Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Photograph
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.
Menu
Closing of Pukekura Mill. 1987.
Expand/collapse
About this image
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)West CoastOrganisation (eg business)Pukekura MillEventClosing of Pukekura Mill.
Category Information
Category TagForestry
From Facebook
Comments
Wendy James
My dad leo best dad ever RIP dad an my mum sylvia an big brother Kevin. Living at pukekura was best life ever dad an mum were most amazing caring parents. I would love to retire in pukekura an live in our old family home so many memories. Thank u Brenda an robby for sharing
Suzie Breeze
Wendy James lots of memories with you guys at Puke, I ran into your Dad years ago in New Brighton.
Your Mum was always good to us kids and I remember her being involved with St John’s
Wendy James
Suzie Breeze we sure did running around an playing in saw dust pit.
Craig Jarden
if im correct leo then worked a issacs in christchurch.i was working for telecom and he reconised me from the coast.
a real nice guy
Wendy James
Craig Jarden yes dad did .
15h
Reply
Craig Jarden
Wendy James colonial sawmills.
what a shame we cant mill native logs still
Tony Winter
Wendy James Did he have a a Harley trike?
Wendy James
Tony Winter yes blue one about 5 years ago
Tony Winter
Wendy James Yep i met him when he worked for Isaacs too.
Des Smith
Wendy James I worked with Leo at Isaacs a great guy to work with I filled in on the Cat truck if Leo was away
Craig Jarden
Peter Black i was in kaniere today loading logs in beside ajs mine site.
fun times
Peter Black
Craig Jarden did you see the two gold screens behind you as your getting loaded. I was there watching you. Looking down on you
Craig Jarden
Peter Black sure did the scanias easy to spot
Wendy James
Peter Black did u go hari hari school I am sure we were in same class if u did.
Peter Black
We sure did.
Peter Black
How’s things
14h
Reply
Craig Jarden
Peter Black really good forestry a bit quiet though
Dot Wilkins
My uncle gorden wilkins worked for williams
Wendy James
Dot Wilkins was that for leo or his dad royce dad took over mill as manger after grandad pass away about 1976
Pam Bates
Dot Wilkins Gordons Villa.
Phil Wright
And then shut all the native down,it was a grim time then,and it's not looking to flash now .!
Andy Bone
Phil Wright now we just sell the plantation of pines to the Chinese.with no milling.....with we payed to develop...those forest
Annette Benfell
My Dad worked there in the early 50s we use to live there on the hill in a mill house
Wendy James
Annette Benfell dad didn't work there until early 60s for grandad not sure how long grandad had been Manger for.so he mite work for him his name was royce Williams.
Independence Day (Solana) price today, IN DAY to USD live price, marketcap and chart | CoinMarketCap
COINMARKETCAP.COM
Independence Day (Solana) price today, IN DAY to USD live price, marketcap and chart | CoinMarketCap
Independence Day (Solana) price today, IN DAY to USD live price, marketcap and chart | CoinMarketCap
Annette Benfell
Wendy James my dad was Bert McLeay
Sandra Douglas
Two Ross workers were my cousin Robbie Breeze &, my brother Rodney Douglas.
Dea Minehan
Julie Manera show Peter when ur home. Hey tell the bride she's awesome for me!! Another firefighter??
Stephen Foster
Had a few relatives work in the mill back in the day
Leslie Whitiskie
My husband worked there years ago and i remember your parents Leo and Sylvia they came up to our place in Hokitika a few times.
Wayne Rogers
Was a team of bushman, falling and Working a Hauler,81,in Ianthe the Tea boy was in 50s, Bloke on Hauler be probably 70_80 ,A Great Team of real man, Pride, we were planting Rimu ,and Blackwoods,NZ, FS, HUMBLE I am,, Stand Tall
Veĺler Smales
It wood take a huge book to write all the stories about the mill and people who worked it. I just found a school friend I've not seen since 1958 when her mum died and father died month later in an accident behind the mill on the tram she was 6 one of five children and lovely Mrs Barnes looked after them as they lived next door. Graham Barnes and I use to clime through the huge rafters in the mill above the saws after school .David williamson . Bob Nelson. All my family the Grant's and many more Jim Agnew painted all the huts. My first window I ever Brock was throwing a stone over the willow trees and crash of glass oh dear into Bill Jamison kitchen in the huts . Yes after all the yrs wondering where the Butterworths had gone a moth ago I met Denis by pure chance in the Palms Mall chch . Last time I seen her was at school that fateful day 1958 I was 11 she was 6 xxxxxx
Rosalie Fuller
Veĺler Smales what a lovely story
Suzie Breeze
Veĺler Smales thanks for sharing
John Webster
they stopped the moss collection , and commercial feeling, no greenies live in Haast,
John Paget
John Webster Chlole Swarbrick is to busy slapping florists, when she isn;t covering for her corrupt party members and helping out her shop lifting mates.
