Tinui Village

Typewritten account of the founding of Tinui Village.  May have been written by John Chapman Andrew 1929-1993

Te nui means 'many cabbage trees' (te - cabbage tree, nui - many). Also spelt Tenui

Printed 'TI NUI on the Village survey plan of 1880 and about 1909 became 'TINUI'

Tinus developed to an important centre in the early 1860s.

Castlepoint was first settled by Thomas Guthrie in 1848 when he established Castlepoint Station. As settlement moved inland it as not long before Tinui emerged as a village of importance.

Initially the East Coast area and the Village was served by sea through the Sea Port of Castlepoint. A coastal service calling twice a week at the Port of Castlepoint was a regular thing providing stores, farm supplies and a passenger service north to Port Ahuriri at Napier and south to Port Nicholson at Wellington.

From 1885 'Fly and Young' brought mail twice weekly to Tinui before that was delivered by pack horse to Carswells Junction now known as Blailogie Junction.

In Tinui's hey day there were two General Stores - owned by Messrs Nathan & Co built in 1870 and Johnston & Co. Public Hall, first one built 1872, new Memorial Hall changed to centre of Village built 1954 two Saddlers, three Blacksmiths, two Churches, a Telegraph Office and Post Office (closed 1988,) a Police Station, a Jail built 1877 and restored in 1987, a Taylor, a Shoe Store, a Butcher, a Cake Shop, Coaching Stables, Carrying Business, Boarding House. First Hotel built 1872 second Hotel built 1879 both burnt down situated up Blackhill Road on the stock route third and present Hotel on new site built 1931. A Boarding school house beside the School on Annedale Road was burnt down - the School built 1875. The new school opposite the Store was built in 1957

Other things in Village -Wheelright, Brick Kiln Mannering ("M), Livery Stables (blown over around 1930's) - Court House and County Office. Initially Court hearings were held in the Public Hall hired at an annual rental of 10 pounds, and also the school was used. The old school was finally pulled down in 1988 - after the front porch was chain sawn off and sledged down the road and restored as toilets for the Village Corner.

The tennis and croquet court land where it still is today was given by the the Speedy family. Football field was opposite the Hotel and golf was played in the paddock to the east of Tinui Station driveway and the Hotel was the social spot for both sports afterwards. Also the Tinui Station front paddocks were