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Timeline of Christian Camping NZ

We've put together a timeline of significant events that have happened along the journey of Christian Camping in New Zealand.

1918 - 1925

1918

  • John Manins leads a camp for his Bible class

1920

  • John Manins joins Norman Hyde for the first combined Easter Camp at Hunterville

1921

  • Hunterville Easter camp opened for any persons

  • Hunterville All Day Conference dropped in favour of Easter Camp.

1923

  • Torrey Street Snr Sunday School boys go camping at South Karori

1924

  • Camping Conference for young men at Hutt Valley

  • Young people camp together at Browns Bay, Auckland

  • First Christmas Camp held at Petone

1927 - 1940

1927

  • First Christmas Camp at Browns Bay (Auckland)

1931

  • First Missionary House party at Browns Bay (Auckland)

  • First Easter Camp at Brightwater (Nelson)

  • First Easter Camp at Marton

  • First Missionary Study Camp at Waitakere (Auckland)

  • Rutland St Assembly (Christchurch) conducts its first camp.

1932

  • Kaikohe, Northland Easter Camp established

1933

  • First buildings for Open Brethren Camp (Nelson)

1935

  • Hunterville & Marton merge Easter Camp at Marton

1936

  • First Camp at Eastern Beach (Auckland)

1937

  • First Boy's Camp in Eastern Beach, (Auckland)

  • First co-ed Camp held at Karitane (Dunedin)

1940

  • First Waikato Easter Camp, held at Te Aroha Sports Domain

1940 - 1957

1941

  • Eden Hostel origins

1945

  • First Otago/Southland Camp at Larnach Castle (Dunedin)

  • First Post-war Camp at Marton (Manawatu)

1948

  • Paekakariki Camp purchased

1949

  • Marton camp shifts to new site in Marton

1951

  • Inaugral 'Mount Camp'

1954

  • Highland Home (Manawatu) hosts its first camp.

1956

  • Last Easter Camp at Hawkes Bay Racecourse

1957

  • Land for Coopers Beach Camp secured.

  • Land for Hawkes Bay Riverbend Camp purchased.

  • Marsden Bay Camp land purchased.

1958 - 1964

1958

First Easter Camps at:

  • Riverbend, Hastings

  • Marsden Bay, Northland

  • Coopers Beach, Northland

  • Woodend, Christchurch

1959

  • Lakeland Park Christian Camp starts in Queenstown

1960

  • Glenburn Camp (South Canterbury) starts

  • Youthhaven Camp (Ruapehu) begins

1961

  • El Rancho Camp (Waikanae Beach) starts

  • Moirs Point Tagiwai Christian Camp develops

  • Paekakariki Camp (Kapiti Coast) is sold

  • Paraparaumu campsite named & Nikau Lodge purchased.

1962

  • Lake Whakamaru Camp starts

1963

  • First Rally Boy's Camp at Lakeland Park, Queenstown

1964 

  • First Kiwi Ranch (Rotorua), established

  • Tirohanga Maori Christian Youth Camp starts

1965 - 2001

1965 

  • Mission Bay Youth Camp starts in Taupo

1966

  • First Easter Camp at Totara Springs

1970

  • Kiwi Ranch Kaitoke (Wellington) begins

1971

  • Forest Lakes first camp

1973

  • Karakariki Youth Camp (Whatawhata) land purchased

1975

  • Kauaeranga Valley Christian Camp starts

  • Everett Road Christian Camp, Taranaki, initiated

1976

  • Curious Cove (Picton) camp starts

1982

  • Pacific Park Holiday Park (Papamoa) starts development

1984

  • Sonshine Ranch (Clevedon) opens

1990

  • Silverstream Retreat (Wellington) begins

1992

  • Longview Taurima Hostel established

2001

  • Lakes Ranch Rotorua reestablishes old Kiwi Ranch

Your history, one book

We have spent a year collating the history of each camp to compile into chapters. We've closed submissions as the book is being compiled, edited and published.