Stock car races in Kumara & getting a hotdog with tomato sauce.
Friday night fish & chips
Having my grandparents still alive
Being a kid
Samuel Mort
Roller skating at the civic center is something i was telling my daughter about the other day, how we had a roller disco on Friday nights
Steven Shrives
Samuel Mort fuk yeah bring back the roller disco
Jono Kerr
Samuel Mort your an old fart ae I never done that haha
Nic Adele Prendergast
I miss lake kaniere,lake mahinapu,dorothy falls,hokitika gorge,I miss soooooo much
Steven Shrives
Soap box Arnott heights durbie.. can’t bait it brent rocket duff
Lynda Pope
The freedom.
Stacey Mather - Clouston
Swimming at the river, roller skating at the civic centre, horse riding (having said horse right next door in the paddock), riding home made raft down the creek with my bestie, and being told off by my great grandmother for being out on the lagoon on it.
Going whitebaiting. Walking to the beach and cooking sausages on a makeshift BBQ with whatever we could find. Having a street full of kids to play with that you have grown up with, thats what I would have liked for my girls
Stacey Mather - Clouston
And I have to say, when I smell a coal fire I miss home. When I bought mums ashes home to scatter, I was driving into Taylorville, it was evening and cold and the first thing that hit me was the smell of coal fires and it made me cry. And to let mum know she was finally home.
Natasha Armstrong
Stacey Mather - Clouston me too. The smell of the coal fires gets me every time. Brings we straight back to childhood
Te Rua Mason
Lol..Stacking the wood
Brenda Brown
So true Mandy Harrington great place still is
Murray Bone
my parents, grand parents, cousins and friends I. went to school to school with in Hokitika
Glenda Bishop
I miss everything about the Coast, but mainly my Family and Friends
Val McGowan
Freedom to explore
Mark Humphreys
I miss Granity School, Birchfeild Beach and swimming in creek and floundering on the mudflats with all the kids during summer holidays... and getting mussels and pippi's from nikau, Guy Fawkes Day,Blackberrying and Mushrooming and watching my tadpole collection turn into frogs.
Brenda Brown
Mark Humphreys I was at Granty school last Friday picking up my grand niece and nephew so friendly live driving up there magic
Don McNarn
And what you didn't eat went into the garden as compost
Mark Humphreys
Don McNarn including whitebait lol
Kay Kelly
Pam Sweeney Those were the days
Noeline McCaughan
Everyone here has said it for me.
Alice Kerr
Nick, Matt.. what were you saying the other day about leaving paradise
Crow Bay
Nothing!
Kathy Duthie
well said stacey, so simple back then, every body knew each other
Tane Nathan
The fresh air
Kathy Duthie
gosh i want to go home
Tane Nathan
Kathy Duthie I know how u feel
Kathy Duthie
the pounding of the sea on cobden beach
Heather Newby
Kathy Duthie the pounding of the sea on Blaketown beach
Kathy Duthie
that was a good arvo at kells with you and your mum, still find it hard to beleive she has gone, and in such a horrable way
Tom Egan
The clean rivers of the grey valley and south westland
Anne Honey
The people. I don't remember it ever raining in the Christmas school holidays.
Heather Newby
Anne Honey same
John Rosanowski
I kept falling off my bike. It was vicious cycle.
Miles Reay
I guess it was one on NZs first electric bicycles Ros.
Phill Oldham
I miss all the great fishing spots and traks that the north islanders closed down for us I also miss being able to camp with out being fined
Gary Williams
Digging for gold eh!!!!!
Bruce Dando
Miss the fires on the beach and the firebrigade putting them out
Owen Stephens
What Martin Griffin said lol. Its the people that made and make the Coast.
Tony Thompson
those beautiful days in okarito and the comradeship of the fantastic people of south westland,
Kathy Duthie
andh to my amazement , watching kerri and others jump of the cobden bridge innto the river
Genevieve Wilson
Going into the bush at the back of taylorville and playing around the waterfall Ezra Wilson Heath Wilson Hannah Wilson
Vicki Breeze
Blake town was a amazing place to grown up.had a great childhood.we left home in the morning away all day exploring.mum still lives there.still feels like home.vicki Stuart
Neil Williams
I miss all the fun things we did as kids. Playing cricket on Preston rd building huts by the lagoon,swimming over by “the point” the beach and riding our bikes a lot.kids nowadays don’t do any of that .
