Truce called in battle over Big River slogan

Kaipara and Balclutha are poised to kiss and make up over last year's Battle of Big River.

Kaipara mayor Peter King will officially hand over the Big River Town website name to Balclutha mayor Juno Hayes at next week's Local Government New Zealand conference in Christchurch.

Mr King will make the gesture on behalf of Direction Dargaville, the business and promotion group responsible for causing waves between the two districts last year.

When Direction Dargaville opted for the Big River Town title the group also acted quickly to secure a matching website name that reinforced the town's new brand.

But Balclutha had laid claim to the Big River tag 15 years earlier and had used it ever since, so it objected. The north-south clash was notable more for good humour than hard feelings, and had even resulted in the two towns agreeing to form a sister town relationship.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)