Photos: Ōtiria's loud, proud victory parade

Members of the Otiria under-10s make some noise for the Bay of Islands champions. Photo / Peter de Graaf

The small Mid North community of Ōtiria pulled out the stops on Sunday to celebrate its first win in the Bay of Islands Rugby Championships in 59 years, holding what may have been the loudest, proudest parade Northland has ever seen.

The Edwards whanau get their fence ready for Sunday's parade. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Ngawati Edwards nails a broom to his fence to symbolise his team's clean sweep of the Bay of Islands Championships. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Eight-year-old James Hura-Ngawati makes some noise for the Otiria boys as the parade passes his home. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Tamati Cherrington with his kids Tyreeze, 14, Wendy, 5, and Darzel, 8. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Seven-year-old Azahlea Ngaropo-Harding won the prize for best-dressed girl. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Elizabeth and Ngawati Edwards capture the moment with a selfie. Photo / Peter de Graaf

David Peihopa, Jessie Davis, 11, and Barney the horse. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Hauraki Brown's bulldogs were determined not to miss the parade. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Rider Jessie Davis, 11, with Barney the horse and Sam Brown with Hulk. Photo / Peter de Graaf

The victors parade through Otiria on a dump truck in the team colour. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Parade organiser Pamela-Anne Ngohe-Simon give the team a pep talk ahead of the parade. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Club captain Hone Townsend and life member Barry Mills with the coveted McGarry Shield. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A classic Cadillac leads the parade down Otiria Rd. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Young spectators block their ears against possibly the loudest parade ever to hit Northland. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Parade floats were of the DIY variety. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Wiremu Keretene captures the parade for posterity. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Rei Tamehana shows off his team shirt ... wait a minute, that's not a shirt! Photo / Peter de Graaf

Rei Tamehana's body-paint shirt earned him the title of parade's best-dressed man. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Members of the Otiria under-10s make some noise for the Bay of Islands champions. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Terere Itiria Edwards, 18 months, gets a ride on dad Hori Edwards' shoulders. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Club captain Padre Brown speaks to the crowd. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis recalls his days playing rugby down the road in Kawakawa. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Player Gene Owen-Tana grabs the microphone for a spontaneous speech. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Northland Rugby Union chief executive Cameron Bell greets Otiria No 2 Rei Tamehana. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Club kaumatua Davey Ngawati shares a hongi with coach Sam Brown. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Team captain Padre Brown addresses the crowd after the parade. Photo / Peter de Graaf

The Otiria boys perform a rousing haka to wrap up the ceremony. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Parade organiser Pamela-Anne Ngohe-Simon announces the winners of the best-dressed competition. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Entries in the kids' colouring-in competition. Photo / Peter de Graaf