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HomeNgā Kaupapa | What's OnThings to do in KāpitiHeritage TrailŌtaki and Te HoroŌtaki Childrens Health Camp
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Ōtaki Childrens Health Camp

Te Reo

 

Location: 29 Health Camp Road, Ōtaki Beach

The New Zealand health camp movement arose from growing concern about children’s health and welfare in the early twentieth century. There was a new awareness that many children were missing out on fresh air, sunshine and healthy food. This was the first permanent Children’s Health Camp, opening in 1932.

Dr Elizabeth Gunn, School Medical Officer at Wanganui, became interested in camps for children after serving with the army (1916–18). She organised a successful health camp under canvas every summer for several years at Turakina.

  • 1929 
    Dr Ida Paterson, Director of School Hygiene, founded the Wellington Children’s Health Camp Association.
     
    Byron Brown, businessman and entrepreneur of Ōtaki, donated four acres of land (later enlarged to 70 acres) near the beach.

    Mrs Christen Neilson of Norsewood suggested the issuing of health stamps to support the camps. They have been sold every year since 1929, and some have become very valuable.
  • 1932 
    Two octagonal buildings from Rotorua Hospital were moved to the Ōtaki site. Each held 60 beds. Children selected by school medical staff came from Wellington, New Plymouth and Hawke’s Bay. Many were ill-nourished, the result of being in families experiencing high unemployment, or were recovering from illness. They stayed six weeks, and thrived on a regime of good food, plenty of sleep, fun at the seaside and a few hours of schooling daily.
  • 1941–45 
    The camp was taken over as a wartime emergency hospital by Wellington Hospital Board.
  • 1945 
    The camp re-opened with a new emphasis on emotional needs as well as physical health. Today a holistic approach addresses the social, emotional and physical needs of children.

Photo gallery

Click the thumbnail to enlarge the image.

Black Stamp Boy Web Black Stamp Boy Web Byron Brown Byron Brown Health Camp Hut Health Camp Hut Red Stamp Boy Web Red Stamp Boy Web Tb Stamp Nurse Web Tb Stamp Nurse Web Health-camp-hut Health-camp-hut
Black Stamp Boy Web - Thumbnail
Byron Brown - Thumbnail
Health Camp Hut - Thumbnail
Red Stamp Boy Web - Thumbnail
Tb Stamp Nurse Web - Thumbnail
Health-camp-hut - Thumbnail

Download a brochure

Click on a link below to download or print a copy of each heritage trail brochure.

[PDF 2.41 MB]Ōtaki and Te Horo[PDF 2.41 MB]
Waikanae[PDF 2.51 MB]
Paraparaumu[PDF 1.67 MB]
Paekākāriki[PDF 1.41 MB]

Related links

www.marinenz.com 
Museums

Supporters of the Kāpiti Coast Heritage Trail

Te Whakaminenga o Kāpiti
Kapiti Pakeke Lions
Kapiti Historical Society
Otaki Historical Society

paraparaumu-library
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Kāpiti Coast District Council
175 Rimu Road
Private Bag 60601
Paraparaumu 5254

Phone: 04 296 4700
Toll free: 0800 486 486
Fax: 04 296 4830
[email protected]

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