Thousands turn out to celebrate Okaihau's 150th anniversary

Abraham Land, from Whirinaki, with a pair of bullocks pulling a log in the grand parade. Photo / Peter de Graaf

More than 3000 people turned out over three days to help Okaihau celebrate its 150th anniversary over Easter weekend, organisers say.

The event featured a country dance, a grand parade, kapa haka, a cake-cutting ceremony by five residents aged 90-plus, a bike ride, and displays of vintage machinery and old-time skills such as pit-sawing and blacksmithing.

Head girl Willow Rawiri, centre, performs with the Okaihau College kapa haka group.

Okaihau Community Association secretary Lindy Mason was delighted with the turnout, saying it had been boosted by superb weather and far exceeded the 1000 people organisers had hoped for.

Estimates varied but she believed the total over three days was more than 3000 with close to 2000 at Saturday's grand parade and historic demonstrations at the rugby grounds.

Many residents dressed in 1860s costumes or dusted off their vintage farm machines for the parade. Two-year-old Lucie Harrison-Kyle rode the length of Settlers Way on Bruce the sheep while Okaihau's thriving Tongan community stole the show with a hand-drawn cart bearing a pair of young princesses and a float demonstrating traditional techniques for making kava and tapa cloth.

Who needs a horse if you can ride Bruce the sheep? Two-year-old Lucie Snow Harrison-Kyle rides her trusty mount through town, with a little help from parents Chris Kyle and Brya Harrison.

Parade organiser Snow Harrison, a descendant of one of the first European families, said he couldn't believe the turnout.

''We put in a lot of effort but it's come out well, thanks to the involvement of a lot of people.''

Festivities began on Friday with a play called Alice D in Puketi by local GP Tanya Quinn, based loosely on Alice in Wonderland and featuring a host of local characters.

Kaneti Uluave pulls a cart carrying Tongan princesses Mafi Livai, 9, and Fane Kata, 5, while Foakautuu Fale carries the national flag.

About 200 tickets were sold to Saturday night's Lions country dance while Sunday events included an interdenominational church service and a bike ride along a section of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail to Mr Harrison's property in the Utakura Valley.

Also on Sunday a commemorative plaque was unveiled and a puriri tree planted in the town's memorial gardens.

The only sour note in three days of celebrations was the vandalism of the newly planted tree on Sunday night. No decision has been made yet about how it will be replaced.

The celebrations were officially opened by Far North Mayor John Carter and kaumatua Wiremu Wiremu.