The Wild West returns to Northland this weekend with cowboys, gun-toting robbers and cheese-rollers due to put in an appearance at Waimamaku, South Hokianga. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
The Wild West returns to Northland this weekend with cowboys, gun-toting robbers and cheese-rollers due to put in an appearance at Waimamaku, South Hokianga. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
A weekly round-up of news snippets, events and oddities from the Bay of Islands and around the Mid North
Wild West returns to Hokianga
Cowboys, horse riders, gun-toting baddies, a shoot-out, and highway robbers extracting tolls from passing motorists - visitors to Waimamaku can see all that and more when the South Hokianga town stages its 13th Wild West Fest this Saturday.
One of the most unusual aspects of the festival is that much of the action takes place on State Highway 12, including the cheese-rolling contests (the 'cheeses', a nod to the town's historic cheese factory, are actually tyres painted yellow) and the high noon shoot-out (which will be staged at 1pm).
Highwaymen at either end of town will extract donations from passing motorists and some very confused tourists.
The South Hokianga Riders will take part and volunteers of the Omapere Fire Brigade will stage an obstacle course. A Mad Hatter's challenge for the best hat will replace last year's wearable arts contest. A large number of food and information stalls are expected.
Organiser Bruce Lomas said the "short and sweet" event would run from 10am-2pm.
The festival would have a health focus with prizes including entry in the upcoming Rawene-Omapere half marathon and proceeds going to health initiatives in South Hokianga.
"We're encouraging people to look after themselves," he said.
Last year $1000 was donated to Rawene Hospital with $500 earmarked for its mental health unit.
Calling all dog paddlers
Is your pet a champion dog-paddler? If so, it could win prizes and glory in this weekend's dog swimming races at Opua.
Activities in Saturday's Opua Regatta start with a fishing contest on the wharf at 10am followed by raft races and swimming races for dogs and humans from 11am.
Other attractions will include a petting zoo, pony rides, games and stalls. Opua Hall will host its regular market.
Raft races and dog swimming are among the attractions at this weekend's Opua regatta. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
The regatta is the main fundraiser of the year for Opua School. This year's proceeds will go towards a playground upgrade.
Last year's canine swimming champs were Jessie, a miniature fox terrier owned by Brad Batterton, and Stefi, a Hungarian Vizsla cross owned by Hamish Anderson.
New wheels for Island Song
An ambitious project to restore wildlife in the Bay of Islands now has its own set of wheels, thanks to a Northland car dealership.
Project Island Song, which is driven by the community group Guardians of the Bay of Islands, aims to eradicate pests and return native plants and insects to half a dozen major islands and many smaller islets.
Their work has been given a boost by Whangarei-based Northland Toyota, which has provided a sign-written Hilux ute for a six-month sponsorship.
Guardians chair Fleur Corbett said the Hilux would be a huge help with plant transport, pest control, events, education, biosecurity and species translocations.
It would be put to use immediately on the planned reintroduction of tieke (saddlebacks) and popokotea (whiteheads).
A donated ute has given Project Island Song a major boost. Putting the new vehicle to use are Maggie Aslund (left), Theresa Vujcich and Richard Robbins.
The ute would also be used for the Project Island Song/Kids Restore New Zealand education programme run at schools around the Bay of Islands, transporting plants grown by the Kerikeri Shadehouse volunteers, and carrying out pest control in a mainland buffer zone.
Much of the terrain in the buffer zone was "pretty challenging", making the four-wheel-drive ute ideal.
Northland Toyota managing director Bryce Woodward said a range of groups showed interest in having a sponsored vehicle but Project Island Song's proposal ticked all the boxes. It also showed that Northland Toyota supported the whole of Northland, he said.
A series of "grill the candidates" meetings are being held around the Far North to give the public a chance to question would-be MPs contesting the upcoming byelection.
Organisers say the meetings are being held for Northlanders concerned about how they are being represented in Parliament - or not represented - and will be run as a "traditional Kiwi-style Q&A" where the audience can ask questions related to pressing Northland issues.
The meetings will be at Oruru's Swamp Palace (inland from Taipa) at 2pm on March 8; Far North REAP in Kaitaia, 1.30-5pm, March 13; and Kerikeri's Turner Centre, 7-10pm. Entry by koha to cover venue hire.
Red Cross garden fundraiser
The Paihia branch of the Red Cross is marking the organisation's centenary in Northland - and raising some funds - with an open garden event on February 28.
It includes morning or afternoon tea and a chance to explore Lowarth Niwl (Garden of Mist), the garden of branch member Ann Truscott featuring heritage English roses, 30 types of magnolia, and ornamental trees on a 1ha property adjoining the Waitangi River.
Call Chris Redman on (09) 402 8422 or Bev Francis on (09) 402 7894 by February 21 to take part. Entry by donation to Red Cross.
Big weekend coming up
Mark February 28 in your diaries - it promises to be a big day in Kerikeri with the Ocean and Orchard wine and food festival on the Domain and a hot rod meet on the town's main street.
Performers at the festival, which runs from 11am-6pm, will include Matene Dixon, Rocksalad, Thelonious Punk, Taylah and Jay D, Jules Trio and 2014 Battle of the Bands winners Strangely Arousing.
The hot rods, part of the annual Kerikeri Kurbside Rodders street meet, will be on show from 9am-12.30pm so you can do both. More information next week.
Do you have news or an upcoming event you'd like to see in this column? Send it to us, including your full contact details, to baynews@northernadvocate.co.nz.