Heather Newby
Neil Williams remember the pipes? and do you remember thast old abandoned house at the entrance to the pipes on preston rd... and there was a garden in the front with roses
Neil Williams
Heather Newby I remember going over to the town swimming pool by using the sewer pipe to walk along.when they developed water walk rd between both lagoons they put a pipe under the road I used to crawl through it before it became clogged
Heather Newby
Neil Williams i never knew about the pipe under the road.. where did it begin?
Neil Williams
Heather Newby looking at Kowai bush from Preston rd a piece of the shore line juttered out it began there under the road and into the adjacent lagoon on the areodrome side of the road
Neil Williams very interesting
Fiona Bigham
The simplicity of life.
Jenny Ifer Bannerman Gifford
My awesome friends.
Maye Dunn
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The rain.
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Maye Dunn it’s strange but I don’t really remember the rain being a problem or annoying
Lana Vargas
Dunollie and Nanas house.
Lois Little
The sea the swim spots the long gone relly.s
Kevin Bell
Just being able to grow up in a great place.
Logan Dense
Rapahoe beach races
Valerie Beavis
Climbing the Terrace hill behind our place in Reefton, and the swimming pools.
Helen Devine
We live in best place keep it a secret
Trish Leckie
Rapahoe Beach. We used to swim in the sea & dive off the old wharf into the lagoon. My grandfather boiling the old thermos for a cups of tea. Whitebaiting at the mouth to the sea. Probably caught 1 or 2. Catching Crawlies in the creeks. Picking blackberries. Going eeling in the creeks. In 2nd place behind Rapahoe must be the Runanga swimming pool. We spent hours in there. Diving for stones (sometimes a bit cloudy)
What better place to grow up
Jude Wastney
I miss the fact that we could play outside at night and be safe. Also that you not only knew your neighbours, you knew most people in your community a well as other communities. The hospitality, the support, the friends and the community events. I miss Granity
Mary Shearer
Jude Wastney yes so do I Jude.. probably not the same as when we lived there though...
Diana Ackland
I remember living in Boddytown
Alison Blogs
my friends, whitebait, blackberrying,riding our bikes to rapahoe and sneaking into swimming pool at night
Kym Murdoch
Being able to ride my horse everywhere!
Samuel Mort
Buying smokes under age with a note from your mum
Hayzle Mann-Hughes
Twilight, Hector picture theatre, Socials/town dances, Whitebait, trout, picnics at Mokihinui domain, knowing everyone in your own village (Seddonville).
Mark Humphreys
Hayzle Mann-Hughes last time i saw you and your sisters was a Waimangaroa Hall dances lol thats going back a few years now.
Iri Sinclair
Roasting marshmallows over a beach fire with baby girls in the 1990s
Alison Hibbs
I just love the West Coast - my home town. I will always be a west coaster. Lucky to have been born there. Thank u Mum n Dad.
Eddie Parsons
Loved the place , plenty of fishing , do all sorts of things, eating mussels from the old boiler at low tide by the Blaketown heads,
Trish Rennie
I miss the wonderful people of my neighbourhood and the carefree way we grew up….most folks looked out for each other….sadly today it’s dog eat dog
Playing in the bush, catching crawlies and an open fire
Martin Burt i remember catching crawlies
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Martin Burt me too
Dianne Johnson
Heather Newby me too!
Rebekah Fairhurst Geer
Martin Burt ditto
Craig Crestani
Growing up with the entire South Island as my backyard. Used to leave home early with a sandwich and an apple and be home at dusk. If your kids did that now you would be worried sick
Craig Crestani exactly
Dave Bj Henderson
And no money or water.
Anne Miller Mcmillan
My father . My best friend Joy Harris. And fun at school
Anne Miller Mcmillan awww
Anne Miller Mcmillan
Heather Newby thanx Heather. Dad died suddenly aged 48. Joy was killed tragically when we were in our early 20s and loved the friends i made at school. Many im still in touch with
Anne Miller Mcmillan
Bill Stephenson that went to Grey High same time as myself and twin Carolyn ?
Anne Miller Mcmillan 48 is young..
Anne Miller Mcmillan
Heather Newby yes Heather. Heart attack .
Anne Miller Mcmillan sorry to hear that
Jason Murly
the rain the old way of finding out if ya mates are home before the cell phone came out push bike races to see who had the fastest bike
Peta Jones
Having adventures in the bush. Walking down to Cobden Beach. Picking blackberries near the beach.
