A purpose of the book “Coffee Houses of Wellington, 1939 to 1979” by Craig Miller was to record and champion the people of the First Wave of Coffee in New Zealand, 1939 to 1979. As part of that purpose it was time to journey to the top of the South Island, to the cathedral city of Nelson. Latitude 41 – south. To present a coffee event at the Suter Art Gallery titled “Chez Eelco Revisited”.

The Chez Eelco Coffee House ran in Nelson from 1961 for fourty years in the same building . Next to the cathedral steps. The proprietor Eelco Boswijk created a lively, energetic coffee house that contributed to the arts and culture of Nelson and to hospitality generally. Chez Eelco is New Zealand’s most well-known coffee house, its memory has been, and continues to be, captured in art, theatre and literature.

• Auckland to Nelson.

  Preparation was required before leaving Auckland for Nelson. A roast of Suzy’s Blend coffee was needed and chocolates made. Items for the coffee event had to be packed up so they could be freighted down to Nelson in time for the coffee event.

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• Nelson.

  We would be visiting Nelson in May, the late harvest season.

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• Nelson to Auckland.

  Our time in Nelson was over and we had to return to the centre of Auckland. What a fortunate time we had, a burst of mild temperatures, the angled glow of the sun streaking through the city streets; but mostly it will be the warmth of the people that lingers. 8 slides

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