An estate originally built for the flamboyant “Squire of Manakau” Major Tatum and his wife Mrs Alice Tatum was officially relaunched in November to a large group of friends, stakeholders and tourism industry guests.
In its day, the Tatum Park homestead in rural Horowhenua was renowned for its parties and events throughout the 1920s and ‘30s. Now the 17-hectare site, with its historic homestead, relaunches as significant conference, wedding and community venue.
Wayne and Bridget Bishop are owners of the property, and founder Wayne Bishop told guests that the project represents a major commitment to the site and to the region.
“With a place like this, with so much history, it feels more like you’re a custodian than an owner - and you’re preserving that for future generations,” he said.
“It’s important that everyone on the project has a shared vision as to its potential for it to come together,” he said
The launch was a progressive event took guests through the renovated and redeveloped venue. Guests were welcomed to the venue by an effervescent Scout Master (performed by actor Conrad Coom); drinks on the lawn with music by acclaimed artist Lisa Tomlin; dinner in the Jamboree restaurant in the new Pavilion event space; and finishing around the historic Cooksey Campfire Circle where thousands of scouts had gathered in past generations.
Some guests also stayed the night in some of the newly built accommodation units on the property – giving them their first live test.
With a significant investment already spent on the project and much more to come, the development both saves and preserves the historic site, as well as retaining an important cultural hub for a rapidly growing community.
Bishop hopes that the local community comes along and makes use of the space, whether that’s for a wedding, conference, lunch in the restaurant or just to get out of the house for a few hours.
See: https://www.tatum.co.nz/