Peta Jones omg... loved picking blackberries
Dianne Johnson
Peta Jones me too!
Keiran Shefford
The Bush,the surf and concrete
Sandra Arnott
Riding my horse up Arnott heights and on beach!yes miss my father,grandmother and friends!
Jessie Pinkman
Hanging out at my grandmother's picking blackberries , making huts in the bush
Sue Lyon
Going to the swimming pool all day and then playing at Dixon Park. Building huts in the bush and coming home at 6pm. Collecting mussels and catching crayfish off the rocks up the coast and dodging the waves.
Joanne Conroy
My wonderful cousins Mandy O'Sullivan Michael Hiha and Craig Hiha. People rather than things
Joanne Conroy yes.. exactly
Craig Crestani
Joanne Conroy where is Craig these days
Naomi Georgina
My Dad. Picking blackberries, they were in abundance when I was a child. Getting Tadpoles. Taylorville School.
Rhonda Donaldson
Rapahoe ,the beach, Pub, and my childhood friends
Fay Glasson
Crowds swimming at the Cobden beach in the 50’s and 60’s
Dianne Johnson
Fay Glasson where I learned to swim, miracle I wasn’t drowned as I was fearless.
Fay Glasson
Dianne Johnson me to the good ole days
Bronwyn Hibbs
Our family get-togethers, my childhood friends and the the community feel that's hard to find today
Butch Cadigan
with ya Bronnie
Trish Rennie
I miss the people and the "place"... No where else like it....The sunsets ...the rain on the roof at night...the beach at your front door and the mountains at your back door...so many things
Guy Fawkes Day!!
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Heather Newby yesss
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands the guy... and the bonfire and taking the guy around in a wheelbarrow and singing.. and getting money for fire crackers
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Heather Newby oh yes, just loved dressing up and going around all the homes singing For money. One highlight was going into the bar at the pub, we were all served a raspberry and lemonade.
Lance Wakefield
Building huts on cobden beach, fishing for herring off greymouth warf, swimming up coal creek. Hanging out with mates and life seemed so simple as kid. Also getting a 5c cream freeze from grays at Runanga after a swim at the school pool.
Lance Wakefield omg.. I remember those cream freezes..Dad used to stop there on our sunday drives.
Sharyn Lodge
The smell of the bush. The people. The wild weather. The rain (real rain, not that dribbly stuff that can't make up its mind what it wants to do). The hills. The dark sky (in the country where there are no streetlights). The sunrises and sunsets. See More
Joanne Lilley
Kumara, Hokitika, life was easy most of the time... miss my family, friends and the wonderful scenery... 45 years in Australia and today 34 degrees in Brisbane, I miss the cool fresh air of the coast... not the rain... no, I have never missed the continuous rain.... however a few drops here would be appreciated
Frances Keating
Joanne Lilley look forward to seeing you again one day
Joanne Lilley
Me too honey .
Joanne Lilley
Sorry that tongue is sooo wrong.... without glasses thought it was a grin...
Tony Nolan
Kumara races and going to school on the back of the tractor
Sista Bob
Taking my gummies off on a frosty morning and standing in a warm cow paddy..... school holidays
Nora Mcquarrie
Sista Bob WOW me too Miss them times 50yrs ago
Joanne Lilley
Yes, Kumara races, my have to do before I die
Gareth And-Gill Davies
The old swimming pool
Chippy McLean
All of the above
Marlene Coleman
Sunday roast at our great grandparents house in Mokihinui. Spending all day at the beach swimming, drying off in the sun, swimming again. My grandad singing Puff the Magic Dragon. Getting soaking wet in the rain and not caring.
Murry Tengu
17 mile kina Paua mussels good sand bar for body surfing afta got kai whitebating an picking moss but most of all the pub's
Brian Hemera
10 cent bag of pick n mix lollies from Pat the Rat at the Kumara shop.
Catherine Cameron
Brian Hemera Haha, yep, me too!
Greg Hine
Freedom, freedom,freedom and freedom. (To hunt, fish, spotlight, 4wd, light fires at the beach, Explore the bush, explore the old train carriages, climb the quarries, whitebait under wharves, the list goes on
Linda King
Miss the big Bon fires we had at Cameron's beach. Playing cricket with the whole village after tea. Just spending time down at the beach.
