In the small settlement of Turakina, many existing houses were built back in the early 1900s and the three churches date back to the 1870s and 1880s.
New Zealand's oldest primary school with continuing education is here, the first Highland games were held here in 1852 and New Zealand's first Children's Health Camps were started here in 1919.
Vivian Chapman, Trevor Jurgens, John Vickers, Sue Cornish Photo: RNZ/Susan Murray
Two very old wooden churches stand proudly staring out towards the Tasman Sea right at the edge of the noisy highway running through Turakina.
The foundation stone for St Andrew's Presbyterian church was laid in 1864.
The near-by Anglican St Georges is a bit younger, it was built in 1881 for three hundred pounds.
In Turakina, Anglicans have always played "second fiddle" to Presbyterians, according to local historian and part-time vicar John Vickers.
He says it's because when tangata whenua sold the land in 1849, Highlanders (Scots) who'd arrived on the Blenheim in 1840 moved up here in "double quick time".
Anglican church Turakina :Sue Cornish, Vivian Chapman, John Vickers Photo: RNZ/Susan Murray
The Scots were plentiful, and until 1915 services were held in Gaelic. It was still spoken in the street until the 1920s.
They weren't too keen to break bread with their English neighbours, he says.
"The 1850s weren't long after the foreclosures in Scotland ... so the Highland Scots took a dim view of the English in many cases.
"Which is well gone now, of course," he says with a laugh.
Prompted for more details, John says he recalls a chap saying his grandmother, when she saw "Sweet Williams" [flowers] in the street, would spit on them.
Local Trevor Jurgens remembers collecting pies from the local bakery in a wooden box at lunchtime.
Returning to school the headmaster would read out the names of the children whose mothers had let them order lunch.
These days, the old town is well settled - fourth and fifth-generation locals live happily in the bucolic countryside or down at Turakina Beach 10 kilometres away.
And while the dairy, takeaway shop, post office, several butchers, bakery, chemist, general store, blacksmith and many of the pubs may have gone, Turakina Antiques
These days, the old town is well settled - fourth and fifth-generation locals live happily in the bucolic countryside or down at Turakina Beach 10 kilometres away.
Shona and Ian Welsh, owners of Turakina Antiques Photo: RNZ/Susan Murray
And while the dairy, takeaway shop, post office, several butchers, bakery, chemist, general store, blacksmith and many of the pubs may have gone, Turakina Antiques and Collectables is still a destination.
Over 20,000 items are for sale in the 1890s butcher's shop-turned chenille factory-turned store.
