13-16 April 2023 – Paihia, Bay of Islands
200 year Reunion Celebrating the Williams Family in New Zealand.
The Reunion Programme
'The Retreat', Henry and Marianne's house and garden at Pakaraka, which is owned by the Williams Family, will be open to visit every day during the Reunion, with times to be advised.
Thursday 13th:
All Day: Registrations will take place at the Waitaha Events Centre at the Copthorne Hotel at Waitangi. This will be our Family HQ for the weekend with free tea and coffee, merchandise for sale, event changes etc.
Late Afternoon: Pōwhiri/Opening Ceremony. The family will gather at the Waitaha Events Centre, hikoi together to Te Tii and be formally welcomed onto the marae and invited to begin our bicentennial celebrations. This will be followed by a shared hangi meal (meal included in registration fee).Friday 14th:
Morning: Quiet Eucharist at St Paul’s, and other optional events – details to be advised.
Afternoon: Arrival Re-enactment. This event is being presented by the Williams Family as part of the wider Paihia bicentennial celebrations and will include the R.Tucker Thompson sailing ship and a waka flotilla arriving at Paihia beach. There will be sports, games and an 1823-themed village fete to follow, presented by the Paihia community.
Evening: (Optional Events)Saturday 15th:
Morning: Optional Events – details to be advised.
Late Afternoon and Evening: Whānau Festival. This is our centrepiece, full-family gathering, to be held at Te Tii, and will include speeches, the formal cake-cutting, and entertainment. Food is not covered by the registration fee but will be available from on-site food truck options, pre-purchased catered options or you can bring your own picnic. A cash-bar will be available. All alcohol must be purchased on site.Sunday 16th:
Morning: Thanksgiving Eucharist at St Paul’s (including baptisms if requested).
Midday: Whakawātea/Closing Ceremony. Lunch at Te Tii (meal included in registration fee) and formal closing of the reunion celebrations including the exchanging of gifts between our family and our hosts - to be held in trust for 25 years until the next reunion.Subscribe and be informed as we head towards 2023.
Our aim is to make this reunion the best and biggest ever. 200 years is well worth celebrating so please help spread the word and direct any family members to subscribe here.
Faith & Farming
This is the last issue of Faith & Farming (1998) and we intend to update and correct for a new version before the reunion. If, when looking through this document, you see inaccuracies or want to add more detail and/or family members, please note the page number and detail the addition and/or correction. Simply click on the links below to view. There are dedicated family members assigned for your changes and/or additions.
Useful Links
Other sites of interest and relation to the Williams Family.
The Williams Museum – Pakaraka
The Henry and William Williams Museum website, which showcases ‘The Retreat’, an historic house at Pakaraka in Northland, New Zealand, built for Henry and Marianne Williams in 1853. https://www.williamsmuseum.org/
The Williams Family in New Zealand 1823-1973
Early Family History and Origins of the Thomas Williams's of Gosport & Nottingham
The Paihia Historical Legacy Society
Video
Take a look at the video created for the 175th Reunion in 1998.
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Contact Us
Please feel free to contact us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
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