The Herald

Far North Dalmatian kauri gum diggers' descendants are today making their mark in their district's local government politics - as the area celebrates its ...

The third-generation Kiwi has a bachelor of science (hons) degree in relativity and cosmology plus a master of science in computer science. All illustrate the Dalmatian heritage of wanting to better communities, he said. He is also closely involved in the council’s social procurement and community wellbeing considerations. in turn build resilience in their community,” Jones said. Dalmatians are now a distinctive part of the Far North and its council. He set up a local computer business and has a deer farm and a forestry block. Radich’s family started gum digging at Sweetwater after arriving in the 1930s, his father digging gum on the land that is now his son’s farm. So it was brought to life again after its almost 10-decade absence and prevailed for all his sons. Vujcich said Dalmatian forebears were passionately interested in fostering their tiny homeland communities. Andrija and Erina Kleskovic had 13 children, whose surnames were changed to Anaru or Andrew. He drove a bullock wagon collecting gum for sorting and grading back at Sweetwater. Digging kauri gum was popular for the councillors’ forbears because it offered a way of making money without needing too much other than hard work.