TinuiTinui is a small village approximately 40 kilometres east of Masterton, in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand. The name Tinui comes from the Maori words ti, meaning cabbage tree and nui, meaning many. While the actual village is small, consisting of only two streets, the village serves as the centre of the wider Tinui farming area. It's within close proximity to a number of wonderful beaches and some dramatic coastline. Castlepoint is the closest, a small seaside village in its own right with its own fully operating historic lighthouse. Riversdale and Mataikona are also within easy reach.
The Anzac Connection
Tinui is most famous for being the first place in the world to hold a formal commemoration of Anzac Day (see www.tinui.co.nz for full details). Back in 1914 there were over a thousand single men in the area, many volunteered for the Services and some lost their lives. In 1916 Rev. Basil Ashcroft held the first Anzac Day commemoration in the Church of the Good Shepherd, before leading villagers to the top of Tinui Taipo (Mt. Maunsell) to erect a permanent memorial. The wooden cross became the first Anzac memorial of its type in New Zealand and stood on the hilltop for nearly 50 years before an aluminium cross replaced it in 1965. Tinui now acts as a domestic alternative to travelling to Gallipoli for both Veterans and the general public to pay their respects and remember those who have fallen. In 2015, the 100 year anniversary, over 2000 people from New Zealand and overseas attended our Anzac Day service. The Tinui cross site was registered as a Category 1 Historic Site (a site of national significance) in March 2011.
We have reflected our local history, and national heritage, in our honey products; have a look at our honey to see how. Hard Times
Tinui is less famously known for its propensity to flood. The first flood was recorded in 1858 when water covered the river flats. In 1936, floods caused thousands of sheep to drown and floodwaters reached a depth of 450mm inside the Tinui Hotel (before it became the Tinui Cafe & Bar). The 1991 floods devastated the town when 200mm of rain fell over a 24 hour period, and just a year later, in July 1992 the river flooded again.
Tinui Today
Today, Tinui is a thriving place with a true sense of community. It has a school, village craft shop, museum, Cafe & Bar, not to mention a preserved Post Office from back in the day featuring Anzac memorabilia. It has an active rural fire brigade and hosts annual local cricket matches on the field opposite the Cafe & Bar. The community pulls together when needed and almost everything is done on a volunteer basis. If you're ever in the area please come and visit us, you'll love it.
|
Tinui Collie Club dog trials; proudly sponsored by Tinui Honey
The Church of the Good Shepherd; in 1916 it was the first place in the world to hold an Anzac memorial service
Tinui in flood
The Tinui General Store and Craft Shop with Tinui Taipo in the distance where the Anzac cross resides
|
