A New Zealand district council is seeking descendants of a prominent local woman, who died a century ago, to help clarify a land ownership issue.
William Rathbone settled in Waipawa in 1859 and was a well-known wealthy merchant and landowner.
His wife, Lissie Rathbone, died in March 1918, 14 years after her husband, leaving behind a large estate.
Half of the estate went to charity, with bequests from the Lissie Rathbone Trust funding a maternity home, children's home, Plunket rooms, and a tower, spire and renovations at St Peter's Church in Waipawa.
The Lissie Rathbone Scholarship was also established in 1925 for charitable, educational or religious pursuits.