Celebrating 150 years of the Honeyfield family farm, Tataraimaka

Four generations of the Honeyfield family, along with some friends – about 200 in all – gathered at the old Honeyfield homestead on Sunday 27 January 2019 to celebrate 150 years since the farm and homestead at Tataraimaka was purchased by James and Caroline Honeyfield.

In what was a special day, the celebrations spread over the afternoon and into the evening. While the adults shared memories and stories, the kids running around created some more memories of their own. Reconnections and new connections were made by family members including those from various parts of New Zealand, and from Australia and England. A 150 tree plot was planted to mark the occasion.

Group photo at the Honeyfield 150 celebration, 27 January 2019. Thanks to Paul Tippet for the photo

Hosted by Kevin and Jackie Honeyfield and family, the event was a relaxed affair. After a short speech by Kevin, a cake commemorating the family lines was cut by several generations of the family during the afternoon tea. A sumptuous hangi was enjoyed in the evening.

A room in the homestead was used to display memorabilia. Indeed, there is much more family history available for this website, and more research is being done. Anne Hodgson is continuing with her Honeyfield family geneological research. There is the material contributed by Kevin Honeyfield and others in the two documents prepared for the 150 celebration: “If walls could talk … succession” and “if walls could talk …. the stories”. There is also much more material previously published by family members to be incorporated on this website. Over time, the content on this website will expand to include all grandchildren and great grandchildren of Dicky and Rawinia Barrett.

Some family members have expressed an interest in being included in a contact database for future communication over developments about this website, the Barrett Honeyfield NZ Facebook page, and events. if you are interested please send me an email: barretthoneyfield@gmail.com.

The Honeyfield farm and homestead has passed from one generation of Honeyfields to another, and now the sixth generation are in residence maintaining the ongoing family presence on the land.