The flat land between what is now Stoke and Richmond was full of resources, including harakeke (flax) and seasonal fishing, such as eels, from streams and the Waimea estuary.

The land was acquired by the English settler John Waring Saxton in 1844, probably after a series of trades and exchanges. Saxton’s diary describes the land as ‘steep, hillish and swampy’. He named it Oaklands, after the trees grown from acorns he bought from England, and which still stand today. His descendants still farm the land and live in the original homestead, one of New Zealand’s oldest prefabricated buildings.

Over time, the Saxtons leased sections of the land, including Nelson Aero Club for their first terminal, with aviator Kingsford Smith landing his plane, the Southern Cross, in 1934. Another section was purchased by the Crown, who in turn, sold it to Nelson City Council in the 1970s. Work began in earnest over the next decade, and although the Hockey Association began using the fields in 1986, it was another few years before other sports – soccer and netball – came on board. The work was considerable, needing extensive drainage, tree planting, embankments along Orphanage Creek, roads and car parks, as well as more land purchases to further extend the vision.

Today, Saxon Field has facilities catering to more than 20 sporting codes, as well as being able to welcome casual users for walking, biking, rollerblading, picnicking, model boats and aeroplanes.