Susan Barlow
Linda King We also used to have Guy Fawkes & a bon fire at Bryce's place on the Bundi (now Cameron Rd) They used to put on a great evening and I remember seeing crackers there that were amazing to me, as a kid. Good people! I won't ever forget Jim & Amy Bryce.
Alan Messenger
Swimming ( I still can’t swim), fishing and playing in boats in front and back Blaketown lagoons.
Leah Whitehead
All the cousins and friends getting together to play cricket on the back street of Dobson during the long summer evenings.
Robyn Hoglund
Little bro, dingy, dog, fishing rod, pkt of biscuits, shorts, barefeet, all day on the lake, not a care in the world.
Vaughan Smith
Playing monkey's Perotti Park bush. Going to Lake Brunner for BBQ. ATC camp's keeping everyone up all night
Paul Agnes Smith
Growing up with Parents and Grandparents..
Gae Galway
Freedom to go wherever we wanted. Rough seas with big waves. School friends although most have remained friends for many years. Trawling nets for fresh flounder,
The bush. Not the sandflies
Karina Cook
Sliding down the grass hill on a cardboard box by the swimming pool in Greymouth. Lots of fun walk over the Creek and go for a swim.
Amiee Manawatu
Freedom, swimming, scenery and Coasters
Diana Goodall
Fred misses catching whitebait & eating it fresh.
Nova Hichens
I miss the family, rain,& beautiful scenery, also friendly people.
Dianne Johnson
I miss the freedom to be a child. My mother used to pack a little bag of food for me and I would walk down to Cobden beach and spend the day exploring, reading my book etc., and all on my own. Wonderful memories of the roar of the surf and the solitude. I also miss the Guy Fawkes bonfires on Cobden beach, we had so much fun - sausages on sticks, firecrackers and raspberry fizz. Travelling on the rail car or steam train to Hokitika to stay with grandparents in Rimu who had no electricity. I am so blessed to have experienced that lifestyle, I can still smell the food my Nana cooked on the wood fired range, the best food ever which I have tried occasionally to recreate, but sadly no success. The smell of the kerosine lanterns, the DDT flit for mosquitos (which didn’t kill us), blackball lollies hidden under our pillows by Nana for us to find and enjoy before we fell asleep, all such wonderful memories which very sadly my children and grandchildren have not had the pleasure of.
Lyla Al-Alawi
Okarito and Franz Josef Glacier
Paddy Sweeney
Tadpoleing
Possum tokens
Tuppence a bottle for beer bottles
Blackberrying
Catching Herring at Okirita
Paddy Sweeney tadpoles!! and we watched them grow into frogs.
]Stacey Mather - Clouston
Paddy Sweeney yes tadpoles!!! Something my kids haven't experienced!
Ann Christie
Freedom and no worries.Whistling singing and lots of laughter.Swiming in the creek and lots more.
Ryan Davy
Punakaiki,Moana
Raewyn Louttit
Just miss my life I had in haast
Di Henderson
Raewyn Louttit I will be going through Haase tomorrow on my way to Hoki
Heather Newby
Raewyn Louttit my late husband and I stayed a week in Haast about 6 years ago.. loved it!! we did the track over to Smoothwater Bay.It was so quiet staying in Haast. there was no traffic.
Teresa Eden
Raewyn Louttit I too loved Haast it has been awesome going back
Bob Jamieson
Coal creek swimming hole, Rapahoe beach.
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Swimming in the creek, blackberries, cooking crawlers and chips outside, roaming the area on our bikes, playing outside until it was dark with all the other kids. So many memories. Learning to embroider, crochet and sew at school or next door with Mrs Banks or Gran. Visiting Gran every Sunday to play cards and beetles. Forgot about dances at Stillwater hall and of course the tennis.
Sylvia Kilpatrick
i miss the bomfire on the hill above theradneedle street and cooking potatoes my child hood on the coast was great
Janice Hahn
Crawlying out the Kopara in the creeks. Cooking them up and eating them.
Linda Griffin
Well Jo there's a few years yet then
Joanne Lilley
Linda Griffin
Robert Mathewson
Heading up to the cross in Cobden and running down fast as i could ,man i had some crashes ,now i struggle to walk lol and swimming at the hockey in cobbo.
Dianne Johnson
Robert Mathewson yes, that was one of our favourite things to do. Couldn’t even imagine going up there now.
Joyce Harris
White bait in the Kerosine tins full of it.
Dianne Johnson
Joyce Harris yes, and Dad spread it on the garden after he had shared it around the neighbourhood - no refrigeration in those days.