Gavin Davy
Used to check a truck and trailer for Leo at the mill. He was a hell pf a nice man.
Robert Mallinson
BLAME THE GREENIES -same happened with Carter Holt in Haast
Kevin O'Regan
Sad when a sawmill closes a community dies. What we were doing was not sustainable but smaller operations could have been. Both Whataroa and Hari Hari should both be still operating on small volumes. Saltwater forest was milked for Ruatapu. Had of been kept regional on scaled back operations those small community hubs would still be operational.
Colleens Page
·
Bob Blair worked for Leo back in the day, after Jim Agnew
Wendy James
My dad leo best dad ever RIP dad an my mum sylvia an big brother Kevin. Living at pukekura was best life ever dad an mum were most amazing caring parents. I would love to retire in pukekura an live in our old family home so many memories. Thank u Brenda an robby for sharing
Suzie Breeze
Wendy James lots of memories with you guys at Puke, I ran into your Dad years ago in New Brighton.
Your Mum was always good to us kids and I remember her being involved with St John’s
Wendy James
Suzie Breeze we sure did running around an playing in saw dust pit.
Katie Earnshaw
Wendy James do you have many photos of the old family home?
Annette Benfell
My Dad worked there in the early 50s we use to live there on the hill in a mill house
Wendy James
Annette Benfell dad didn't work there until early 60s for grandad not sure how long grandad had been Manger for.so he mite work for him his name was royce Williams.
Brenda Breeze
Closing of Pukekura Mill. Photo from Press
Lisa Young
Graeme Williams
Katie Earnshaw
Thats pretty cool, I might print those out and do a sort of notice board with things about the mill. Cheers
Wendy James
My dad leo best dad ever RIP dad an my mum sylvia an big brother Kevin. Living at pukekura was best life ever dad an mum were most amazing caring parents. I would love to retire in pukekura an live in our old family home so many memories. Thank u Brenda an robby for sharing
Suzie Breeze
Wendy James lots of memories with you guys at Puke, I ran into your Dad years ago in New Brighton.
Your Mum was always good to us kids and I remember her being involved with St John’s
Wendy James
Suzie Breeze we sure did running around an playing in saw dust pit.
Craig Jarden
if im correct leo then worked a issacs in christchurch.i was working for telecom and he reconised me from the coast.
a real nice guy
Wendy James
Craig Jarden yes dad did .
15h
Reply
Craig Jarden
Wendy James colonial sawmills.
what a shame we cant mill native logs still
Tony Winter
Wendy James Did he have a a Harley trike?
Wendy James
Tony Winter yes blue one about 5 years ago
Tony Winter
Wendy James Yep i met him when he worked for Isaacs too.
Des Smith
Wendy James I worked with Leo at Isaacs a great guy to work with I filled in on the Cat truck if Leo was away
Craig Jarden
Peter Black i was in kaniere today loading logs in beside ajs mine site.
fun times
Peter Black
Craig Jarden did you see the two gold screens behind you as your getting loaded. I was there watching you. Looking down on you
Craig Jarden
Peter Black sure did the scanias easy to spot
Wendy James
Peter Black did u go hari hari school I am sure we were in same class if u did.
Peter Black
We sure did.
Peter Black
How’s things
14h
Reply
Craig Jarden
Peter Black really good forestry a bit quiet though
Dot Wilkins
My uncle gorden wilkins worked for williams
Wendy James
Dot Wilkins was that for leo or his dad royce dad took over mill as manger after grandad pass away about 1976
Pam Bates
Dot Wilkins Gordons Villa.
Phil Wright
And then shut all the native down,it was a grim time then,and it's not looking to flash now .!
