Vol. 30 No 7, April 22, 2021 www.opunakecoastalnews.co.nz Published every Thursday Fortnight Phone and Fax 761-7016 A/H 761-8206 for Advertising and Editorial ISSN 2324-2337, ISSN 2324-2345 Inside Farewell Ash As 13 of his loyal staff stood in uniform on the forecourt of the garage Heydon Priest a huge number of people gathered to farewell the Oakura businessman Ashley Heydon known simply as ‘Ash’ who sadly passed Clan Cameron gather at away on April 4. Hawera. Pg 7. Offi ciating was the priest, the Very Reverend Michael Bent refl ecting Heydon’s strong faith. It was fi tting that the fi nal farewell of the man that people remembered so fondly be held at the place with which Ashley Heydon was so associated and which bore his name, the Oakura Merchant Navy Garage he’s owned for 70 recognised by new years. War Memorial at Cape As well as the garage, Egmont. Pg 9. retail outlet and workshop, Ash some years back relocated two iconic buildings, a former church Ashley Heydon is fondly farewelled. from Warea which continues today as a successful gift Recalls Ray, “I’d just come his working family. His tough hard working - he was always sponsoring shop The Crafty Fox, and out of the air force and when Ash was a worker who exterior however masked something – and “the least an old railway carriage I asked who was the new clearly expected the same a person who was kind, materialistic person I know, complete with station which boy, was told he was the new work ethic in others. empathetic and unfailingly someone who started from he renovated siting both apprentice.”.Ash moved into His grandson Heydon who generous. scratch. “He was my friend beside the thriving garage in a small shed alongside the was named after Ash – it “Ash was tough, – I don’t know why, he was the main street of Oakura. garage which is still there was always Ash, never Pop, impossible to beat at an a good bloke.” John Wyatt is the winner He’d also once owned where he did little but sleep. never grandad - remembers arm wrestle, hard working, Ash’s wife Nona passed of the 2021 Taranaki both a successful logging Merv who also roomed there as a teenager over three visionary, a doer and if you away in 1988. His three Dairy Farmer of the contracting arm to Heydon “drove Ash mad by listening summers working for Ash. scratched hard enough and children survive him along Year. All the winners on Priest and a general carrier to cricket, recalled Ray. “I recall doing 14 days in a spent enough time, beneath a with 6 grandchildren and Pages 18 & 19. business. Around this time Ash built row and mentioning to Ash very very tough surface was 11 great grandchildren. Born in Kaponga, Ashley his own car. that maybe I was due a day endless kindness, generosity His fi nal request that he attended school in Kaponga, Despite his love of cars off – that was a mistake, I and empathy which was be remembered by doing then Okato completing his he was never a good driver was sharply told when I’d evidenced by his willingness a random act of kindness education at New Plymouth remembered Ray who, done 60 days straight to to support many people in perhaps best epitomises the Boys High School. along with other amusing come back and talk to him society who were doing it man that was Ash. It was at Charlie Maxwell’s anecdotes about Ash, then.” tough or living rough,” said garage at Okato that Ash humorously recalled when Ash’s son in law Chris Heydon. At the conclusion of the took up an apprenticeship Ash fi rst noticed Nona “one Young concurred and Lydia Rae, speaking on service and also at Ash’s under Ray Rook and Merv of the most loveliest girls in amusingly recalled the day behalf of another daughter request, his favourite prayer Putt. the coast” who lived across in 1994 when Ash gave him Catherine who could not that was read out. the road. a compliment. It took 17 be there because she was Ash passed his Advanced years. stuck in England due to When the fever of life is The stunning Christopher Trade Certifi cate in 1951. In 2007 Heydon moved in the Covid crisis, relayed he over and our work is done… Aubrey ‘1896’ exhibition The following year he and with his grandfather for” 2-3 was a “tough dad” whose may He give us a safe opens at Puke Ariki, NP. Nona were married. weeks”. It was 2015 when he generosity was “second to lodging and a holy rest and Pg 28. Several years later Ash left and he fondly recalled none”. peace