Don McNarn
3d a pint
Quintin Wright
My childhood
Kathy Duthie
i miss all the people that i know. nothing like a coaster
Anne Miller Mcmillan
Kathy Duthie hello to u Kathie. I remember u.
Kathy Duthie
yep remember you to anne at kings, bloody good times. bloody good boss, hope life has been good to you
Jenny Leach
I miss the lovely summer nights when it is daylight until 10 o'clock at night and swimming,and beautiful scenery and friendly people
Jenny Leach low spring tides at the beach
Kathy Duthie
Jenny Leach yes jenny those long summer nights, and in summer the squid boats of cobden beach
Kathy Duthie
now i am starting to feel home sick
Julia-Tarn Oliver-Blyth
Simplicity
Kyle Webster
The floods...?
Kathy Duthie
it is a honour to have you all in my life
Jenny Leach
Also the whitebait patties
Martin Griffin
Sand boarding and bush bashing.
Fishing and camping but most importantly The People and culture!
Gina Straker
As kids we were never home and all the kids in kaniere use hang out doing all sorts of things, making our own fun. Not safe these days to allow the kids to do the things we used to do.
Bronwyn Hibbs
Gina Straker those were the days remember we all used to hang out over at Kaniere School until dark - or if Mum would toot the horn and we knew it was time to head home lol - some wonderful memories... as you say, today is so different...
Gina Straker
Bronwyn Hibbs yes definitely remember all the fun we had, even the nightly swimming in the school pool
Denise Biddick
We as a family were only visiting at christmas and special occasions but my lovely great aunties and uncles who my dad obviously respected and loved. And lastly my dad because he was born there and moved away when he was 14. He loved visiting and catching up with all his friends he passed away at 52, 34 years ago.
Marlene Green
I miss Kotuku where I grew up on a farm near Lake Brunner . A beautiful place that I call paradise
Ian Murch
Just being in Greymouth
Kathy Duthie
true ian.
Margaret Malloch
Just living on the coast
Dianne Johnson
I have been reading all the comments and it shows how very blessed we all were to have been lucky enough to live on the Coast. I haven’t lived there for many years, but one a coaster, always a coaster.
Joy Drake
Being Young. Able to do the tramps though the bush.
Natesha Ramsay
Miss fishing off the wharf and blaketown tip, which is now closed off......Miss going to reefton on boxing day as a family to swim in the river and play good ol cricket.
Margaret Standen
Picnic days at the Reefton races, blackbeerrying at Waiuta, Whitebaiting.
Lynette Pauline
Walking or riding over the ponds on the pipe to blaketown often meeting people along the way courteously giving way
And Walking the bridge from greymouth directly to blanketing i think it was around talleys over the lagoon to blaketown
Lynette Pauline yes.. the pipes were a favourite of mine too
Karina Cook
Me to i lived in Franklin street down the stairs and into the pipe
Malcolm Kym Campbell
Loved my time with Uncle Doug and Aunty Nola Aitken best memories ever at 9 mile xxx
Arlene Hutcheon
Staying with my grandparents in Hokitika, the beach, the sound of the sea at night, whitebait patties, I could go and on.
Helen Fennell
Childhood friends, some of which are no longer alive
Tracy Alford
Playing in the paddocks with the neighbours, going into the bush. Swimming in clean rivers. The feeling of community and belonging.
Tracy Alford yes.. you dont get that in the cities
John Patrick Ward
I miss the Kopara and all who I annoyed
Jeannie Preddy
The smell of the bush after rain and swimming in the Grey river all summer!
John Hunt
My grandmother.
Jen Dick Stevens
Right back at you Kathy Duthie you are a lovely lady and will always be a coaster and it is a pleasure to know you
Tony Ellen
I loved the family thing no tv we played scrabble monopoly draughts snakes and ladders cards etc and at about nine pm out would come the open fire fork toaster and we would do toasties and sometimes crumpets ooh so yummy and no politics
Carrol Barnes - Baker
Bon fires at beach, freedom never having to be home before dark, always groups of friends together , never being bored, driving at 15 years, barn dances, New Years Eve at Post Office and thats just a start
Terri Prince
Loved the good old days when Dad worked on the steam trains, he'd take us 3 kids from Greymouth to Moana in the driving cab with him. Mum followed in the car, pick us kids up and head to Te Kinga for a picnic and swim. GR8 memories
Alex McGrath
Hearing waves & rain at night, being able to safely ride with friends down the main road to both Grey & Hoki, the beach and various bush trails. And bush adventures!
