Our History
From Farm Cottage to Clay Community – Our Story.
Rangiora Pottery Group – A Creative Legacy Since 1968
The story of the Rangiora Pottery Group begins in May 1968, when the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers and Adult Education came together to gauge interest in forming a pottery group in North Canterbury. The response was strong, and a steering committee was formed with Mark Lamb as President and Chris Johnston as Secretary.
The Early Years
The group’s first home was a disused farm cottage on Oxford Road. With support from Canterbury Potters, the group held its first pot-making session there in October 1968, marking the official beginning of Rangiora Pottery Group.
In those early days, money was tight, so members sourced their own clay from Takaka, Temuka, Patakihi, and Bullock Creek, and made their own glazes. A demolished gasworks provided the bricks for the group’s first kilns, built by hand with determination and community spirit. Mark Lamb even handcrafted the group’s first potter’s wheels.
As the group grew, they moved through various locations:
- Fernside, where they built their kilns and had their first successful firing after two years.
- Plasketts Road, in an old house shared with rats, opossums, and a resident ghost affectionately named Aunt Maude. There, they used a diesel kiln and held long firing nights accompanied by wine, cheese, and homebrew.
The Loburn Era
In the early 1980s, the group moved into the old district council building in Loburn. This location marked a turning point. The group expanded their capabilities by purchasing a Cobcraft electric kiln and building wood, salt, and pit kilns on-site.
This period also saw the rise of Cobcraft, started by the Lamb family to support the local pottery community with kilns (from 1970) and supplies (from 1978).
Celebrating 30 Years – 1998
In 1998, Rangiora Pottery Group celebrated its 30th anniversary with an open weekend, dinner event, and features in New Zealand Woman’s Weekly and local newspapers. Past members reconnected, and the milestone was marked with warmth, stories, and shared memories.
A New Home – 2000
After 19 years at the old Loburn site, the clubrooms were finally due for an upgrade. In July 2000, the kilns were relocated, and by September 10, the new purpose-built clubhouse at Loburn Domain officially opened.
Kath Matthews, then Treasurer, reflected on the 20-year journey to create the new space, calling it a “major improvement” with everything housed under one roof — kilns, slab roller, and all — plus convenient parking and a stunning view. The group expressed heartfelt thanks to the Loburn Reserve Board and all who helped make the new clubhouse a reality.
At the time of the move, the club had around 30 active members and continued its tradition of offering classes, club nights, and pottery sales, welcoming newcomers eager to get their hands dirty.
Notable Members
Over the decades, many well-known New Zealand potters have emerged from the Rangiora Pottery Group, including:
- Adrian Lamb
- Mark Lamb
- Lawrence Ewing
- George Halliday
- Brian Cooke
- Gaynor Thacker
- Hilary Lakeman
- Bernie Flintoff
- Frederika Ernstein
- Margaret Ryley
- Jackie Watson
Fun Traditions
The group also took part in quirky, creative events like the Clay Olympics — friendly competitions where teams of potters each contributed a part to a single pottery piece, such as a teapot, with a timed relay format.