at the last. approached Jim Priest and the time getting to know Ray summed up his Mary Higgins Clark asked him if he would like Ash. lifelong friend as generous to sell his workshop and Local news, local people, adjoining post agency at local businesses, local Oakura. Jim’s son joined sport, local arts and the business which became events. Delivered free around Heydon Priest. the mountain every Ash went on to expand the fortnight. business and, beginning with buying a single truck and with a major contract with the McAlpine Brothers Ash has had a kiwi named who had a mill at Oakura, after him. went on to become one of the Ten brown kiwi were larger logging contractors in recently released into the the region. In 1968 he also [email protected] Kaitake Range. The Kaitake [email protected] took over Coastal Transport [email protected] Range Trust were asked and three years later Hogan Phone: 06 761 7016 to name two of them, one Bros further expanding his 23 Napier St, Opunake they have named Ash after business as a general carrier. Ashley Heydon. The second Dad’s ambition was “to was named Spencer Guthrie, work till he died,” said his one of the Trust’s six youngest daughter Irene Ash leaning out the window of the Carriage at Oakura. Te Wera station which he also founding members. adding that his staff became relocated in the background See us online at www.opunakecoastalnews.co.nz FOR ADVERTISING OR EDITORIAL PLEASE PHONE/FAX (06) 761-7016 2 NEWS AND VIEWS Thursday, April 22, 2021 OPUNAKE & COASTAL NEWS Send your your views to: meaning such as mana/status Pacifi c Islanders 13% and Letters to the Editor or which I appreciate, but a Asians constituting more 23 Napier Street, Opunake. LLettersetters ttoo thethe wee historical fact he seems than 25%. This being so, Fax: (06) 761 7016 not aware of was on Maori Maori and Pacifi c Islanders email: [email protected] EEditorditor arriving in NZ; they did combined do not number You are welcome to use a pseudonym but must not draw up a Treaty with more than Asians so why the fi rst known inhabitants don’t Asians have an supply your name and address to us. Maori woman and I’m sad will tell you the Moriori in this country they being Asian Ward or Wards to say after spending time were Tongan, here before the Moriori of which, if I in Auckland, which also unleash your resentment on with her family I have found Maori until Maori came am correct, the last full- means people of European Blame Game all white people of European things have not changes and enslaved their people. blooded Moriori died in the ethnicity make up the descent when it was the much since Auckland. A warm loving culture Chathams in the late 1930s. balance of just over 50% - This letter is in response English Royal Family, I can’t help wondering is you say, I don’t think so! I believe it was to the being twice that of Asians. to Joe Trinder’s Letter to the same family whose it your rage blinding you All cultures have done Chathams Moriori went This I put forward as food the Editor in your March 25 descendants are lavished by into blaming all people good and bad. to escape Maori. Maybe for thought. edition. Maori with such ceremony of white colour, or is it We need to truly be one my ancestors got involved I agree some English Joe suggests in the way he and gifts, that caused your simply political to blame all people now and stop the more recently. More recent changed to Maori. describe European behaviour grief! Europeans. blame game for your own relatives of mine include the One change leaves me as perceived by Joe that It doesn’t matter to most Also do you know gain. Rev Tahupoliki Haddon and, wondering this being Waka Europeans are stuck in time Maori if your genes are your history? Has Maori still around, Buck Shelford. Koiahi for transport and all and racist, and that we need Russian, Swiss, Scottish etc apologised for their crimes Bruce Both are fairly well known. that transport means Waka to get to know Maori better. you’re white and you’re to in the Chathams. Kaupokonui I mention this to inform Koiahi does not seem to This is from a guy who blame for what the English Talk to Tongan elders, they folk of my association in be a term used by Maori refers to all white Europeans did. This is the essence of the incorrect date of the said Maoridom. I also wish to before settles arrived in the as Pakeha, a negative term racism used by Maori.