Mangapapa Hotel, Restaurant & Spa - Restaurant & Spa 466 Napier Road

In 1896, George Langdale Sunderland, a retired Navy Officer, who immigrated to New Zealand at the age of 24 took up residence. Sunderland had first settled in the Bay of Plenty in 1876, working for Nelson Brothers as Head Stock Buyer at the Taraheru Freezing Works in Gisborne.

He was promoted to Manager of the Tomoana Freezing Works in 1896. The history of the Hawke’s Bay Hunt reports his arrival from the Bay of Plenty and he later became Master of the Hawke’s Bay Hunt. George lived on the property with his wife Dorothy, the grand-niece of the renowned English Poet Laureate William Wordsworth. She was also a keen horsewoman, and both of their daughters learned to ride as well the family keeping their horses in the 50 acres surrounding the homestead. After his retirement from the freezing works in 1914, George Sunderland and his wife Dorothy went to live at the Masonic Hotel in Napier.

Gladys Sunderland (one of George and Dorothy’s daughters) married Oswald Nelson, who owned lands adjoining Mangapapa. Oswald and Gladys moved into Mangapapa and the homestead then remained in the Nelson family until after World War II, sustaining only the loss of the chimney pots during the 1931 earthquake. Mangapapa means “fertile land” but it is unclear who gave the estate this name. It might well have been the Sunderlands, as there is an area near Gisborne of the same name.

It is certainly appropriate, as the soil is rich, fertile and very dark in colour and plants grow readily. In 1946 Sir James Wattie purchased the homestead with its lands to grow fruit and vegetables for his thriving cannery business. He and his wife never intended to live in the house as they thought it was far too large for them. A team of local architects modified and converted the run-down, old colonial homestead into a much more up-to-date 1950’s style house, removing the verandas and adding the portico. Sir James and his wife, Gladys, moved into Mangapapa in 1950.

It was the No. 1 Farm, known to the locals as “Wattie’s Place”, although it retained the name Mangapapa. Sir James maintained the equestrian connection, with his racehorse Even Stevens winning the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups in 1962.

In 1974 Sir James and Lady Wattie moved into the bungalow on the adjoining section which they had built with retirement in mind but Sir James passed away within 6 weeks. Lady Wattie continued living there and their son Gordon and his wife lived at Mangapapa for a short time. They added the tennis court and swimming pool, before moving with the cannery business up to Gisborne. Thereafter, management personnel from Wattie’s lived in the house for short periods of time. The homestead was also used for the company’s functions, Christmas parties, training sessions and planning retreats. In the late 80’s, Mangapapa was sold as part of the Goodman, Fielder, Wattie assets when it merged with Heinz.

A New Era

The property was bought by European business immigrants to develop as a restaurant and luxury hotel in December 1993. In early 1994 an extensive programme of re-design and renovation began. The theme was reflective of the life that the new owners had led in Europe. The entire contents of their personal home were used in the Hotel to reinforce a feeling of warmth and homeliness. In May 1999, overseas investors purchased the hotel. A purposeful attempt has been made to re-establish close relationships with the local community to allow them to enjoy the fine cuisine and surroundings of the Hotel.

The newest addition to the Hotel is the Spa Retreat which boasts a gym, sauna, spa and two treatment rooms – a wonderful facility to enhance any stay at Mangapapa