John Coffey
Just being surrounded by West Coasters, people who knew it was something special to be born and raised west of the mountains. Sadly, the Coast's greatest export has never been gold or coal but its youth -- heading off to find employment, education or sporting opportunities elsewhere.
Heather Newby
John Coffey yes.. most of the kids I went to school with left the coast around 1970
Helen Joan Forrest
Playing with no thought of danger, hens in the garden, massive whitebait patties, going to Grandads farm in Barrytown, playing in the hay shed. Having toast that was cooked over the hot coals of the sitting room fire. Having quiet snuggles with Mum after a bath. I could go on and on. What an ideal place to grow up in.
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Helen Joan Forrest oh toast made on the open fire, it was so scrumptious.
Dianne Johnson
Helen Joan Forrest was always our Sunday tea treat, toast and crumpets toasted over the fire.
Rebekah Fairhurst Geer
Gold panning in various spots, waipuna favourite, going through the tunnels the miners had left, searching for bottles, mushrooming and catching eels at night with a spot light
Richard Leach
NOT BEING THERE NOW
Peta Jones
I just remembered this! I wrote it in 1994, Heather mentioning Guy Fawkes reminded me! Cobden memories...
Heather Newby
Peta Jones wow,, thats cool!
Pauline Matene
Peta Jones beautiful!
Peta Jones
Pauline Matene thanks Heather and Pauline
Caryline Hill
Just being a kid and the freedom we had in Dunollie living under Mt Davey. The bend and chesterfield our fav swimming holes
Kerri Duthie
I miss the whole backyard of Cobden the freedom we had not wearing helmet to ride our bikes
Diana Mattingly
Everything
Berni Veale
The coal smoke smell water pistols at Christmas up the street whitebait for literally every meal
Miles Reay
Bike rides to Marsden and down to the wharf. Playing the bush and along Sawyers Creek. Sleeping on the front porch and listening to the breakers at Karoro Beach in the distance. Gold-panning, and searching for greenstone on the beach with Mum & Dad.
Heather Newby
Miles Reay i did that too.. searching for greenstone on Rapahoe beach.. we did find some on Blaketown beach too
Miles Reay
Mum & Dad favoured the northern beaches like Fourteen Mile, Heather. They’d sleep in the back of their car overnight to be the first to get the pickings of the early morning tides.
Marlene Jackson Perry
I miss whitebaiting on the Grey river with my two brothers.
Debbie Hocking
Being on the Coast
Yvonne Lawson
Riding my bike. Was always on it. Sunshine or rain.
Fran Townsend
I miss one of the best jobs I had there on the wharf unloading trawlers tuna boats jumping from boat to boat in the seasons...the care management provided to keep us going...Then down to the Golden Eagle for a beer
Joycelyn Hiha
just the whole place and the wonderful people. on a stormy night I lay in my bed and think of Collins s . felt so safe warm and loved. oh i do miss itt
Graham Messenger
Fishing off the back fence in Preston Road.
Sandra Sands
Swimming in the Taylorvill lagoon
Bob Laing
I lived in Larsen St. Cape Foulwind about 20 km from Westport
Playing and swimming at the beaches, dragging a flounder net, fishing, white baiting, deer stalking. The rivers, beaches and mountains. The Coast will always be home to me.
Barb Rodway
God yes we do miss Joy. So sad her life was cut so short.
Murray Hay
playing up on Bunny Chun's hill above Threadneedle Street / Murray Street until dark or mum yelled out its tea time!!! which ever came first. as a very young fella playing cricket out on Threadneedle St. with Johnny Knapp, all the Beam's and Magee's, I still live here of course so don't miss the Coast, but happy days
Robin Gibbens
All the great times I spent on the farm with my grandfather and the fun we all had in the bush building huts, best place in the world to grow up
Wayne Nicholson
Robin Gibbens . Heading back over this morning to re live the past. Love it .
