One of Northland's most unusual festivals has celebrated its 10th anniversary with a robbery and shoot-out involving fired-up townsfolk and crooked cowboys.
The Wild West Fest in Waimamaku, a tiny settlement astride State Highway 12 between the Hokianga Harbour and Waipoua Forest, started as a wild food festival in 2002
but morphed into a western-themed event, thanks largely to the South Hokianga Riders' enthusiastic participation.
The highlight of Saturday's event was a shoot-out staged by the riders and involving gun-toting cowboys, swooning saloon girls and an armed robbery of the town store. By the end of the show the highway - which stayed open to traffic, surprising tourists - was littered with shotgun cartridges and hazy with gun smoke.
Other attractions included keg and gumboot-throwing contests, fire engine rides and demonstrations, country music, line dancing, craft stalls and food ranging from Maori burgers to seafood chowder. A cheese-rolling contest down the middle of SH12, a reminder of Waimamaku's past as the Hokianga's cheese-making capital, was won by Jonti Wright, 15, from Wekaweka Valley. Each year for the festival many locals dress in western theme and the pub rebranding itself as a Wild West Saloon.
Co-organiser Bruce Lomas said the crowd was slightly smaller than last year's and festivities ended earlier due to a big wedding up the road at Whirinaki. But it was still a great success, many people travelling long distances to take part, including members of the Motor Caravan Association on an annual trip to Waimamaku.
