BY ROBYN PARKES
Kaiteriteri, with its beautiful scenery and beaches was quickly recognised to have amazing potential as a seaside resort.
Messrs Sidney Rowling, William Rowling and F. Hamilton, being interested in the improvement of Kaiteriteri beach, invited the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr A. Waters, to visit, along with members of Waimea County Council in November 1933.
Kaiteriteri had for decades been used as a camping ground for locals, but with buildings being allowed to be erected on the sea front the site was somewhat spoiled. With recognition that there needed to be some improvements, Rowling, who was a principal landowner in the area, offered to lease sections to existing bach owners in order that the buildings could be removed and the whole beach cleared up and beautified.
Included in the suggested improvements was the clearing of noxious growths, levelling of land, and the erection of bathing sheds and seats.
In illustrating the popularity of Kaiteriteri, statistics showed that over some weekends in 1933 there had been over 600 holiday makers with over 100 cars visiting the beach. The Motueka Progress League offered to develop an illustrated pamphlet, setting out the attractions of Kaiteriteri, for distribution to automobile associations which would bring larger numbers to the small seaside village. With the number of visitors, campers and cars growing it became imperative that improvements continued on the beach, domain and roads.
In discussions with the Commissioner of Crown Lands, it was pointed out that if the proposed improvements were put into effect and the land along the beach vested in a board, it would be the best way to accomplish the work. The Commissioner was very interested in the project and pointed out that before the strip of land along the beach could be brought under the jurisdiction of a Domain Board it would first have to be vested in the Crown.
Two years later, in 1935, Sir Alfred Ransom, Minister of Lands, visited the district and was received by a deputation to inspect Kaiteriteri beach, and at that time it was announced that Sidney Rowling had made a gift of two acres of land for a public reserve. The seafront had also been cleared of gorse and heavy undergrowth which considerably improved the appearance of the golden beach.
To ensure the good work continued and the area was looked after, F. Hamilton expressed the desire for the formation of a Domain Board to hold control of the Domain.
As the beach became even more popular the need for the road to be improved became more important as between 200 to 300 vehicles were passing over the road in a single weekend.
Although it was six miles long, there was about three miles where it was only wide enough for one-way traffic.
An application was made to the County Council for the work to be carried out.
In January 1936 a public meeting for those interested in the formation of a Domain Board for Kaiteriteri was held at Riwaka library.
Sidney Rowling presided over a gathering of around 20 people.
Communication from the Commissioner of Crown Lands confirmed that the recently-gifted land by Rowling had been vested to the Crown and that the way was open for further action for the establishment the domain.
There was agreeance that a board was needed to oversee and care for the area, therefore the ‘Kaiteriteri Domain Board’ was formed with Sidney Rowling, F. Hamilton, B. Rowling, E. Fry, J. Martin, K. Scott, J. Holyoake, J. Wilkinson and W. Drummond being elected to the board.
