Kaye Dragicevich ~ Historian ~ Author
NZ 64 021 084 23700
I was born in Howick in 1954. My father Andy Bennie worked at Musick Point monitoring aircraft movements all over New Zealand, the Pacific and to McMurdo Sound. Our family moved to Mt Maunganui in 1960 where we lived at the aerodrome and my brothers and I attended Omanu School. Mums family were farmers in Kaitaia and the plan was to eventually return to the Far North. This was achieved in 1966 when Dad was promoted to the position of Kaitaia's Aerodrome Superintendent. Mum and Dad built a home at California Hill on my grandfathers 'run-off'. It was here that my brother Andrew and I were able to have our own horses for the first time in our lives. All our free time was spent riding and how we enjoyed exploring the district. Andrew went on to ride at top level, competing in the Los Angeles and Seoul Olympic's. He has lived in the UK for the last 36 years where he judges and trains riders all over the world.
I married my teenage sweetheart Paul, and we have lived on his family farm almost all our married life. We have two grown up children and five grandchildren. I worked for the National Bank for 20 years, then in 2005 'retired', and drifted in to researching the history of our local area. In 2007 I was asked to write a fortnightly story for the Doubtless Bay Times. This led to over 70 stories being published. Over the years I have built up a large data base of over 30,000 historical photographs and extensive library of Northland history books.
My interest in history has become a passion and I have now self published eight books.
2021 Mangonui Rugby Union - The Glory Days 100th Jubilee 1921-2021
2020 "They Shall Grow not Old - WWI Soldiers of the Far North"
2018 The Gumfields - Northern Wairoa to the Far North
2017 Pioneer Dalmatian Settlers of the Far North (2nd reprint)
2015 The Gumfield Collection (SOLD OUT)
2013 A history of AWANUI (SOLD OUT)
2011 AWANUI town of the Big River (out of print)
2009 The Matthews Family of Kaitaia
I am currently working on "Awanui Primary School 150 Years looking back" for the schools reunion on 21 October 2023
Kaye's stories Published in the Doubtless Bay Times
1.
Early fishing at Houhora
Early fishing at Houhora2.The Elingamite Tragedy
The Elingamite Tragedy3.Awanui’s shipping heritage
Awanui’s shipping heritage4.Motor Racing on Ninety Mile Beach
Motor Racing on Ninety Mile Beach5.Taming the Aupouri Dunes
Taming the Aupouri Dunes6.Drainage Development
Drainage Development7.Joseph and Corotine Miller
Joseph and Corotine Miller8.The Walker family’s service to Awanui River
The Walker family’s service to Awanui River9.Charles Kingsford Smith Pioneer Aviator
Charles Kingsford Smith Pioneer Aviator10.Awanui Wireless Station
Awanui Wireless Station11.Johnstons Store – Kaitaia
Johnstons Store – Kaitaia12.Mangatete School
Mangatete School13.Te Paki Station – the Keene Years
Te Paki Station – the Keene Years14.Te Paki – from scrub to pasture
Te Paki – from scrub to pasture15.George Scheigis of Rangiputa
George Scheigis of Rangiputa16.Dan Lewis of Kaitaia
Dan Lewis of Kaitaia17.Ken “Cassidy” Lewis
Ken “Cassidy” Lewis18.Samuel Yates, Gum King of the North
Samuel Yates, Gum King of the North19.Norman Wizard Smith – the man who made history on our door-step
Norman Wizard Smith – the man who made history on our door-step20.Ada Wiggins Bungalow Boarding House
Ada Wiggins Bungalow Boarding House21.August and Ethel Richter of Green Meddows
August and Ethel Richter of Green Meddows22.The Meenans of Rangiputa
The Meenans of Rangiputa23.Clem and Amy Matthews of Claremont
