They were putting the boot in at Taihape on Saturday when a record crowd of around 1500 enjoyed the annual Gumboot Day.
Warm sunshine, the bumper crowd and a host of community activities made it a huge success, said organiser and Community Board chair Michelle Fannin.
"The crowd had a whale of a time," she said.
"We didn't charge to get in - we just asked everyone for a donation and families loved it."
Activities included a prize dig, gumboot planking and throwing the egg.
