In the early 1920’s Paraparaumu and Waikanae were small, tight-knit communities based on farming, fishing and timber milling. Rail was the only viable method of conveying goods to market. Roads were dirt tracks and the usual mode of transport were horse or horse and cart, vehicles being an exception. Access to and from Wellington by road was via Waterfall Road to Mackay’s Crossing then over the Paekakariki Hill and through Pauatahanui to Paremata and on to Wellington. But we digress.
Early beginnings
Freemasonry on the Kapiti coast was established by the first meeting of Lodge Tawera–O–Kapiti No 253, which took place at a house in Raumati Beach on the 17th of February 1923. The Lodge was Constituted and Consecrated on 24 July 1923. As with many other Lodges the meetings for the first 7 years were held in the Church hall adjacent to St Paul’s Anglican Church, which at the time was situated in Hinemoa Street. Land was eventually purchased in Tararua Street and the Lodge Tawera-O- Kapiti building was erected there.
In the early 1960’s a group of freemasons with holiday homes in and around Waikanae, thought it time for a lodge there. In 1964 Lodge Waikanae No 433 was formed and its first meeting was held in the old Memorial Hall by the railway station. The meetings were originally held on a Saturday under the guidance of the first Master, Sir C Bennett KBE. The lodge was set up before the meeting and taken down after the meeting. Of course this was not ideal and some land in Te Moana Road was gifted to the lodge. Money was raised for the building of a Lodge on the site. This provided the stimulus for new members, and Freemasonry flourished in Waikanae for many years. Its 25th anniversary was celebrated with a grand dinner held at Southwards Car Museum. Declining numbers during the 1990’s meant that a number of senior members formed a committee, and after a lot of hard work, Masons who had no lodge and lived in Waikanae were contacted and became lodge members. This was complemented by a number of new members as the Lodge started to grow again.
Moving (and sharing) house
By turn of the century it was becoming clear that with the decline in membership it was uneconomical for Lodge Tawera-O-Kapiti to stay in their Paraparaumu premises. Talks amongst the brethren of the district – notably Lodge Tawera-O-Kapiti and Lodge Waikanae, resulted in a proposal to sell both the local Lodge properties. The one owned by Lodge Tawera-O-Kapiti No 253 and the second by Lodge Waikanae No 433 in Te Moana Road, Waikanae.
A search commenced for a suitable building for use by both Lodges at a convenient location on the Coast. Additionally, it was considered advantageous to have a commercial element to the property by way of rental space to contribute to building operating costs. Such was found in Waikanae at 16 Mahara Place. After considerable upgrade and alteration to the building, the Lodge room was Dedicated by the Grand Master, MW Bro John W Litton, a member of Lodge Waikanae, on 15 February 2014 and has been in use by both Lodges ever since. With the purchase of the property in Waikanae by the Kapiti Freemasons Centre Limited, the Tararua Street Lodgerooms were sold in 2014 and are now occupied by a pre-school kindergarten.
Both Lodges had many happy meetings in the new surroundings, until 2022 when unfortunately Lodge Tawera-O-Kapiti No 253 had to close. Lodge Waikanae continues to prosper with new members coming in. Freemasonry on the Kapiti coast continues to prosper with a focus on flourishing in the future.