Clem and Amy Matthews of Claremont24.The Archibald Story
The Archibald Story25.Alfred Long and the Long Timber Company
Alfred Long and the Long Timber Company26.The Leyland O’Brien Timber Mill 1916-1923
The Leyland O’Brien Timber Mill 1916-192327.Cowboy Movie in the Farthest North
Cowboy Movie in the Farthest North28.Flax Mills of Kaingaroa
Flax Mills of Kaingaroa29.Early Rangiputa
Early Rangiputa30.Tom and Bessie Spanhake of Kaingaroa
Tom and Bessie Spanhake of Kaingaroa31.The Read family of Croe
The Read family of Croe32.Family business spans 71 years
Family business spans 71 years33.Kaitaia Municipal Brass Band 1945-2007
Kaitaia Municipal Brass Band 1945-200734.Cape Maria van Diemen one of the loneliest most inaccessible Light houses
Cape Maria van Diemen one of the loneliest most inaccessible Light houses35.Cape Reinga Light House
Cape Reinga Light House36.Dyers Motor Camp
Dyers Motor Camp37.Trail blazers of the Far North Tourist Industry
Trail blazers of the Far North Tourist Industry38.Pandora
Pandora39.Pandora Radar Station
Pandora Radar Station40.John Anton and Elizabeth Subritzky – Duke and Duchess of Awanui
John Anton and Elizabeth Subritzky – Duke and Duchess of Awanui41.Shirley Wilfred Masters of Wainui
Shirley Wilfred Masters of Wainui42.The first motor trip in the Far North – 1906
The first motor trip in the Far North – 190643.Allen Garton of Oruru
Allen Garton of Oruru44.Trevor and Patsy Collard of Awanui Hotel 1958-1966
Trevor and Patsy Collard of Awanui Hotel 1958-196645.Kaitaia and Districts A & P Show
Kaitaia and Districts A & P Show46.A tradition – Round the rocks to Tauroa
A tradition – Round the rocks to Tauroa47.George Stankovich – trucking on
George Stankovich – trucking on48.Mo Moses – stockman of the Far North
Mo Moses – stockman of the Far North49.Henry Henderson – pioneer truck driver
Henry Henderson – pioneer truck driver50.Lionel Henderson – trucking is in his blood
Lionel Henderson – trucking is in his blood51.Sucich family of Waihopo
Sucich family of Waihopo52.Jack Sucich – taxi driving farmer of Waihopo
Jack Sucich – taxi driving farmer of Waihopo53.M F Dean Limited
M F Dean Limited54.Grbic Bakery – Awanui
Grbic Bakery – Awanui55.Yelavich family of Awanui
Yelavich family of Awanui56.Mick Petricevich of Sweetwater
Mick Petricevich of Sweetwater57.The last gum digger of Ahipara Gum Fields
The last gum digger of Ahipara Gum Fields58.Lamb and Thomas families – from Herekino to Pukenui
Lamb and Thomas families – from Herekino to Pukenui59.Jujnovich family
Jujnovich family60.Early memories of Mangatete – Winnie Miller
Early memories of Mangatete – Winnie Miller61.Recollections of Kaingaroa – Colin Spanhake
Recollections of Kaingaroa – Colin Spanhake62.Maria’s of Oruru
Maria’s of Oruru63.The Dairy Company Wharf at Awanui and A G Frankham
The Dairy Company Wharf at Awanui and A G Frankham64.Waingakau School – Rangiputa
Waingakau School – Rangiputa65.John and Dorothy Tynan of Waihopo
John and Dorothy Tynan of Waihopo66.Te Kao School
Te Kao School67.The Great Trek
The Great Trek68.Alfred Adams of Kohumaru
Alfred Adams of Kohumaru69.Marko Buselich –contractor of Wireless Road
Marko Buselich –contractor of Wireless Road70.Kaitaia Aerodrome
Kaitaia Aerodrome71.Mangonui’s Phil Lightband – Great NZ Aviator
Mangonui’s Phil Lightband – Great NZ Aviator72.J Everitt and Sons – Te Kao
J Everitt and Sons – Te Kao73.The Dragicevich family of Awanui
The Dragicevich family of Awanui74.Northwood brothers – the men behind the camera
Northwood brothers – the men behind the camera
