Photos: Taupo Bay's tractor X-factor

Reporter·Northern Advocate·

2 Jan, 2019 08:28 AM2 mins to read

Somewhere under those balloons is Brendon Clifford and his 1946 Farmall tractor. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Tractors of every size, age and condition descended on Taupo Bay on December 30 for the beachside settlement's fifth annual Tractor Spectacular.

More than 30 teams took part, some going to great lengths to pimp their machines.

The prize for best decorated tractor went a controversial but highly topical Gloriavale-themed entry from Whangarei, whose crew received special attention from spectators armed with water bombs, hoses and buckets, and celebrated their victory with a mass baptism in the surf.

Whangarei kids on the winning Gloriavale-themed float. Photo / Peter de Graaf

The best team award went to a spectacular Taupo Bay entry based on the Disney movie Moana with a tractor covered in tropical vegetation towing a tinny converted into an ocean-going waka.

Other teams chose themes ranging from African drumming to pirates and the surf lifesaving antics of Taupo Baywatch.

Moana, from Taupo Bay, won the prize for best team. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Prizes were also awarded for best pre- and post-1970 tractor, best-pimped and most-loved tractors.

Organiser Stephen Jones said a record number of spectators turned out for the 2018 Spectacular, helping turn the parade into a giant water fight.

Some tractors are in better condition than others. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Jones and his brother-in-law Michael Redwood started the event in 2014 as a ''salute to the tractor''.

''Without tractors we wouldn't have a life here. It's a beach-launch bay so without tractors there's no boats, and boats give us all the fun things like fishing, access to the bay and biscuiting,'' he said.