Waikawa Beach

Bitter Water

a story of waikawa

Bitter Water

Deb Shepherd and Laraine Shepherd

The history of Waikawa Beach, Horowhenua, New Zealand

“A little settlement, a few houses and baches, a stream, a footbridge, lots of sandhills, a beach and not much else.”

The banks of the Waikawa River have always been a popular area for settlement. Until the beginning of the 20th century, Waikawa often had a population numbering in the thousands.

Over the last two hundred years, diverse settlements have relied on the river for water, food, transportation, livelihood, recreation and communication with the wider world.

Waikawa’s windswept beach and sheltered river still attract people today — people who will enjoy finding out a little more of the history of their small piece of New Zealand.

Maps and timeline excerpts from the book

river, kainga, ropewalk, farm, baches, waikawa beach

Please note that this material is © Catch 22.

NZ$20

$5 postage and packaging will be added to NZ postal orders

appropriate international postage and packaging will be added to other orders

Sometimes available from

The Shepherd beach house, Cathryn Street, Waikawa Beach

(middle house on the northern side, painted grey with a dark green trim)

Also available from

Catch22

4 Longcroft Terrace, Newlands, Wellington 6004

04 939 0840 or 021 620 979

info@catch22.co.nz

© Catch 22, 1999, 2009