History of Lake Horowhenua 1908

About Lake Horowhenua

Depth

The lake is approx 1.8 meters deep. The lake is suitable for most sailing craft (Optimist through to Noelex 22). Power boats are not allowed on the lake. (The sailing club have permission to run rescue craft).

Wind

The prevailing wind direction is from the west. The lake is approx 4 km from the coast, and given the right temperature conditions the sea breeze can reach the lake. The wind is a little more shifty than coastal areas, and provides good training on picking wind shifts.

Algae

The Lake is from time to time affected by algae. It normally grows when the lake weed starts to die. The algae is not normally a problem until late December. In some years the Lake has had to close for a couple of weeks in the summer. By mid January the lake is normally reopened for recreational purposes. The lake water is routinely monitored and tested by the regional council.

Weed

Weed growth is normal on the lake. Normally the weed will grow in mid to late November. The big factor for weed growth is the water temperature over the winter months. If we have a mild winter, the weed will grow earlier in the season (September / October).

Lake Horowhenua

Is the largest "Dune Lake" in the Southern Hemisphere, and is very special to the area, and local Maori. Its history goes back many century's. The lake itself is approx 3 km long by 1 km wide. Sailing activities have taken place since the early 1900's with the Sailing Club officially forming in 1955.

Horowhenua Sailing Club

History 1908 - 1910

01/01/1908 Taken from the Hokio inlet, showing the two largest Islands in the back ground,

(Note the yacht and row boat)

Photo Adkin, G Lesie

Ladies Race of the Levin Boating Club, 1908

1908, Note: the grandstand and boat shed in the background. Some 200 spectators are believed to be present. Photographer unknown.

This was the first club rooms / boat shed built by the "Levin Boating Club" prior to 1903. This club rooms were quite impressive and included a large grandstand on its roof. A large jetty projected out into the lake.

It appears the clubhouse was built without permission of the local land owners, and the above building was later removed; when a new club house was built on land which at the time was legally purchased by the crown to form a public domain. (The legality over the purchase was later challenged by the native land court.)

The Islands in the back ground are man made. They were constructed from woven flax by local Maori and were important food stores. These Islands are no longer in existence.