A chairman and committee members are needed for the first organisation of the descendants of early settlers in the Wakatipu.
Moves to establish the First Settlers and Descendants Society as an incorporated society continued when 11 enthusiasts met in the Rees Hotel on February 27.
The enthusiasts were among the 77 people who expressed interest in forming the society when Queenstown celebrated the 150th anniversary of the arrival in the area of William Gilbert Rees and Nicholas von Tunzelmann in February last year.
Rosemary Marryatt, of Waikanae, a great-granddaughter of Rees, said 15 members were needed to meet the criteria for becoming an incorporated society. An extra five signatures had been found since the meeting.
The aims of the society were to raise, create and maintain awareness and appreciation of the early days of the Wakatipu and become an avenue for anyone interested in its history to find out information.
The society would become a catalyst for stories, memoirs and relics to be identified, collected and recorded. It would be a network for descendants and associates to get advice on opportunities to visit the Wakatipu and experience its heritage.
Mrs Marryatt said the inaugural meeting as an incorporated society would be on June 6.
