The 4th September 2025 marks 15 years since the Greendale Earthquake – a moment that shook Hororata and its surrounding rural communities awake in the early hours and changed them forever.

Thankfully, no lives were lost, but the earthquake left deep scars, damaging homes, heritage properties, destroying the Hororata stone church and pub, and leaving many of the district’s halls in need of repair.

Out of the rubble came an opportunity for change, recovery, and reconnection; one that continues to thrive in Hororata today. The challenge was not only to rebuild the buildings, but to strengthen the people and spirit of this vast 280-square-kilometre rural community. A small, determined group came together to find the answer.

As the 15th anniversary of this event is marked, it is also a time to celebrate one of those visionaries, Hororata Community Trust Trustee Mark Stewart, who was among the first to ask, “This is rough, but what are we going to do to recover?”

The answer was to create something that would unite the district, bring people into the area, and put Hororata back on the map. Drawing on the community’s long tradition of hosting events at the Hororata Domain, the idea of a Highland Games was born. In true Kiwi number-eight-wire style, and despite the added challenge of the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the community rallied. Just 15 months later, the first Hororata Highland Games was held, attracting 10,000 people – an event that has run every year since.

It was quickly recognised that a new entity was needed to provide structure and direction for recovery, and so in March 2011 the Hororata Community Trust was formed. With no government support available for rural recovery, the community backed itself to create a new path forward. As an inaugural Trustee, Mark Stewart played a pivotal role in establishing the Trust – an organisation designed to guide recovery and nurture future growth.

Since then, the story has been one of people standing up to make things happen. Across schools, sports clubs, heritage groups, and countless committees, individuals have given their time and energy to strengthen the community. The Hororata Community Trust has been the vehicle to support those efforts – providing the framework, resources, and opportunities that enable local people and groups to thrive.

“Mark’s vision and big-picture thinking helped chart this path forward when hope was hard to find,” says Hororata Community Trust Executive Officer, Cindy Driscoll. “Mark, who has recently stepped down as a Trustee, has been instrumental in every initiative and achievement of the Trust along the way.”

For 15 years, Mark has given his time, opened doors, offered financial support, and stood as one of the Trust’s most steadfast advocates. Reflecting on the journey, he shared: “From inception, in 2011, the Hororata Community Trust has been such a passion for us all involved. The work that we have done, the friendships that have been made, the wonderful milestones that we have all achieved, the community building and solidarity that endures, has by far been the most rewarding and fulfilling experience of my life.”

Trust Chair, Ainsley Walter, said:“The collective spirit Mark so strongly believes in has been the foundation of the Trust’s philosophy. By creating events that bring people together, fundraising opportunities have been unlocked, the area has been put firmly on the map, and most importantly, the community has grown stronger and more connected. We are forever thankful to Mark for this. All of our Trustees and volunteers have benefited from his contributions and enthusiasm; we are thrilled he will still be participating in our events.”

Looking ahead, Mark remains optimistic: “I leave the daily workings of the Trust knowing that the future is bright, our community projects and events are truly alive, we have substantial and talented resources both with expertise and financial backing, and our culture is both respected and admired.”

Cindy Driscoll added: “As the Hororata Community Trust pauses to reflect on the past 15 years since the earthquake, it also looks forward to the future. The 2025 Hororata Highland Games will once again bring thousands of people together to celebrate Scottish tradition with a Kiwi twist on the 8th November. Beyond that, the Trust is focused on the next chapter – the rebuilding of the Hororata Hall, a key project that will provide a heart for the district for generations to come.”

Mark’s dedication continues even as he steps back from daily Trust operations: “Despite stepping back, I will continue to support the community we live in and the Hororata Community Trust in particular. I will remain a volunteer – in kilt and on hosting duties for as long as I’m able.” His final reflection captures the essence of what the Trust has achieved: “It has been a rare privilege knowing that my efforts have contributed to substantially improving our community for all.”

The journey is far from over – watch this space as the community continues to dream big and make things happen, building on the foundation established in those crucial early days after the earthquake.