Constance Abraham
Remarkable leader, sportswoman and humanitarian
When Constance Palgrave Abraham followed her new husband from England in 1890 to the small community of Palmerston North, her unwavering spirit for sport, faith and social equality would leave a lasting impression on the place we call home today.
Abraham, affectionately known as Connie, was a woman ahead of her time.
Her incredible achievements have helped shape Palmerston North Hospital, the Plunket Society, All Saints church, and Manawatū Golf Club. Her dedication as one of Palmerston North’s pioneering women is still felt in modern-day Manawatū.
Born on May 12, 1864, in Palgrave, Suffolk, Connie had a happy upbringing in a family deeply rooted in faith.
Her father, Charles, went to Oxford University, and was ordained as a reverend in Palgrave, later becoming the Rector.
Her mother’s father was also a reverend and much of Connie’s early life was dedicated to the Holy Trinity Church.
They were considered a wealthy family, with Charles known as generous and kind.
When her mother, Catherine, died in 1882, an 18-year-old Connie took on a variety of responsibilities helping her father at their parish, where she dedicated herself to leading Sunday School classes.
In 1886, her father, the Rev Charles, was appointed honorary chaplain to Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
So, when Connie emigrated at age 26, she and her new husband, Lionel Abraham, quickly became involved in Palmerston North’s All Saints Anglican Church. She dedicatedly raised funds for the church while also playing a significant role in leading and organising women’s and children’s groups.
In 1943, the church dedicated a carved pulpit to Connie and Lionel as a testament to their impact on the development of All Saints for more than 50 years.
Connie also co-founded the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in Palmerston North, where she served as its first president.
Her commitment to the YWCA was so profound that she earned the title of a lifetime member in 1930.
Her passion for the wellbeing of the community extended beyond her church.
As the sole woman on the Palmerston North Hospital Board from 1921 to 1935, she advocated for the community’s welfare, particularly for the development of a maternity home in 1927, and especially showed her compassion for the children’s ward, where she was a frequent visitor.
Additionally, she laid the foundation for the Palmerston North branch of the Plunket Society and dedicated herself to its mission, earning the status of a lifetime member in 1925.
But her influence extended beyond her role as a community leader. Her love of sports saw her excel in a variety of endeavours. Whether it was riding horses, dominating the tennis court or conquering the golf course, her sporting prowess was unmatched.
Her triumphs included winning tennis championships in both England and New Zealand. She was the inaugural champion of Manawatū Ladies’ Golf Club in 1902.
When women were finally formally recognised within the club in 1922, Connie served on the committee for 14 years, nine times as president. In recognition of her achievements, she was made a lifetime member of the club.
It was her passion for horse-riding and enjoyment of hunting that provided the chance encounter that brought Connie and Lionel together, when in 1882, while out on a fox-hunting day, Connie caught the eye of Lionel.
The couple’s grandson, David Abraham, in his book Abraham and His Seed Forever describes how Lionel was captivated by Connie’s fearless riding skills.
Impressed by her ability to control her horse, Lionel complimented her, to which she replied with a smile, “I have a good horse”.
Little did they know that this encounter would be the start of a love story that would span years and continents.
Lionel had embarked on his first trip to New Zealand in 1883, heading to Bulls, where his brother, Richard, had taken a position as manager of the Bank of New Zealand.
In 1884, the brothers moved to Palmerston North to set up produce and seed business Barraud & Abraham. Lionel acquired 12 acres in Park Rd, where he would later build a home for himself and his future bride.
During a business trip back to England in 1886, Lionel seized the opportunity to reconnect with Connie at a dinner party hosted by his sisters, where he cunningly arranged to be seated next to the woman who had intrigued him four years earlier.
Their connection was undeniable and, after years of correspondence and visits, Lionel finally proposed to Connie and she accepted.
In 1890, Lionel and Connie made the permanent move to their new home across the world in Palmerston North. The couple settled into Te Ranara Whare, a house and garden that Lionel had lovingly built for their future together.
There they raised their seven children, four daughters and three sons, and opened their doors to countless guests and figures within the community.
