http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz en-us Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:19:50 +1300 Rocketspark http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/post/171931/albert-edmund-wrigley-1898-1968/ A. (Bert)  E. Wrigley was educated at Seddon Memorial Technical College in Auckland and served overseas  in the First World War. His military file can be read here.  Over four decades he became one of the most involved figures in Matamata’s civic life.... Mon, 26 Oct 2026 21:02:52 +1300 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/#post171931 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/post/170588/john-draper--grocery-glass--crockery/ Another early arrival in Matamata was John Draper. He and his wife  arrived in Matamata sometime between 1911 and 1914.  The majority of the information here supplied by a descendant Heather Cheer. - her Timeline document attached at the foot of this blog. ... Mon, 21 Sep 2026 15:36:29 +1200 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/#post170588 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/post/169834/christmas-carnivals/ "[A] Christmas Carnival .... debauches the town and attracts only hooligans"... Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:49:27 +1200 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/#post169834 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/post/169686/come-to-matamata/ During the late 1920s and the 1930s the people of Matamata worked hard to establish the town and promote it. Forming in particular the Chamber of Commerce (although not until 1919)  and Beautifying Society (first mooted in 1926 but not launched until 1929).In 1937 “Come to Matamata Week” was held and reported to be highly successful.  (the promotional booklet can be read here)... Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:39:32 +1200 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/#post169686 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/post/168962/ivan-black-previously-tchernegovski/ Russian emigré... Sat, 22 Aug 2026 19:58:24 +1200 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/#post168962 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/post/168950/james-corbett/  "‘James Corbett had vision and 100 percent belief in the town and district of Matamata as a rising centre"... Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:09:31 +1200 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/#post168950 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/post/168942/the-misses-north/ Domestic servants were as difficult to procure as nuggets of gold... Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:43:29 +1200 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/#post168942 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/post/168887/richard-sumner-james/ It was more up to date than is often provided in cities and towns. ... Wed, 19 Aug 2026 19:39:47 +1200 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/#post168887 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/post/168886/the-rialto-tea-rooms/ Five decades of Tea, Talk & Celebrations... Wed, 19 Aug 2026 19:34:25 +1200 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/#post168886 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/post/168657/matamata-heritage-month--march-2027/ More aerial views can be seen here... Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:14:45 +1200 http://www.matamatahistoricalsociety.co.nz/blog/#post168657