My Account
The life of Pakiri identity Anne Longuet-Higgins was celebrated at the Christ Church Anglican Church in Warkworth last month.
Anne was born in Melbourne on May 26, 1926. She had a happy childhood, though overshadowed by the health of her father, Lyall, who never recovered from being gassed during World War I.
After WWII, she headed on her OE to war-torn Europe with her brother John. While in England, her mother died and she returned home to Melbourne. On her homeward journey aboard The South Africa Star she met her future husband, Thomas, and they were married six months later.
Thomas’ father was chairman of the Stock Exchange in London and he had bought the large Millbrook farm in Pakiri, sight unseen, and was on his way to New Zealand.
The newlyweds soon boarded a ship to cross the Tasman, bringing with them a brand new Buick and a 1922 Rolls Royce Tourer. They settled in Leigh in the early 1950s and would drive the classic cars over the hill to the Pakiri farm every day.
In Open Windows: Women of the Mahurangi tell their stories, published in 1998, Anne wrote of feeling like an outsider in Pakiri at first.
“I found the intense interest with which we seemed to be regarded, uncomfortable and threatening … we were of interest to everyone,” she wrote.
Within four years, three children had been born and the couple started to settle into the community.
“We were so blessed to have such a wonderful place to live. There was not time, or reason, for any of us to be bored or idle,” she wrote.
In 1953, the young family moved into a house on Millbrook and started forming fond memories of picnicking around a bonfire on the farm.
“When you enjoy what you are doing, it really takes the pain out of hard work.”
She even wrote fondly of spraying gorse.
“One is out only in good weather, and while quietly spraying there is ample time to watch the pigeons, listen to the tuis, and generally keep an eye on what’s going on.”
Overall, Millbrook was a fascinating, magical place to live.
“Floods, fires, landslips, accidents and all sorts of dramas seem to be woven into the fabric of our life at Millbrook. For each disaster there have been many rewarding experiences, long-standing friendships on the personal side, as well as the enormous satisfaction of caring for a very beautiful, special part of New Zealand. Being part of the team to make the plans and then endeavour to put them into action has been a most rewarding experience. I feel that we have indeed been fortunate to have enjoyed such a privileged life.”
In the 1970s Anne became involved with SPELD (short for Specific Learning Difficulties), teaching and helping children and she was awarded the QSM in 1997 for her work with the organisation.
It was about this time that she also started working for the National Party, firstly as a local committee chair, before rising to vice-president of the Auckland Division. The first MP she worked with was Peter Wilkinson, followed by Don McKinnon, John Banks and Lockwood Smith.
She was still working on the farm aged 80, with her own four wheeler motorbikes and farm dogs, before moving to Summerset Falls Retirement Village two years ago.
Anne passed away at Summerset on December 2, aged 89.
She is survived by her children John, Simon, Cara and Alexander; daughters in-law Libby and Fiona; and 11 grandchildren.
