Poppy Bowls NZ

19/11/2025

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13/11/2025

Front page today. Nice one Jimmy!
Thanks to Arianna Stewart and the Hokitika Guardian for the story. 👍

04/11/2025

Come along and celebrate local legend Jimmy Gordon QSM
as he launches his new book “The Journey of an ANZAC Poppy Bowl”
– a heartfelt story you won’t want to miss! 🇳🇿

📅 Friday Nov 21 | 5:30pm
📍 RSA Building, 22 Sewell St, Hokitika

Finger food, tea & coffee provided.
Bar open | Books $35 (Cash/Eftpos) — see you there!

13/10/2025

Jimmy Gordon QSM has written a book titled ‘The Journey of a Poppy Bowl’.
You can purchase a copy of the book for $45 which includes postage throughout New Zealand.

YOU CAN PREORDER NOW!
Please use these contact details to register your interest.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 021 112 9717

*Books will also be available from Paperplus in Hokitika. We will announce when stock arrives on this page.
Thank you for your interest.

13/10/2025

13/10/2025

From the New Years Honours list Queen’s Service Medal (QSM)

James William Gordon, Hokitika, for services to the community

The Queen’s Service Medal:
GORDON, Mr James William (Jimmy)
For services to the community
Mr Jimmy Gordon has been a member of the Hokitika Lions Club for more than 20 years.
Mr Gordon has held various positions within the organisation over the 20 years and has been a longstanding member of the Lions Wood Cutting Team, who meet weekly to cut thousands of loads of wood and deliver to locals, with money collected for fundraisers. Within the Lions, he is the Alomar, holding responsibility for the mental, physical and spiritual support of the members. He has been making poppy bowls, one for every Returned and Services Association and marae in New Zealand, totalling 270 in two years. Each bowl is adorned with locally sourced pounamu that is affiliated with the 28 Māori Battalion throughout New Zealand, carrying the same polish as pounamu which was used in the ‘Wall of Tears’ at the Waiouru Military War Memorial Museum. He installed a park bench and plaque at a local park to mark ANZAC Day in 2022 and to commemorate the centennial of the first poppy sold in New Zealand following WWI. With his family, he has been organising a Community Christmas Dinner for a decade, welcoming community members and visitors in Hokitika with meals, music, dance and decorations. Mr Gordon received the 2021 ‘Westlander of the Year’ award from the Westland District Council.

13/10/2025

13/10/2025

Congratulations to Jimmy Gordon - Westlander of the Year.

This award recognises the achievements and contributions of an inspirational Westlander who has made a significant contribution to our district and makes us proud of our region and what can be achieved.

Jimmy was nominated for his work making 220 poppy bowls for every RSA throughout New Zealand. Using his craftsmanship he designed and turned each bowl into magnificent crafted pieces, adorned with locally sourced pounamu. The bowls are part of a collection gifted by Tane and are made from New Zealand and are made from New Zealand native trees,- Rimu,Totara,Matai,and Beech all grown here in Te Tai o Poutini, Te Waipounamu – The West Coast of the South Island. Each bowl is made complete by the addition of a piece of Pounamu (Greenstone) at its centre, gifted by local iwi members from rivers on the West Coast – a powerful reminder of the Mana this Pounamu carries. A penny has been placed under each bowl and numbered-a coin from their realm a gift of thanks from us.

And congratulations to the other Civic Award recipients at yesterday's Council meeting: Ian Gilbertson (Gibby) - Senior Westlander of the Year and Lucan Bradley - The Brian McCarthy Trophy for Community Involvement (Young achiever).

The Civic Awards were held in conjunction with the Hokitika Lions.

13/10/2025

13/10/2025

Hello my name is Jimmy Gordon.
Covid lockdown had just begun when a voice spoke to me. Not to my ear... but to my soul.
"MAKE POPPY BOWLS"
There my journey started, making hundreds of Poppy Bowls... 290 in total.
All gifted to RSA's, Marae, Churches, Cathedrals, Schools, Antarctica, Gallipoli, Passchendaele Embassy's in New Zealand and around the world.
This is my story of my journey------ all because of that small whisper.
Now completed.

Jimmy Gordon QSM
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 021 112 9717