Submitting a story or photo.
If you would like to submit a story, memory or photos of your time on Rangitoto to be included on this page, or anything that you think would be of interest to our readers, please email the webmaster with your story or comment. I will update this page on a regular basis.
If emailing photos please try to keep the filesize down - a good size is 150mm wide at 72dpi, colour RGB and saved as a jpg file. Include a short caption explaining the photo and any people featured.
I have many fond memories of this unique place
and I am grateful to those that are committed to preserving
part of the Islands history. James Buchanan (Unc!) would
be pleased
Steve Pearce
I liked singing to the rats on my harmonica
Alana Blackman
I have many fond memories of childhood holidays at Rangitoto
... the devonshire teas and the bingo evenings at 'the shop',
the Miss Rangitoto contest, beach combing and Aunty Vi ....
this is a great website of cherished memories
Tracey Heyward-Petry
The website is great, I look forward to the development
of it. We all know how important Rangi is as a heritage
site. I wonder how many left footed jandals are found near
the gull colony now ?
Jenny Gambirazzi
(nee Heyward)
Channel of Rangitoto - a poem by Andy
Heyward
The trip across water to Rangitoto
is a journey of time and memory.
Waves as constant as the years,
Tide in tide out.
The shell path beats me to the bach every time.
Faces who have known me longer than I have them,
greet me like I last saw them yesterday.
As I walk the familiar beaten path
my mind runs forward and back
like an eager dog on a run.
Anticipating the familiar embrace
of the Black Bach and reminiscing
the infatuation of childhood adventures.
This is belonging.
I have so many fond memories of "Rangi" none
more important to me than those wonderful summer holidays
spent having an absolute blast. I also have never forgotten
the great characters I had the opportunity to meet during
my time there with my family at the shop & tearooms.
Who could forget the great bushfire we had in one of those
scorching hot days back in the 70s. My biggest regret was
having to ride or walk to school on Motutapu island.
Gregorys
My name is Max Noble nephew of Reg Noble and to read the stories in this site is like a trip down memory lane. I was privileged to have been lucky enough to have spent just about all my childhood spare time on this island paradise. To explain to anybody just how much Rangi becomes part of your life is a futile exercise and even 40 years on there are very few days when I do not think about my time there. Reading your old newsletters has been a great experience and memories came rolling back when you read some of the old names that pop up in them. At first all holidays were spent at the kiosk and when Reg sold it we all moved around the track to Vi's "pink" bach where the same great times were had.
I will list a few memories:
Seagull outboards at 5:00am
Tracks we made through the bush. We had shortcuts everywhere on the Rangi wharf side
Reg's scone making skills in the wood oven. Topped with pohutakawa honey made on the island
Chasing mice out of his old bus before daytrippers arrived
Old fish smokers going all day in the bush
Safes hanging in the trees
The old kiosk. The bathroom and toilet was cut out of rocks at the back of the kiosk
Stamping mail in the kiosk
Wheeling milk and papers etc from the boat to the kiosk on the old pull trolleys
Cleaning the swimming pool. pulling the swimming pool plug with that heavy rope and everyone sweeping out the pool
Unloading goods from blue boats on a really full tide when they could come right into the swimming pool area
Rowing dinghy backwards for hours on a full moon with Reg hanging over the back catching piper
Vi's handiwork always painting the rocks everywhere in bright colours and her handiwork when she sewed flags and the like for the fishing and swimming competitions
How can you forget the possums and wallabies. Wooden possum traps with apple hanging in them
How many times did people have to climb the summit to send out mirror messages that someone had missed the boat
Driving to the beacon or Islington bay in Reg's pick up. gawd what a ride
I could sit here all day reminiscing, Just keep up the
great work you are all doing and have fun doing it.
Max Noble
