Wetas celebrate 25 years

It's 25 years ago since a small group of Waipukurau movers and shakers met in the Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune office to form an organisation and brainstorm ways to enhance Central Hawke's Bay's arts scene.

But first we needed a name. For reasons best relegated to the mists of antiquity we wondered "what ate grasshoppers?" The reply came swiftly: "Wetas".

It didn't take us long to come up with an acronym - "We Encourage The Arts" and so WETA was born.

Diana Marriott, Jim Shand, Brenda Haldane, Ken Eason, John Jukes, chairman, Fred Spinley (treasurer), Hilary Pedersen, Barry Potter, Ian Sharp, Richard Moorhead, John Wilkinson and George Mitchell are among the early names associated with WETA and its attendant albeit standalone body, the Norsewear Art Award.

We aimed high. A school-based main street arts festival in Waipukurau saw activities outside every shop, followed by a banner-waving parade of 1000 kids having the time of their lives. There was even a giant paper mache weta at Russell Park.

"The Norsewear" born of the willingness of the then company chairman of directors John Armstrong to sponsor three categories - art, ceramics and wool and fibre - in a nationally renowned award that lasted 20 years.

We staged a summer rock festival at the Waipukurau racecourse. This occasion is now fondly remembered not for the main act the Holidaymakers, but for the Spitfire that crashed.

And the WETA celebrity debate? Thank Diana Marriott for having the vision to see that the cattle rostrum, attended weekly as part of the journalists' stock sale routine - had the potential to host a debate.

Wetas have contributed enthusiasm to the tapestry of events that has made this group endure. Trudy Kirk, Cefyn Gauden, Ray Walker, Katherine Keir and Michael Fleming are among the many. What will the next 25 years bring?