Rehua Hostel

Here’s a pic of the main block. For all that went on there it is really surprising how small the space looks, now it’s gone.

You could sell empty glass Coca Cola bottles (the big size) down the road at the dairy. There were always lots hanging around the hostel. Grab some of those and you bought yourself a packet of smokes (16 cents for a pack of 10 Capstan). You had 8 cents left, so what do you do? Why, get lollies of course.

Pineapple Pats were 4 for a cent, so you got a whole heap (and rotten teeth). Then you would go with your cousins into the woodshed of all places - and have a smoke.

The possie that you see the drawn figure sitting was where I used to sit to watch the goings on at Rehua. One particular time (don’t know what it was for but will work it out later) as a party was being brought in, I recognised Mrs Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan - Member of Parliament for Southern Maori. What a glamourous woman! And the beautiful  cloak she wore was just dazzling.

Armchairs had been put at the front for the dignitaries, and pews for others behind them left standing room only for the ones at the back. Whetu went to sit on an armchair and the seat fell through the bottom. I thought it was really funny, went inside and laughed my head off. A couple of men helped her up and things continued.

Onslow (Coronation) Street was a couple streets parallel to Springfield Rd towards Papanui. We lived there when we got to Christchurch. Dad was working in Hornby at a drycleaner’s and we had a bloody old panel van whose back door wouldn’t shut and was cold in Winter.

Mum got a job as a cook at Rehua and later became Assistant Matron under Miss Dudar (don’t know if I spelled that right), then on to Matron.

This was when we were about to move to Rehua. Here’s the lowdown on the pic. Stevan, Dad, Mum & Peter belong to me. Toriana & Warren belong to Aunty Jude who became Assistant Matron. Kim, Ward & Uncle Ian belong to Aunty Trace who became weekend cook. When Kim got older she was Aunty Trace’s assistant. She went on to become a chef and is now in Perth. Later on (when Mum & Dad left) I was a kitchen hand there.

I don’t know how Hotu fits in - I included his name because I’ve an inkling he had something to do with Rehua (I could be wrong, but I was a kid - good excuse eh?)

Years later Mum said she never aspired to be Matron (her jobs previous were sewing & cooking mainly) - it’s just that Wilf Falkingham thought she’d be good for the job.

I’ve just been on the blower to Aunty Jude who was Assistant Matron at Rehua (don’t know the dates - she’ll fill you in on that). She’s in Sydney, Oz. She’s keen to impart some memories & photos - that was a very happy time of life for her. She said Terry Ryan talked to her sometime back and said she was about the only staff left.

This pic was taken about July last year. (The guy is one of her niece’s partner). We’ve been hearing rumours for a long time that there was a Rehua Reunion meant to happen Easter this year. However, no light has come of that. I’ve been asking around for over a year.

Aunty Jude says I’m to give a big, loving mihi to all from her, so here it is:

She says she’ll come over if there’s a reunion, but not if it’s just a cuppa tea. Watch out! She might put you on dishes!

August 28, 1965 (thank goodness someone wrote on the back of the photo) we headed to Christchurch from the Bell Block (New Plymouth) Airport.

This place is Rangiatea, which was a Methodist run boarding school for girls at one time. I don’t know what capacity we were there for. I think the folks were caretakers, and the place was closing. (Of course it didn’t - was used for other things).

Good old NAC. Mum and the boys.

Look at the legs! Mum with a couple of sisters and a mate. Dad got work as a presser (clothing) in a drycleaner’s in Christchurch - so that’s why we went.

Happy Waitangi Day everyone! (I know the date says 5 Feb, but I don’t know how to change the time thing on here and in the US  Feb 6 is 6 hours away - bla bla bla - it’s Waitangi Day here)

Arohanui, Mina

I’ve been struggling with whether or not to divulge this very important part of my life. Now I’m old and dotty, I just can’t help it. The older I get, the more I realise and am grateful for my very unusual childhood, and my time at Rehua. A postcard I kept:

I went to Christchurch a few years back, and was horrified to find the main block gone. It was then I thought about putting something down.

I intend to put my memories, photos, newspaper clippings and other relevant stuff (to me, anyway) here over time.

Feel free to comment, ask questions or just say ‘Hi’. I’d also love to hear from anyone who’d like to share any memories (the good, the bad & the ugly) or photos. I won’t publish anything you don’t want to share. Email: mina.keenan@gmail.com

Arohanui, Mina

Ok you lot. This blog was born because I got a phone call on Saturday. From Leo Robinson an old boy of Rehua who was there around 1965/6 and stayed four years to do his apprenticeship. He knew my partner through work, my partner mentioned I was a Keenan and this began a korero between them that led to the phone call. I bloody wept. I asked Leo if his memories at Rehua were good ones, he said yes.

Leo Robinson

It was a hot day, we met up, had some beers and talked our sox off. Something like five hours. Good job we met up early.  Anyway we resolved to keep in touch. Tena Koe, Leo!

It was SO GOOD to connect with someone from those times, because anyone who was there knows they were bloody remarkable! I am not naive enough to think everyone has fond memories of the place.

Anyway, I decided to put down what I remember and of course - these are ramblings from a kid that didn’t know much - but who had an unusual fantastic upbringing on a marae slap bang in Christchurch city.