Andy Bone
Phil Wright now we just sell the plantation of pines to the Chinese.with no milling.....with we payed to develop...those forest
Annette Benfell
My Dad worked there in the early 50s we use to live there on the hill in a mill house
Wendy James
Annette Benfell dad didn't work there until early 60s for grandad not sure how long grandad had been Manger for.so he mite work for him his name was royce Williams.
Independence Day (Solana) price today, IN DAY to USD live price, marketcap and chart | CoinMarketCap
COINMARKETCAP.COM
Independence Day (Solana) price today, IN DAY to USD live price, marketcap and chart | CoinMarketCap
Independence Day (Solana) price today, IN DAY to USD live price, marketcap and chart | CoinMarketCap
Annette Benfell
Wendy James my dad was Bert McLeay
Sandra Douglas
Two Ross workers were my cousin Robbie Breeze &, my brother Rodney Douglas.
Dea Minehan
Julie Manera show Peter when ur home. Hey tell the bride she's awesome for me!! Another firefighter??
Stephen Foster
Had a few relatives work in the mill back in the day
Leslie Whitiskie
My husband worked there years ago and i remember your parents Leo and Sylvia they came up to our place in Hokitika a few times.
Wayne Rogers
Was a team of bushman, falling and Working a Hauler,81,in Ianthe the Tea boy was in 50s, Bloke on Hauler be probably 70_80 ,A Great Team of real man, Pride, we were planting Rimu ,and Blackwoods,NZ, FS, HUMBLE I am,, Stand Tall
Veĺler Smales
It wood take a huge book to write all the stories about the mill and people who worked it. I just found a school friend I've not seen since 1958 when her mum died and father died month later in an accident behind the mill on the tram she was 6 one of five children and lovely Mrs Barnes looked after them as they lived next door. Graham Barnes and I use to clime through the huge rafters in the mill above the saws after school .David williamson . Bob Nelson. All my family the Grant's and many more Jim Agnew painted all the huts. My first window I ever Brock was throwing a stone over the willow trees and crash of glass oh dear into Bill Jamison kitchen in the huts . Yes after all the yrs wondering where the Butterworths had gone a moth ago I met Denis by pure chance in the Palms Mall chch . Last time I seen her was at school that fateful day 1958 I was 11 she was 6 xxxxxx
Rosalie Fuller
Veĺler Smales what a lovely story
Suzie Breeze
Veĺler Smales thanks for sharing
John Webster
they stopped the moss collection , and commercial feeling, no greenies live in Haast,
John Paget
John Webster Chlole Swarbrick is to busy slapping florists, when she isn;t covering for her corrupt party members and helping out her shop lifting mates.
Gavin Davy
Used to check a truck and trailer for Leo at the mill. He was a hell pf a nice man.
Robert Mallinson
BLAME THE GREENIES -same happened with Carter Holt in Haast
Kevin O'Regan
Sad when a sawmill closes a community dies. What we were doing was not sustainable but smaller operations could have been. Both Whataroa and Hari Hari should both be still operating on small volumes. Saltwater forest was milked for Ruatapu. Had of been kept regional on scaled back operations those small community hubs would still be operational.
Colleens Page
·
Bob Blair worked for Leo back in the day, after Jim Agnew
Wendy James
My dad leo best dad ever RIP dad an my mum sylvia an big brother Kevin. Living at pukekura was best life ever dad an mum were most amazing caring parents. I would love to retire in pukekura an live in our old family home so many memories. Thank u Brenda an robby for sharing
Suzie Breeze
Wendy James lots of memories with you guys at Puke, I ran into your Dad years ago in New Brighton.
Your Mum was always good to us kids and I remember her being involved with St John’s
Wendy James
Suzie Breeze we sure did running around an playing in saw dust pit.
Katie Earnshaw
Wendy James do you have many photos of the old family home?
Annette Benfell
My Dad worked there in the early 50s we use to live there on the hill in a mill house
Wendy James
Annette Benfell dad didn't work there until early 60s for grandad not sure how long grandad had been Manger for.so he mite work for him his name was royce Williams.
Editing is temporarily disabled
Cancel EditClick on the image to add
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
West Coast New Zealand History (21st May 2024). Closing of Pukekura Mill. 1987.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 5th Jun 2026 18:41, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/4949