‘Kiwibuild’ would be an appropriate alternative title for the two Taylors Mistake postcards pictured here - low cost affordable housing. In another sense these postcards (Cir. 1920s or later?) represent the beginnings of that great New Zealand past time – summer spent at the Kiwi ‘BACH’ or 'CRIB' as my Otago/Southland cousins would call it.For the benefit of non-mainlanders, Taylors Mistake or Te Onepoto is in Canterbury and lies on the stretch of coastline between Sumner and Lyttelton. This bach or weekend fishing retreat is typical of many cave dwellings built into the cliff faces around Hobson’s Bay, Boulder Bay and Taylor’s Mistake. Sheltering in caves in this area likely goes back to pre and early European times but particularly through the 1890s an increasing number of adventurous souls began to make full use of the King’s or Queens chain (one chain or about 20 metres above the high water mark).Some of the shelters were built completely within existing caves in the cliff faces while others utilised eroded recesses that were available in the rock and extended beyond. With little or no road access in the early days many huts were constructed from recycled building materials from Christchurch brought in by boat. Timber and other discarded items salvaged from the sea also featured in most building’s construction. Room/s with a poured concrete floor, painted rock walls and ceilings were generally adorned with crudely constructed bunk beds, storage cupboards and furniture, a sink and a fireplace for heating. Others retreats were more up market, built with better quality materials, water tanks and gas.As a weekend retreat these early bach’s became a very popular destination for Christchurch townsfolk. By 1918 there were more than fifty built in Taylor’s Mistake alone, scattered under the cliffs and on the publicly owned legal road along the foreshore.
All were eventually placed under the jurisdiction of the Sumner Borough Council and owners were charged a nominal license fee for their use. While some were lost to vandalism and storms many of the fishing retreats continued to be enjoyed and further developed by successive generations of families for many years. Over that time it became clear that a long term solution to their legal existence would be required by Council. Recognizing the heritage value of many of the structures in 2019 the Christchurch City Council finally agreed to grant a 35 year license to existing bach owners if their dwellings were deemed to not be at risk to natural hazards. Many of the old huts on the publicly owned legal road still remain today while those under the cliff faces (like the one pictured in our postcard) are now left to the ravages of the sea, vandals and the prevailing weather.
The foreshore and bach's as they are today