The history of summer holidays
The days become longer, the sea warms up and the coastline dances in red as Aotearoa’s Christmas tree, pōhutukawa, begins to bloom – it must be summer!!
These are also signs of the start of the great migration of Kiwi Campus Major – the movement of Kiwis on a summer camping holiday to the famous hot spots around Aotearoa New Zealand.
Christmas day gifts are often a hint for many Kiwi children that their summer is to be spent with lazy days in the sun at the beach with a new towel, togs and bucket/spade set. Games of backyard cricket are also on the cards with that brand new set that was just unwrapped from under the tree! The fabulous summer holiday uniform comes out too – jandals, shorts and T-shirts!
The end of December and January is a time to eat food from the barbeque and to be with family and friends at your regular summer holiday spot. Some have said that it’s our end-of-year prize for being a Kiwi.
The summer break as we know it became popular in Aotearoa New Zealand from the 1920s, but the Annual Holidays Act 1944 granted all workers two weeks’ annual leave. This meant that almost everyone could afford that break away, leading to most of Aotearoa New Zealand shutting up shop on the Friday before Christmas and going on their summer holiday!
Often the journey is an experience in itself, with many finding themselves travelling on narrow winding metal roads over steep ranges, and down into stunning glistening bays of blue water and pristine beaches – paradise!
In the 1950s, once the post-war petrol rationing ended, the private automobile became the preferred means of migration and getting away from it all.
With cars, people could pack for those prolonged holidays over the Christmas- New Year period. The square canvas family tent with extendable walls for ventilation, a green roof and a central pole was standard accommodation. Sleeping was a more comfortable experience with the essential collapsible canvas stretcher to sleep on. All of these essentials were packed either on the roof of the car on roof racks or packed inside with a game of ‘tetris’, ensuring nothing was left behind – including the children or pets!
Camping grounds were popping up at all the hotspots. These were either run commercially on private land or had a farmer at the gate of a paddock to take your fee and to make sure the gate was shut behind you. Back in the day you could also camp on public land for free.
With the creation of the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act 1937, local authorities were able to finance the recreational needs of their communities and tourists by creating more larger campgrounds. Motor camps were popular with car owners and could be found in most centres. These camping spots had all the necessary cooking and sanitary conveniences. A growing number of holidaymakers had a ‘home away from home’ with the popularity of the caravan. These were a more weatherproof and luxurious alternative to the tent option.
The great migration of Kiwi campus major could also create a change in the family routine – the men could spend the day fishing or drinking a beer at a wobbly camping table, the children were often gone at sunrise and back at sunset or when ‘dinner’ was called, and Mum, well she still cooked the meals and kept the accommodation relatively free of sand!
Ahh, summer holidays at the beach – a long lasting memory of great times and friendships made!!
words by Becs Cox
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