"Gravestone of Corrie and Sophia Palmer and Sarah Purvis in the cemetery behind the Hunua Presbyterian Church, 1999. Corrie Palmer drowned in the Wairoa River on 9 December 1875. He was the first person to be buried in the graveyard. The inscription reads [some punctuation added]: "In loving memory of Corrie Palmer, died 9th Dec. 1875, aged 35 years, and his wife, Sophia Palmer, died 10th July 1928, aged 82 years, and her mother, Sarah Purvis, died 5th September 1878, aged 78 years." - Text courtesy of Auckland Libraries heritage collection
1875 Hunua Church Opened
The new Presbyterian Church was opened for Divine service on Sunday last, the 21st instant, by the Rev. T. Norrie, the minister of the district, who preached a suitable discourse from Psalms xxvii., 4th verse, to an attentive and intelligent audience of upwards of sixty people, including almost a full muster of the Hunua settlers, and friends from Drury and Wairoa.
New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4378, 24 November 1875, Page 3
The old Hunua School building photographed during the Hunua School Centennial and District Reunion, 26 March 1976. The Hunua School was opened in 1876. At first it was based in the local Presbyterian church, but this purpose-built schoolroom was opened in April 1884. This building has since been moved to Camp Adair.
1916 Roll of Honour
On 17 December 1916, a roll of honour was unveiled in the Hunua Presbyterian Church listing the names of more than 30 men from the district who had volunteered for active service. Four men were noted as killed and several others as wounded. The list was updated at some stage during the war to a total of 43 names. (Bruce Ringer, 2024)
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