Waipukurau gears up to celebrate 150 years

Charles Nairn holds a portrait of Waipukurau's founder, Henry Russell, whom he will be playing in the street parade celebrating the town's 150th anniversary. Photo/Clinton Llewellyn

A Henry Russell look-a-like, people in period costume, a horse-drawn wagon and vintage cars, trucks and a vintage fire engine - Waipukurau will go back in time at this Saturday's street parade celebrating the town's 150th anniversary.

At the parade, Waipukurau's Charles Nairn will continue his late-found career as a stand-in for Russell, who founded Waipukurau in 1867.

Mr Nairn debuted as Russell at the launch of the Waipukurau: 150 Years exhibition at the CHB Settlers Museum in Waipawa in March.

"I am the patron of the museum and was on the committee organising the exhibition and they pointed out my likeness to [Russell] and suggested I might want to act as him - so I did and I am happy to continue to do so."

Mr Nairn had heard he might be paraded sitting in the back of the ute down Ruataniwha St for the parade, but he was personally hoping for something more authentic.

"Old Henry wouldn't have seen a car, so I really should probably be behind a horse. But I'll do what I am told."

Mr Nairn might get his wish, as Tina Gunson is coming from Ongaonga for the parade with Ian, her 22-year-old Clydesdale, and a horse-drawn cart from 1912.

"This cart has been rebuilt, but all the iron work is all original. It was made to carry two tonnes and it's a tip tray, so it would have been a versatile cart used by farmers or even builders," said Mrs Gunson, who added the horse-drawn cart would have been the preferred method of transport for residents in the early days of the town.

Mrs Gunson, a committee member of Ongaonga Historical Museum, which will be open the day after the parade from 11am to 4pm, on Sunday, October 22, to coincide with the celebrations, said fellow committee members would also take part in the parade in vintage trucks and dressed in period costume.

"So it should be a bit of good fun."

CHB district councillor Gerard Minehan, who has been organising the parade, said members of the CHB DIY Coffin Club had entered a float as had Waipukurau School, which would open its 150th celebrations at the school at 1.30pm after the parade.

Mr Minehan said the parade would also feature a vintage fire appliance and about 10 vehicles from the CHB branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand, while people in period costume would hand out sweets to children along the parade route.

"We've got quite a few registrations for the parade so I'm quite excited. Waipukurau is going to look like a scene from yesteryear."

The parade starts at 11.30am sharp from Kitchener St and will head east along Ruataniwha St to the roundabout on Porangahau Rd and on to the green patch, where the winners of the cash prizes for the best community and school floats will be awarded.

Also on this Saturday, there will be five vintage rail car shuttle trips operating all day between Takapau, Waipukurau and Otane onboard the Pahiatua Railcar Society's vintage 1938 RM31 rail car, which regularly travelled the Hawke's Bay line from 1938 till 1970.

Colin Trevelyan's camera and photography Millennium Museum will also be opening inside the old National Bank building on the corner of Ruataniwha and Northumberland Sts, containing items as old as Waipukurau itself.

In Waipawa, The Spring Floral Extravaganza opens this Friday at CHB Municipal Theatre and will run from 10am-4pm each day until Monday, October 23.

It is a 2017 CHB Spring Fling event, and theatre events co-ordinator Rachelle Dekker said the "quintessential" spring event would showcase the talents of local floral artists such as Shirley Stubbs.

"There will be lots of fun, colour and creativity," she said.

The public would judge the winners of the Create Your Own Design section.

On Sunday, October 22, George and Beth Winlove have opened their home to host The Garden Tea Party at Glenora Homestead, with proceeds from raffles going to the CHB Cancer Support group

• Tea party tickets are limited and cost $25 from Story's Clothing and Diahann Boutique in Waipukurau

• Tickets for the vintage rail car rides are $20 from thespringfling.nz

• Entry to the Floral Extravaganza is $5 - see chbtheatre.co.nz/upcomingevents for details