My Account
A concern that a rich part of New Zealand’s history will be lost forever unless people take the trouble to write it down spurred Kevin Noyer to write a new book about his parents’ Warkworth bakery.
Joe and Noeline Noyer purchased Warkworth Bakery in 1949 and ran it for the next 17 years.
The bakery was located off Queen Street, behind the current Ginger Artisan Café.
Kevin says it’s a fascinating period, when the country started to recover from the ravages of WWII and began to rebuild.
Business was invigorated, but operated very differently, without the benefit of computers and mobile phones.
Home delivery was a major part of the bakery business and Kevin recalls Noyer’s Warkworth Bakery also delivered to those camping in holiday spots such as Martins Bay and Sandspit over summer.
In addition to bread, the bakery offered more general supplies to campers and he remembers toilet rolls being stacked neatly up the delivery van’s radio aerial.
Kevin worked for his parents for several years. Later he established his own bakery in Warkworth, followed by K & J Takeaways.
Afterwards he moved to Kerikeri to found another bakery before moving to Australia.
Kevin spent about two and a half years writing the book. Most of the research was done by contacting people in Warkworth who knew or had worked with his father, and he conducted most of the interviews via Skype from Australia.
“I would like to see other people who lived through that era and were involved with the businesses around Warkworth do something similar,” he says.
“There are a few oldies still around, so it’s an opportune time to talk to some of them – otherwise it’s going to be gone altogether.”
Noyer’s Warkworth Bakery: The Early Years 1949-1966 is available from RE/MAX realty in Baxter Street, Warkworth.
Book Giveaway
Mahurangi Matters has a copy of Warkworth Bakery to give away. Email your contact details to editor@localmatters.co.nz. Put “Bakery” in the subject line. Competition closes on November 26.
