Merino's arrival re-enacted

Captain Cook (Sandy Hazledine ) hails the greeting party with (from left) his admiral (Gavan Herlihy) sailors Stewart Blennerhassett and Gerry Huston and cabin boy Simon Ellis. Photo/Stephen Jaquiery

History of the sheep kind was re-created on the shores of Lake Wanaka yesterday.

Captain James Cook's landing at Ship Cove in the Marlborough Sounds in 1773 with the first sheep to enter New Zealand was re-enacted on the lake, with a stuffed merino sheep and a frozen pig playing leading roles.

Just before 10am, Captain Cook (Sandy Hazledine ) and his crew Gavan Herlihy (admiral), Gerry Huston and Stewart Blennerhassett (sailors) and Simon Ellis (cabin boy) launched their longboat from the Wanaka Yacht Club, heading over the still waters for the southern shore, where a welcoming party of about 100 were waiting.

Once ashore, the crew were welcomed first by the sounds of a lone bagpiper and then by a haka and waiata from the Mount Aspiring College cultural group.
After they had performed the waiata, the group was presented with the pig as an offering of peace.

A group of Cardrona Curling Club members then hoisted Alfonso the merino on to their shoulders and paraded him along Ardmore St to the Lake Wanaka Centre. "Captain Cook" and his admiral were taken to the centre in a horse and cart. The re-enactment helped launch the National Golden Fleece exhibition and Wool Week being held in Wanaka.

Alfonso the 35th, named after the Spanish king who first noticed the potential of the merino breed, was welcomed to the Lake Wanaka Centre by Wool Week organising committee chairman Martin Paterson, who officially opened the exhibition. The landing is just one of the highlights of the National Golden Fleece exhibition, being held at the Lake Wanaka Centre yesterday and today. The fleeces are on display from 10am to 5pm, as well other wool-related demonstrations, including a showcase of garments from the recent Wool-On awards.