Caccia Birch House Open Days
Historic Caccia Birch House in Hokowhitu, Palmerston North is open for viewing each Sunday afternoon in May.
Sunday 5th May - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday 12th May - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday 19th May - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday 26th May - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Featuring beautiful handcrafted rimu timber panelling, lead light windows and watercolour artwork painted in 1880's by Lydia Lardin (Ethel Birch) aunt of William Caccia Birch.
Explore the house and gardens, learn about the past owners and how the house was rescued from dereliction and destruction in the eighties by PNCC and many supporters. Then brought back to life in the nineties to become a thriving venue with stories of the past to tell.
On Mother's Day (12th May) we will have a couple of wondeful artists here displaying their work:
Mike Ryan
Mike is a talented artist who resides in Foxton. He creates beautiful portraits on the spot and teaches art classes. He will be on site to do portraits on Mother's Day.
Rob Haakman
Rob has been a practising artist for 25 years. His quirky style uses a variety of mediums He will have a selection of his work to view and purchase on Mother's Day. With autumn upon us, the deciduous trees are stunning colours and leaves are falling. Pick up a guide to the several protected trees on the property, they are amazing specimens!
This is also a good time to view the venue if you are planning on holding a wedding or function. Feel free to approach our friendly staff for a chat or pick up one of the brochures from the foyer that contain all information on making a booking.
PS. Only half the house will be available for viewing on Mother's Day due to the hosting of Artisan Kitchen's High Tea, the main room upstairs will be unavailable. Apologies for this.
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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58.9% Yes, supporting people is important!
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26.4% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.7% ... It is complicated
A Neighbourly Riddle! Don’t Overthink It… Or Do?😜
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
If you multiply this number by any other number, the answer will always be the same. What number is this?
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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