The man behind the creation of Pāpāmoa’s widely-used outdoor recreation and education facility on a working farm and forestry operation has been remembered for his enduring gift.

David Loreburn Blackley died aged 95 on March 3, “under a Blood Moon” according to his death notice – a poetic detail fitting for a man so closely tied to the rhythms of land and sky.

Born in Heretaunga near Wellington on November 2, 1930, to Sam and Catherine Blackley, David met 17-year-old Cloie as a 20-year-old while aboard a ship returning to New Zealand in 1950.

Together, they created Summerhill Farm on Reid Rd in Pāpāmoa Hills, transforming what was a rundown block of land with extraordinary views in 1953 into a productive and diverse 180ha farming and forestry operation – but with a twist.

Aerial view of Summerhill. Photo / Supplied

The Blackleys founded Summerhill Charitable Trust in 2014 and donated 130 hectares to it, with the aim of promoting recreation and education in the Pāpāmoa Hills. The property’s farm proceeds and donations are dedicated to maintaining and developing the land for the benefit of everyone.

For many in the wider Bay of Plenty, the Blackley name is synonymous with Summerhill.

The Pāpāmoa hills ridgeline property shares a boundary with the Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park, enabling families to park at Summerhill and walk a shorter distance to the Pā.

Today, this land serves as a rare greenbelt on the edge of a rapidly expanding city. That legacy was no accident. It was the result of decades of vision, experimentation, hard work and, ultimately, extraordinary generosity, said his family.

After arriving in 1959 the Blackleys spent decades transforming the original holding into a productive and diverse farming and forestry operation.

They raised four daughters there, embedding a deep family connection to the land.

David was known for thinking “outside the square”.

“Long before it became common, he experimented with agroforestry, integrating trees and pasture to balance productivity with environmental care,” daughter Mary-Rose Blackley said.

“Steep, erosion-prone paddocks were planted in forestry, with species ranging from radiata pine and redwoods to acacia, cypress, poplar, eucalypts and native trees.”

He was also quick to adopt innovations such as aerial topdressing in the late 1950s, transforming soil fertility and livestock health. These decisions steadily turned marginal land into a thriving mixed-use property, according to the Summerhill Charitable Trust website.

An inventor, David Blackley developed the ‘Rocket Wool Press’, which allowed more wool to be packed into a fadge, saving labour and improving efficiency over traditional methods. Powered by hydraulic hoses from a tractor, it was faster and more effective; he later sold the patent to an engineering company. Photo / Supplied

For David, the farm was never just about production. From early on, he and Cloie welcomed others on to the land – opening tracks for schools, walkers, horse riders and later mountain bikers – long before public access became formalised.

Community initiatives followed. In 2009, Blackley founded the A1 Academy, offering leadership training to secondary school students. Now rebranded as NextGen Leader, it reaches students across Bay of Plenty schools. He also encouraged agricultural students to gain practical experience on the farm.

“He always believed the next generation mattered, but they needed caring mentoring during their difficult teenage years,” Mary-Rose said.

At the heart of many activities was a Mongolian-style ger that David built as a gathering place for learning and conversation.

As Tauranga grew and development pressures intensified, the future of such land became uncertain.

Subdivision into housing would have been the likely outcome for many similar properties. For the Blackleys, that was unacceptable.

Their response was bold. Rather than allow fragmentation, they chose to gift much of the land to the nation. Through the establishment of the Summerhill Charitable Trust in 2014, 130ha were placed in perpetual protection for recreation, education and sustainable land use.

It was unconventional, but consistent with their values. They had been sharing the land with the public for years before formalising its future.

Today, that decision continues to shape the landscape. Summerhill remains a working farm, running sheep and cattle while supporting forestry and conservation plantings.

Native bush areas had been protected, waterways restored and an ecological corridor established.

At the same time, the property had become a hub for outdoor activity with walking and mountain biking trails, and a golf course, drawing thousands of visitors and hosting major events.

Those who knew David spoke of his practical intelligence, curiosity and willingness to try new ideas.

He was known to say, “Where there is a will there is a way”. Mary-Rose said he was not afraid of failure, seeing it as part of learning from the land. Just as strongly, he believed in stewardship – that land, once improved, carries a responsibility to those who follow.

David Blackley enjoying a moment with his dog. Photo / Supplied

That philosophy is now embedded in Summerhill itself, said Summerhill Charitable Trust trustee Richard Balm.

“Managed under sustainable principles and supported by farm income, volunteers and donations, the property is designed to endure – not as a static reserve, but as a living landscape where farming, conservation and community coexist,” said Balm.

The Summerhill Charitable Trust described David’s “love for the land” and the “remarkable legacy” that he and Cloie had created.

“It is a legacy measured not only in hectares, but in the experiences of the countless walkers, riders, students and families who have found connection and enjoyment there,” said Balm.

David is survived by his wife Cloie, four daughters, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His life was celebrated at Summerhill Farm shortly after his death. His life’s work endures in the hills above Tauranga – in the trees planted, tracks opened, and land held in trust for all.

*Summerhill has reopened following January 22’s landslide damage in the Pāpāmoa hills. Runners, walkers and mountain bikers are welcome seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. Find out more at: www.summerhill.nz