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Story: Beach culture

Kai Iwi motor camp, 1950s

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Kai Iwi motor camp, 1950s

For over a century the beach has been a favourite place for a New Zealand holiday. Many motor camps were established close to beaches, such as this one at Kai Iwi beach, north-west of Whanganui, where tents would suddenly appear in the few short weeks over the Christmas break.

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Whanganui Regional Museum

Reference: WV/K1/5

Permission of the Whanganui Regional Museum must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Beach culture – The Kiwi dream, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9127/kai-iwi-motor-camp-1950s (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 2 March 2009.