Karen Beaumont
Family and the smell of coal fires burning
Amanda Harrington
I miss Rapahoe pub in the good old days, riding the horses on the beach swimming in the lagoon and sea, just beening able to walk the streets and hang with mate . Playing in the bush in the coal mines , we never sat inside on phoned or Xbox, come home from school done ur chores and then it was outside having fun, home for tea then outside again and was told to be home when started to get dark, it was such a great place as a kid
Pam Sweeney
Picking blackberries Going to get Mussels with Dad Tom Hutchison Swimming at Nessis Creek with Grandad Hutchison catching Crawlies at Dillmanstown and Aunty Myra Rochford cooking them for us.Waiting for Mr Blacks Wed rounds at Westland Hosp and him not letting me go home.. Cooking Spuds up on the dredge tailings at Kaniere with Kay Kelly/Nelson ... such great memories
Susan Barlow
Hours & hours just playing in the bush; whitebaiting with Mum and the locals on the New River; swimming in the river, birching, Camerons School & our wonderful teacher, Bill Maher (how lucky we were to have him). table tennis, the village and it's people and the gossip & stories. An idyllic life.
Joy Hill-Cooper
The long walks, swimming in the Mawheraiti school pool
Reg Allan
and now the world's all fucked up
Shelly Baxter
Whitebait patties
Bon fires on the beach
Collecting driftwood for firewood
Canoeing in the lagoon
Pushing my bike through the barber
The roller-skating rink
Gold panning
Looking for greenstone
Go carting down hilly streets
Billy Tea / walks & camping
Stock car races in Kumara & getting a hotdog with tomato sauce.
Friday night fish & chips
Having my grandparents still alive
Being a kid
Samuel Mort
Roller skating at the civic center is something i was telling my daughter about the other day, how we had a roller disco on Friday nights
Steven Shrives
Samuel Mort fuk yeah bring back the roller disco
Jono Kerr
Samuel Mort your an old fart ae I never done that haha
Nic Adele Prendergast
I miss lake kaniere,lake mahinapu,dorothy falls,hokitika gorge,I miss soooooo much
Steven Shrives
Soap box Arnott heights durbie.. can’t bait it brent rocket duff
Lynda Pope
The freedom.
Stacey Mather - Clouston
Swimming at the river, roller skating at the civic centre, horse riding (having said horse right next door in the paddock), riding home made raft down the creek with my bestie, and being told off by my great grandmother for being out on the lagoon on it.
Going whitebaiting. Walking to the beach and cooking sausages on a makeshift BBQ with whatever we could find. Having a street full of kids to play with that you have grown up with, thats what I would have liked for my girls
Stacey Mather - Clouston
And I have to say, when I smell a coal fire I miss home. When I bought mums ashes home to scatter, I was driving into Taylorville, it was evening and cold and the first thing that hit me was the smell of coal fires and it made me cry. And to let mum know she was finally home.
Natasha Armstrong
Stacey Mather - Clouston me too. The smell of the coal fires gets me every time. Brings we straight back to childhood
Te Rua Mason
Lol..Stacking the wood
Brenda Brown
So true Mandy Harrington great place still is
Murray Bone
my parents, grand parents, cousins and friends I. went to school to school with in Hokitika
Glenda Bishop
I miss everything about the Coast, but mainly my Family and Friends
Val McGowan
Freedom to explore
Mark Humphreys
I miss Granity School, Birchfeild Beach and swimming in creek and floundering on the mudflats with all the kids during summer holidays... and getting mussels and pippi's from nikau, Guy Fawkes Day,Blackberrying and Mushrooming and watching my tadpole collection turn into frogs.
Brenda Brown
Mark Humphreys I was at Granty school last Friday picking up my grand niece and nephew so friendly live driving up there magic
Don McNarn
And what you didn't eat went into the garden as compost
Mark Humphreys
Don McNarn including whitebait lol
Kay Kelly
Pam Sweeney Those were the days
Noeline McCaughan
Everyone here has said it for me.
Alice Kerr
Nick, Matt.. what were you saying the other day about leaving paradise
Crow Bay
Nothing!
Kathy Duthie
well said stacey, so simple back then, every body knew each other
Tane Nathan
The fresh air
Kathy Duthie
gosh i want to go home
Tane Nathan
Kathy Duthie I know how u feel
Kathy Duthie
the pounding of the sea on cobden beach
Heather Newby
Kathy Duthie the pounding of the sea on Blaketown beach
Kathy Duthie
that was a good arvo at kells with you and your mum, still find it hard to beleive she has gone, and in such a horrable way
Tom Egan
The clean rivers of the grey valley and south westland
Anne Honey
The people. I don't remember it ever raining in the Christmas school holidays.
Heather Newby
Anne Honey same
John Rosanowski
I kept falling off my bike. It was vicious cycle.
