Leaves From My Sketchbooks. 19. Tobacco Kiln, Riwaka

The Nelson-Tasman district used to abound with tobacco farms. Indeed, one of our ex-prime ministers had been a tobacco farmer. But it was starting to go out of fashion which is probably why this old kiln was looking a bit tired, although still functioning - just ripe for sketching!

 The little squiggles in the foreground are actually rows of tobacco plants growing but you wouldn't have known had I not told you.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz    www.don-donovan.blogspot.co.nz
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New Zealand Odyssey; Tobacco Crop, Brooklyn Farm, Motueka

'New Zealand Odyssey', published in 1989 by Heinemann, was authored by me, Don Donovan (who did the text and illustrations) and Euan Sarginson, who did the photography and design. In this series of blog posts, I will publish some of my drawings.

The Motueka area in 1988 had an abundance of hop and tobacco farms. The hops go on today, but tobacco has become a no-no, having killed generations of smokers. It's still legal to grow the crop, but under very strict regulations, and if there are any tobacco farmers left they will have little to hand over to their heirs.

The crop was picturesque and the aroma inside that drying kiln was seductive. So, within a short lifetime this has become an historic picture and a once proud occupation 'Tobacco Farmer' as desirable as a kiss with hepatitis. 

Interestingly, Keith Holyoake, a prime minister of New Zealand, who died five years before I did this drawing, was once a tobacco farmer in Motueka; nothing to be ashamed of then.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz

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