WHO WE ARE


Committee
Chair & Co-Sexton Jason Midgley 021 565 111 General enquiries, Graves, Burials, Funerals, Ash Memorial Wall, Plaques, Gravediggers, Permission for upgrading headstones
Secretary & Treasurer Angela Laurenson 021 060 1411Website, Facebook, Financials, Donations, Membership, History, Newsletters Weddings & Bookings Co-ordinator Leanne Midgley 021 688 164 Weddings and Venue enquiries and bookings, and viewings of the Church building Committee MembersDarren Midgley 029 234 3705Stuart Ogilvie Kohl Midgley 021 156 4666 & Co-Sexton
Preservation Society Committee with Cameron Brewer MP. Left to Right: Darren Midgley, Angela Laurenson, Stuart Ogilvie, Jason Midgley, Cameron Brewer MP, Kohl Midgley. Absent: Leanne Midgley
Sextons
Jason Midgley 021 565 111 Kohl Midgley 021 156 4666 Graves, Burials, Funerals, Ash Memorial Wall, Plaques, Gravediggers, Permission for upgrading headstones
Information Sheet on Graves and Ash Wall for descendants of the early settler families buried in the graveyard link here. Many descendants of the nineteenth century inhabitants of Hobsonville have plots set aside, and plans to be interred there when the time comes. Hobsonville Church Graveyard Plan surveyed by AJ Ockleston May 1953 link here.Ash Memorial Wall Plan link here. Ash Memorial Wall plaque allocations link here. Google Earth photo of graveyard link here.Hobsonville Settlers Cemetery list of graves dated 1985 link here.
We use Silverdale Landscape Services for Sexton services for grave digging. Silverdale Landscape Services burial confirmation checklist link here.
One of the Society’s mission is to recognise the historic significance of the cemetery and the settlers' families buried therein by ensuring that to the greatest extent possible descendants of those families be accorded pre-emptive burial rights.
Contact Us
Get In Touch With Us: Link hereOur Email: hobsonvillesettlerschurch@gmail.comAll postal mail to: 32 Ranui Road, Remuera, Auckland 1050Church Key return to: 16 Toheroa Street, Hobsonville, Auckland, 0616*Note our 1 Scott Road address does not have a mailbox Lawyer: Alec Steel, Barrister, Chancery Street Chambers, Auckland CBD Lawyer: Bruce Wyber Managing Partner, Sellars Law Helensville | Warkworth | Wellsford | Mangawhai Arborists: David Thomas, Oakwood Treecare and Consultancy Ltd link Grave Diggers: Silverdale Landscape Services link Electrician: Tristan Philip, Esquire Electrical link Electrician: Cameron Stevenson, Lloyd Electrical link Lawnmower, weed spraying: James Watson, Express Lawn Mowing Mobile: 027 221 1342 Painters: Euro Painters link Builders: Brendon Midgley, Midgley Builders Insurance: Demelza Midgley, Midgley Advisors link Locksmith: Ronald at Armstrong Smarter Security - Avondale Building wash, window cleaning: Simon Kennedy, Simply Window Cleaning link Fire monitoring: Alarm NZ Fire sprinkler system maintenance, Building Warrant of Fitness: Max Colman Colman & Associates 09 836 3918
  • The Church building and graveyard are maintained by volunteers, descendants of the early Hobsonville settler families, the grounds are lovingly cared for, and remains an active burial ground.
  • We are passionate about preserving, maintaining and protecting our heritage 1875 Church building and graveyard as an historic district amenity for our community.

  • Many of us have generations of family buried in the graveyard, and looked after this building and graveyard for 150 years.

  • Most of us are related in some way.

  • Hobsonville Church was built in 1875 by John Danby (1849-1923) as a church, school and gathering place, incorporating a graveyard in the grounds on one acre of land donated by R.O. Clark I (1816-1896).

  • Hobsonville was then a thriving community of 25 to 30 houses, with a mixed economy based on brick and pottery production and farming.

