Kereru history in print

Author Mary Shanahan autographs a copy of the Kereru Station book for former journalistic workmate Kay Foley. At left is photographer Grant Sheehan. Photo / Duncan Brown

A 16-month project to record some history of the Hawke's Bay sheep station Kereru, culminated with the release of Kereru Station: Two sisters' legacy in Hastings last night.

The book is written by award-winning former newspaper journalist Mary Shanahan, of Napier, and tells the story of sisters Gwen Malden and Ruth Nelson, who turned around the fortunes of the run and established two trusts which initiated the publishing of the book.

The two trusts continue to distribute profits from the farming operation to Hawke's Bay charities, community organisations, the arts and educational purposes.

Flanking the Ruahine Range west of Hastings, Kereru Station is among Hawke's Bay's most iconic and historic farms, and is managed by 2013 Hawke's Bay Farmer of the Year Danny Angland.

Kereru came from the 50,000-acre Otaranga block the Government bought from Maori in 1857. Later that year, J.N. Williams took up 20,000 acres and within three years was farming 3200 sheep.

The sisters' great-niece, Tessa Tylee, had researched much of the property's history, and publisher Phantom House provided contemporary images, including an image from a drone which was recently published in the New York Times.