In the first of a series about famous New Zealand towns, we look at Opunake.
It could be something in the water or maybe it's the clean country air - but for whatever reason, Opunake has produced more than its fair share of high-achieving New Zealanders.
Lord Ernest Rutherford, who split the atom and won the Nobel Prize for chemistry, Olympic gold medallist Sir Peter Snell, former prime minister Jim Bolger, All Blacks Graham Mourie, Mark Robinson and Don "The Boot" Clarke, opera singer Dame Malvina Major and Roderick Deane, chairman of Telecom, are some famous Kiwis who share a connection with the coastal Taranaki town.
Rutherford was actually born in Nelson but his family had a flax mill just outside Opunake.
A statue of Peter Snell was unveiled last year and the exploits of the others were a source of pride for the town, businessman Nik Lawson said. "It's something people hold dear to them."
He set up a website to promote Opunake, about 60km from New Plymouth, and believes more and more people are discovering one of the country's best-kept secrets.
It would appear the word is spreading fast if the shortage of space at the Opunake Beach and house prices are any guide.
Mr Lawson said some property prices quadrupled or more between 2000-07 as out-of-towners bought houses to use as baches during the summer.
Hundreds of people flock to Opunake Beach's volcanic black sand beach for the annual beach carnival (complete with a Miss Opunake Beach contest) with spaces at the camping ground booked solid over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
And then there's the surfing.
The town is situated on Surf Highway 45 - New Zealand's only dedicated surf touring route - and boasts an artificial surf reef and a number of surf events throughout the year.
"It's quite a vibrant little community," said Mr Lawson. "The sort of town where everyone is willing to help each other out."
