Bill Crighton was a pioneer, visionary and philanthropist. He was a working man with his sleeves rolled up and he believed in a better future for all. Bill described himself as an agnostic in his early years, but when he accepted Christ into his life, he decided he needed to ‘do things right by Him.’
He successfully tendered for two D8 ex-wartime bulldozers and immediately put them to work through his Horowhenua Earthworks Ltd. One bulldozer worked for Bill’s timber supply franchise, the other worked entirely for God. The full proceeds earned by the 2nd bulldozer were put into a Trust for the Lord’s work.
One major contract for ‘God’s bulldozer’ was to level the Wellington Airport site. The project involved shifting three million cubic metres of earth and rock and flattening the land near Evans Bay. God’s bulldozer helped build the existing Wellington Airport runway.
When enough funds had accumulated in the ‘Lord’s account’, on 11 December 1961, Bill and his friends purchased 40 acres of parkland near the Waikanae River and established the Waikanae Christian Holiday Park, now known as El Rancho.
When Bill learned the Christian Māori community in the Waikato were wanting to build a camp for their young people, he supplied all the timber they needed. The Tirohanga Māori Youth Camp was established in 1963.
The third camp built was Forest Lakes Camp. It was up and running by 1971 and today this camp continues to offer a facility with a range of venues and accommodation suitable for groups of up to 200. Regular Children’s Camps are conducted and honour Bill’s commitment to provide a better future for all.
Through the entrepreneurship and dedication of one man, one bulldozer built three Christian camps.
