Village isolation the key

As far as country villages go, you can't get much more country than Pongaroa.
The village itself, of about 80 souls, houses a school, a general store, a tavern, a church, a garage and a farm supplies centre.
Pongaroa is the hub of activity for a rural area of more than 1000sqkm, traversed by country roads stretching in every direction. They include Route 52 running south 95km to Masterton, from Dannevirke about 60km away.
Eketahuna and Pahiatua are also roughly 60km away to the west and northwest, and a sign at the village crossroads points east to Akitio and the Pacific Ocean.
Shirley Maher, who runs the Pongaroa Farm Supplies Centre, has a 40-minute drive home down Sugarloaf Rd to her farm, which backs on to a Tinui Valley property.
Mrs Maher opens up every day at 1pm and goes home at 5pm, barring last-minute customers stocking up on their way to the pub.
The centre sells "pretty much everything from animal health, fencing, stock feeds, a bit of clothing".
Three rural delivery zones are covered by the centre.
Pongaroa people are hardworking and friendly, says Mrs Maher, with "always something to chat or complain about or talk about".
Pongaroa Cafe and Store owner Sandra Newland, who grew up in Pongaroa, said the store served mainly locals but also stock truck drivers, roadworkers, power and telephone workers, "and tourists on a good weekend".
Intrepid motorcyclists and even more intrepid cyclists also pass through Pongaroa.
Even on a Tuesday lunchtime when this reporter visited, there are a pair of motorcyclists who could pass for cast members of Young at Heart.
Barry Shore and Colin McDowell, who rode in from Wanganui, say the road itself is the attraction.
"The road is nice and twisting, which appeals to motorcyclists," Mr Shore said.
The pair came in via Dannevirke, and will probably return through Pahiatua.
Anne Finnie, president of promotions group Pongaroa Way to Go, said Pongaroa's location made for "allegiances to different towns", including Dannevirke, Pahiatua and Masterton.
Teenagers have no college within easy driving distance - instead going to boarding schools elsewhere.
Pongaroa Way to Go has been responsible for murals in the village, and a molecular sculpture honouring Maurice Wilkins, the Pongaroa-born scientist who discovered the structure of DNA.
The group's current project is the renaming of Route 52, and flyers have been distributed to farmers along the road - looking to promote it as an alternative to State Highway 2.
Talks are taking place with Tararua District Council about the plan, and committee member and publican Guy Raleigh said a new name could have a "hill country" focus.
The principal at the school is Phillipa Ellis, who has also become the mayoress of Tararua, with the election of husband Roly.
She said Pongaroa had a great community board. "Because we're isolated it means that is a positive part of the community as well."
Isolation and community are themes also highlighted by two of Pongoroa's residents - horse psychologist Jane Taylor and executive trainer Max Young.
Ms Taylor, of the New Zealand Centre for Equine Psychology and Behaviour, studies a free-running herd of horses on the couple's Pongaroa property.
She uses the principles learned to teach courses in helping people understand training from the horse's point of view.
Mr Young, a successful international business manager, adopts those same principles to teach "the instinctive and pure leadership qualities of nature" to small business groups.
Both of them appreciate Pongaroa's isolation and lack of distractions.