Temuka History
 

Pottery has been produced on the Temuka site since the 1930’s. Arthur Toplis factory manager for NEECO (National Electric and  Engineering Company) started producing small items such as tobacco jars for Christmas presents for New Zealand Insulators’ customers (Temuka Potterys' parent company)

The North Otago Museum in Oamaru holds one of the best public collections of Temuka Pottery in New Zealand (www.northotagomuseum.co.nz)

Tabacco Jar  Photo courtesy of the North Otago Museum

1930s: Products made included teapots, vases, tobacco jars and mixing bowls.

1941: Thomas Lovatt (who had done contract work on electric jug design) was appointed General Manager.

               Production now included mixing bowls.

1945: During World War II production was restricted to electric jugs, mixing bowls,chamber pots, hot water bottles and teapots

                for the Indian army. Small decorative pieces were still made as gifts for staff at Christmas, or as promotional give-aways.

1947: Work on cups and saucers for New Zealand Railways

1950: After a major factory fire production began on electric jug bodies and tankard jugs for the Union Steam Ship Company

Temuka Warehouse 1962 Photo from South Canterbury Photo News Vol.1. No.1. - 1962 Finished Product	Early Temuka Pottery Photo Courtesy of North Otago Museum   Slip Casting

1966: NEECO was bought by Cable Price Downer Limited and Lovatt was replaced as manager. Production of domestic pottery declined

Riverstone Temuka Pottery

Trade show display stand - 1970

1970's Shop Display

1970: Coffee and tea sets, casseroles and storage jars were introduced. Temuka stoneware dinner sets were added to the range - in varying shades of brown. Due to the increase in demand for Temuka Product a separate pottery manufacturing area was built at the factory in 1977.

1980: Temuka ware moved away from plain brown ceramics into other colours such as Alpine Mist, a grey design with a dark speckled area around the borders. Also a greater range of shapes were introduced into the market, expanding both tableware and bakeware.

   Colour then became more prevalent, designs such as Wildflower, Spring Bloom and Forest Green came into being.

   These hand painted designs complimented the spray glazed decorations

Forest Green Temuka Pottery	Spring Bloom Temuka Pottery	Multi-coloured Temuka Logo

Orchard Road

1990: Bold and attractive colours were established. With the rise of  boutique cafés and bars in

               New Zealand, Temuka ware became popular as a rugged, durable and yet aesthetically

               pleasing way to present food.

               Many hundreds of designs were specifically created for cafes across New Zealand looking

               for an individual and distinctive ‘look’. New ranges of shapes were added for tableware

              and bakeware.  

1999:    Experimental  shapes such as planter pots and umbrella stands carried the Temuka name.                               Whimsical designs such as "House" were well recieved.              House

   2003: Temuka takes on a new look and a new logo (which represents a stack of plates). Temuka Pottery is also briefly known
               as Temuka Homeware.

	Tussock Design

2011:

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