Connie’s remarkable life was not without its challenges, especially during World War I. However, she would again make an impact by dedicating herself to assisting soldiers, serving on local committees and organising initiatives.
Her outstanding efforts were recognised when she was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1919, in honour of her remarkable contributions during the war.
Tragically, Lionel died in 1939, but accounts of Connie suggest she maintained her characteristic cheerfulness and actively engaged in various endeavours until her death on October 3, 1942, at Te Ranara, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and tireless dedication.
The commitment to community service, and passion for sports, of Constance Palgrave Abraham, MBE, JP, has left an enduring imprint on the history of Palmerston North. Her influence resonates throughout Manawatū and continues to enrich the lives of all who call this place home.
A violent upbringing and a “massive addiction’’ to methamphetamine were highlighted as key factors behind offending across New Zealand that ended with a 51-month jail term being imposed on a man in the Timaru District Court on Thursday.
Cairnsley Anaru Witinitara Kawana’s offending was split into two timelines with four charges, two each of strangulation and family violence assaults, in Ranfurly and Timaru in April and August 2021 respectively. The 27-year-old then fled to Manawatū and eluded police until his arrest on the other charges in July 2022.
In the North Island, Kawana’s offending resulted in 23 further charges from December 2021. It was centred around Palmerston North, but also included nearby Ashhurst and Feilding.
Offences included unlawfully taking motor vehicles, theft, receiving stolen property, using documents to gain pecuniary advantage, possessing a knife in a public place, possession of an offensive weapon (a wooden baton), careless driving, burglary, failing to stop for police flashing lights, and possession of cannabis.
Before the Manawatū incidents, Kawana was under investigation for the family violence issues, with the police’s summary of facts saying he and the victim had been “in a turbulent on and off relationship from early 2020 until September 2021’’.
“During that time there had been 10 reported family harm occurrences between the pair,” the summary said.
One Timaru incident was in a vehicle, and involved an elbow to the head and a hand over the victim’s mouth and a hand on the victim’s neck, impeding her breathing.
When spoken to by police, the victim was crying and upset. However, she and Kawana told police they were OK and that they had just been arguing. “Given it was Covid-19 lockdown, police escorted the couple to a friend’s house nearby.”
In another Timaru incident, the victim was grabbed by the throat and pushed against a wall, with pressure applied to her throat, followed by another similar incident after she fled to another room. When police arrived, Kawana pleaded with the victim not to tell them what had happened.
“Again, the victim told the police everything was fine, the boys had been drinking and things had gotten boisterous. Injuries suffered by the victim included a tooth being knocked out, soreness and slight swelling to her neck and jaw area, (and) sore hands from being smashed against a wall at some point.’’
Judge Dominic Dravitzki said reports showed a number of background factors connected to the offending.
The judge said there was a loss of Kawana’s relationship with his mother at an early age. His mother had cared for him but was imprisoned when he was “very young”.
“You didn’t know what had happened to her for a number of years. You were then cared for by your father, and that, sadly, was blighted by his use of alcohol and violence towards you.’’ The judge said Kawana was at times “presented to hospital with injuries’’.
He had a “low-level education involvement and was expelled at a young age, coupled with the early use of drugs, alcohol and cannabis, and periods in youth justice custody”.
Judge Dravitzki said these matters had all manifested in Kawana as he developed his own family violence and other violent offending.
“The methamphetamine use is a more recent development, and you have a massive addiction to it.
“That is not untypical but nevertheless a very sad background of circumstances.
“I am well satisfied it is all closely connected to your offending, the exposure to violence and token mechanisms as a very young child that were inflicted on you. You in turn have grown up and inflicted your own family violence.
“That is not to excuse it, but to put in context your behaviour. The early exposure to alcohol and others forms of drugs have also set you up for addictions to others, particularly methamphetamine ... this is particularly in relation to the dishonesty offending.
“You were using very large amounts of meth ... I’m prepared to accept a connection to the dishonesty offending.”
The judge allowed a 10% sentence reduction for each of the reports, with a final sentence of 51 months’ jail. An emotional harm payment of $1000 was also ordered, as well as the remittance of about $8000 in fines.