New book peeks into rich history

A new book aims to throw new light on Mangere and Otahuhu’s rich history.

It delves into the suburbs’ involvement in the Musket Wars of the 1820s to Otahuhu being regarded as Auckland’s ‘‘agriculture centre’’ after the wars in the 1850s,

Authored by Christopher Paxton, The Church on the Corner is a history of the Selwyn Anglican Church in Mangere East and the suburbs that surround it.

Paxton, 52, says the book acknowledges the ‘‘social problems that Mangere-Otahuhu people have faced since the 1970s and tells how the Anglicans in Mangere and Mangere East have attempted to positively confront and ameliorate the issues’’.

While it talks about the progression of the church, it gives a deep insight into what the old days might have looked like.

The book delves into education, society, developments in farming and public transport.

According to it, the main crops in Otahuhu farms were oats and wheat.

To better transport, in 1875, the Auckland-Mercer railway arrived.

At the same time, Great South Road was quently.

It also shines a light on the then socio-economic situation in the evergrowing community of Mangere East.

One of the major landmarks mentioned that has stood the test of time is the Massey Homestead which was built in the early 1850s.

‘‘The book tries to convey the story of the growth of the Mangere East Anglican parish and its heyday in the 1960s, and the way the parish has survived all of the challenges it has faced since the 1970s,’’ Paxton says.

He adds that the book might also interest the local Mangere East community including cultural and historical groups because it deals with the historical and social development of the wider community.

One of the current ministers at Selwyn Church, Reverend Peter Skyes says the book is about ‘‘telling the stories of why the streets are named what they are . . . and what Mangere was like’’.

The book launch follows the 9.30am service at the church on March 5.

It costs $25 and is available at Selwyn Church, 330 Massey Road, Mangere East, Auckland 2024. being upgraded fre-