Miles Reay
I guess it was one on NZs first electric bicycles Ros.
Phill Oldham
I miss all the great fishing spots and traks that the north islanders closed down for us I also miss being able to camp with out being fined
Gary Williams
Digging for gold eh!!!!!
Bruce Dando
Miss the fires on the beach and the firebrigade putting them out
Owen Stephens
What Martin Griffin said lol. Its the people that made and make the Coast.
Tony Thompson
those beautiful days in okarito and the comradeship of the fantastic people of south westland,
Kathy Duthie
andh to my amazement , watching kerri and others jump of the cobden bridge innto the river
Genevieve Wilson
Going into the bush at the back of taylorville and playing around the waterfall Ezra Wilson Heath Wilson Hannah Wilson
Vicki Breeze
Blake town was a amazing place to grown up.had a great childhood.we left home in the morning away all day exploring.mum still lives there.still feels like home.vicki Stuart
Neil Williams
I miss all the fun things we did as kids. Playing cricket on Preston rd building huts by the lagoon,swimming over by “the point” the beach and riding our bikes a lot.kids nowadays don’t do any of that .
Heather Newby
Neil Williams remember the pipes? and do you remember thast old abandoned house at the entrance to the pipes on preston rd... and there was a garden in the front with roses
Neil Williams
Heather Newby I remember going over to the town swimming pool by using the sewer pipe to walk along.when they developed water walk rd between both lagoons they put a pipe under the road I used to crawl through it before it became clogged
Heather Newby
Neil Williams i never knew about the pipe under the road.. where did it begin?
Neil Williams
Heather Newby looking at Kowai bush from Preston rd a piece of the shore line juttered out it began there under the road and into the adjacent lagoon on the areodrome side of the road
Neil Williams very interesting
Fiona Bigham
The simplicity of life.
Jenny Ifer Bannerman Gifford
My awesome friends.
Maye Dunn
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The rain.
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Maye Dunn it’s strange but I don’t really remember the rain being a problem or annoying
Lana Vargas
Dunollie and Nanas house.
Lois Little
The sea the swim spots the long gone relly.s
Kevin Bell
Just being able to grow up in a great place.
Logan Dense
Rapahoe beach races
Valerie Beavis
Climbing the Terrace hill behind our place in Reefton, and the swimming pools.
Helen Devine
We live in best place keep it a secret
Trish Leckie
Rapahoe Beach. We used to swim in the sea & dive off the old wharf into the lagoon. My grandfather boiling the old thermos for a cups of tea. Whitebaiting at the mouth to the sea. Probably caught 1 or 2. Catching Crawlies in the creeks. Picking blackberries. Going eeling in the creeks. In 2nd place behind Rapahoe must be the Runanga swimming pool. We spent hours in there. Diving for stones (sometimes a bit cloudy)
What better place to grow up
Jude Wastney
I miss the fact that we could play outside at night and be safe. Also that you not only knew your neighbours, you knew most people in your community a well as other communities. The hospitality, the support, the friends and the community events. I miss Granity
Mary Shearer
Jude Wastney yes so do I Jude.. probably not the same as when we lived there though...
Diana Ackland
I remember living in Boddytown
Alison Blogs
my friends, whitebait, blackberrying,riding our bikes to rapahoe and sneaking into swimming pool at night
Kym Murdoch
Being able to ride my horse everywhere!
Samuel Mort
Buying smokes under age with a note from your mum
Hayzle Mann-Hughes
Twilight, Hector picture theatre, Socials/town dances, Whitebait, trout, picnics at Mokihinui domain, knowing everyone in your own village (Seddonville).
Mark Humphreys
Hayzle Mann-Hughes last time i saw you and your sisters was a Waimangaroa Hall dances lol thats going back a few years now.
Iri Sinclair
Roasting marshmallows over a beach fire with baby girls in the 1990s
Alison Hibbs
I just love the West Coast - my home town. I will always be a west coaster. Lucky to have been born there. Thank u Mum n Dad.
Eddie Parsons
Loved the place , plenty of fishing , do all sorts of things, eating mussels from the old boiler at low tide by the Blaketown heads,
Trish Rennie
I miss the wonderful people of my neighbourhood and the carefree way we grew up….most folks looked out for each other….sadly today it’s dog eat dog
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West Coast New Zealand History (2nd Aug 2024). What are the things you miss most about your childhood on the West Coast?. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 10th Apr 2026 20:52, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/28750