  • After the 1877 Education Act ushered in a national system of free, secular, and compulsory education for Pākehā children, the land was transferred to five trustees, who are all buried in the graveyard:

  • Joshua Carder 1816-1895
  • R.O. Clark II 1854-1905
  • Joshua Ockleston 1836-1896
  • Thomas Scott 1827-1892
  • William Sinton 1837-1880

  • together with members of other Hobsonville settler families, including Anderson, Boyd, Bridgford, Carder, Clark, Midgley, Ockleston, Scott, Sinton, Williams and Wiseley.
  • The Hobsonville Settlers Church and Cemetery is in the Trusteeship of The Hobsonville Church and Settlers' Cemetery Preservation Society Incorporated.

  • Incorporated Society and Registered Charity number: CC43897
  • NZBN number: 9429042935254
  • Registered: 25 March 2010
  • Our Charitable Purpose:
  • - To undertake trusteeship of the settlers’ cemetery and church property at 1 Scott Road, Hobsonville, in compliance with the trustees' guidelines of the 1877 deed of gift and current legislation
  • - To preserve, operate, administer, maintain and improve the settlers' cemetery and church property as an historic district amenity
  • - To recognise the historic significance of the cemetery and the settlers' families buried therein by ensuring that to the greatest extent possible descendants of those families be accorded pre-emptive burial rights

  • The Society carries out the terms and in particular the trusts of the Deed of Conveyance dated 4 December 1877.

  • A Committee is elected at the AGM to govern the Incorporated Society.
  • Our Constitution Rules link

  • We file our Annual Return with Charities Services / Ngā Ratonga Kaupapa Atawhai
  • Our financial year is 30 June to 1 July

  • Our Performance Reports:
  • Financial Year 30 June 2025 link
  • Financial Year 30 June 2024 link
  • Financial Year 30 June 2023 link
  • Financial Year 30 June 2022 link
Annual General Meeting 2025/2026 TBC September/October 2026, 1 Scott Road, Hobsonville 1. Agenda 2. Apologies - please email to us here 3. Minutes of AGM Thursday 2 October 2025 link 4. Chair Report 5. Financial Report for year ended 30 June 2026 6. Election of Officers 2026/2027 7. Any other business
Newsletters: In addition to our Facebook posts, we from time to time email an update Newsletter to Society Members, family, friends, and supporters on our email distribution list. If you would like to also receive a copy by email please get in touch with us. May 2024 Newsletter link here. December 2022 Newsletter link here. July 2022 Newsletter link here. December 2021 Newsletter link here.
Membership
Bank Account: ASB 12-3039-0107909-00 Reference: Your Name, Membership or Donation Bank Account Name: Hobsonville Church & Settlers Cemetery Preservation Society Inc Note membership fees cover the period 1 July – 30 June Adult Membership $10.00 per yearSenior Membership $5.00 per yearLife Membership $200 You are most welcome to join the Society with membership open to any person living within the Hobsonville district, or any descendant of Hobsonvlle settlers, or any relative of persons buried in the Hobsonvlle cemetery,
Donations
Donations towards the maintenance and upkeep of the Church building and graveyard are most gratefully received. Donations can be claimed as a tax credit. For every dollar you donate, you get 33.33 cents back as a tax credit.
Past Committee
Chair Angela Laurenson (Ockleston) Geoff Ockleston Kevin Farley Bruce Anderson (1948-2023)
Secretary & Treasurer Rachel Wyber (Laurenson/Ockleston) Steven Apps (Anderson) Bridget Brownrigg Grace Griffin Laurel North (Boyd) Sue Robinson (Boyd)
Committee MemberArleen McCracken (Freeman) Brendon Midgley - co-opted Scott Laurenson - co-opted Desiree Morgan (Midgley) Owen Freeman (1936-2025) Jean Harding (Midgley) Jenny Gutry (Ockleston) Bruce Anderson Ken Child Geoff Ockleston Kevin Farley Laurel North Graeme Laurenson Sue Robinson (Boyd)Percy Midgley (1917-2008) Cedric Wiseley (1923-2012) SextonBruce Anderson (1948-2023)Graeme Laurenson (Ockleston) (1938-2010)