City streets abuzz for 50th birthday party

Whangarei enjoyed a parade and street party that was fit to beat the band. Photo / John Borren

It could have been 1964 - a Grand Parade that had all the hallmarks of old fashioned civic celebration, community pride and family fun.

Many thousands of Whangarei people and visitors came to party on Saturday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Whangarei becoming a city.

A cast of thousands took part in the street parade alone. Over 60 floats and groups on foot made their stuff along Walton St from Railway Rd to the Town Basin in a procession that ran like clockwork.

Spectators lined Walton St as the parade passed with a thrilling array of bright, shiny, machinery and sirens; brass, pipe, drum and rock'n'roll bands; sea cadets and air training cadets; childcare and community care groups; church groups; fitness enthusiasts; dancing girls, marching girls and skating girls; hot rods, vintage cars, classic cars and electric cars; stilt walkers; a steam train; arts and crafts; cultural groups including Maori, Filipino, Fijian, Samoan and other Pasifika people, and Alliance Francais bringing up the rear.

At the start, crowds along Walton St thrilled to the approach of the procession, announced by a fire truck horn and the stirring sounds of drums. "The Campbells are coming," quipped someone with a Scottish burr.

Philippa and Truman Macarthy were outside Fabers Furnishings with their two little girls, 2-year-old Elena and Keira, 11 months. The family had come in from One Tree Point for the occasion.

"Anything that is community spirited makes you feel good and deserves to be supported," Mr Macarthy said. "It's a great day. I'm really proud that Whangarei has all this going on and the Kiwis and Samoa are playing up here today, too."

Nearby, brothers Theo,7, and 5-year old Flynn Redfern were all agog as the sirens and drums and cheering got closer. They'd come in from Mangapai for the parade and other festivities, but their big moment came when cousin Lauren went past with the roller skaters.

Many people in the crowd responded to the call to party like it was 1964 - hippies in kaftans, head bands and bell bottoms, rockers in tight trou, wide skirts and big hair, and good townsfolk in crimplene ensembles, twin sets, pearls, pillboxes and petals.

At the Town Basin, where morning parade morphed into midday party, an ebullient mayor Sheryl Mai addressed the crowd.

"You rock! Thank you to each and everyone of you who has made the effort to be here today, dress up or contribute in any way to our spectacular 50th anniversary grand parade and party," Ms Mai said.

She congratulated the event's organisers, in particular Lions Club stalwart Collin Twyman, "controller" of Grand Parade, who "could make the trains run on time".

In her speech Ms Mai spoke of the changes in 50 years, especially the central city's river setting.

'There was no loop walkway here, no restaurants or cafes, no museums, no galleries, no heritage panels and art works, no children's playground and no happy, busy social activity," Ms Mai said of the Town Basin.

"Across the road, our swimming pool was an outdoor facility, some buildings in the CBD didn't exist ... and there were no malls or one way streets in town."

She said the modern bridges that now define Whangarei's setting represent what the people and place have become in 50 years.

"Bridges will lead us into our future. Metaphorically speaking, it will be our ability to bridge divides and link together that could be the making of us."

Ms Mai said she was overwhelmed at the support the public showed for the celebration.

"[This] is the spirit that will propel our district forward over the next 50 years."