Talk of the Town: Rob Pink shares a lifetime of love for Rawene

Legendary Hokianga horseman Rob Pink has taught over 100 kids to ride horses over the years. Photo / Jenny Ling

There are many small towns dotted around Northland’s vast, rolling countryside. Reporter Jenny Ling hits the road and finds residents keen to talk about their hometown and the reasons they love it.

Today it’s Rawene.

The views of the Hokianga Harbour are spectacular from Rob Pink’s place in Rawene.

Across the expansive waters he points out a couple of landmarks; Matawera house and Motukaraka church, both tucked snugly into the Panguru range.

For 16 years the legendary Hokianga horseman, school bus driver, community stalwart, role model, and mentor has lived here with his wife Cheryll.

But Pink’s connection with the historic little town stretches back a lot further.

He was born and schooled here, then left to “make my fortune”, only to return, years later.

Pink mentions that one of Hokianga’s meanings is “Place of Return”.

“In 100 years Rawene has not changed,” he said.

“People say ‘Rob you must have seen some changes’.

“I say no, it’s the same.

“When I grew up here as a kid the population was 500.”

While the size of the population is the same, the people buying homes in the area have changed from big families to couples, Pink said.

Despite being a little town, Rawene has everything.

“We’ve got a hospital, a hotel, a Four Square store, a fish and chip shop, two cafes and an art gallery.”

Rob Pink has a way with horses. Photo / Jenny Ling

Born in Rawene in 1950, Pink attended Rawene Primary then the district high school which was destroyed by a fire in 1972.

As a young man, he left for Whangārei, then Auckland where he worked in a butcher’s shop and the freezing works.

In his late 20s, he joined New Zealand Road Services driving passengers between Auckland and Wellington, Gisborne, Napier and Hastings.

A good worker, he was promoted when the company was restructured and became Intercity.

When there was another “big shuffle around” Pink returned to the Hokianga, aged 52.

“I came back to where I belong.

“We were here six months, and I was asked to drive the local school bus for a week as one of the drivers was sick.

“Here we are 20 years later and I’m still driving the same school bus.

“I’m taking kids to school now – I took their parents to school.”

Rob was initially asked to drive the local school bus for a week. 20 years later, he’s still doing it. Photo / Jenny Ling

Pink had finished the morning school bus run around Rawene, Ōmanaia and Whirinaki when the Northern Advocate popped in for a visit.

Talk quickly turned to horses and his role in teaching local children and youth how to ride.

In 2006 he established the charitable trust Hokianga Treks 4 Kids, growing his stable of horses to 20 and kitting them out with all the gear.

Pink volunteers countless hours of his time giving the youngsters free lessons and taking them on horse treks.

“I could ride a horse before I could walk.

“Me and my brother loved horses; it was our thing.

“I’ve taught over 100 kids to ride horses over the years.

“The horses give them the grounding.

“We used to fill the horse truck up and head to Pawarenga beach.”

But it’s not all about getting in the saddle and racing around.

Pink also teaches the boys and girls how to groom and look after the horses and clean the saddles, bridles, helmets, and halters.

The Boatshed Cafe is a fixture of the historic Rawene township. Photo / Jenny Ling

The mentorship goes even further; he teaches the older ones how to install fences, drive tractors, and mow the fields.

“Basically, skills that come in handy in life.”

Pink still has a dozen hōiho [horses] just down the hill from his place.

They graze next to the paddock that used to host the Brumby Family Race Day, yet another one of his ventures.

The annual festival saw riders from around the Far North descend on Rawene to participate in races and events on their brumbies, farm hacks and nags.

Thousands of people enjoyed those race days which had live music and kai.

All funds raised went straight back into Pink’s charitable trust.

“In no time it became huge.

“We didn’t have just a race day, we had a bouncy castle, kids’ cars, music and a betting tent which was highly illegal until the local cop came down and asked how it worked.

“It was huge and every year it got bigger.”

The Brumby Family Race Day was one of Pink’s many community ventures.

Though the races stopped in 2016 due to health and safety reasons, Pink is still giving free riding lessons to local kids.

For the older ones, he encourages them to work hard and to “experience the world” like he did.

He’s written loads of character references to help them into the workforce.

“80% of these kids that have ridden horses with me have grown up and they’ve all gone away from here and they’re all working.

“They’ve learned the skills and they hear it from me.

“I say to them ‘Do nothing, you’ll have nothing’.

“Get off and go to work and you’ll do well.”

Pink is also chairman of the 100-year-old bowling club which he helped rebuild when it fell into disrepair.

He set up and runs the local recycling plant and is a civil defence volunteer.

Pink’s community contributions haven’t gone unnoticed.

Rob with his beloved hōiho. Photo / Jenny Ling

In 2017 he won the ASB Good as Gold award and was given $10,000 which helped repair his old horse truck, and went toward more activities for the kids.

He said he feels connected with Rawene, the home of numerous heritage buildings including Clendon House, the Masonic Hotel, the Methodist Church, and the courthouse.

“Even when I was away, I was connected with Rawene.

“It’s a special place.

“We should be looking after the old and the young.

“The old have paved the way, so we’ve got to keep the future on track to do the same thing.”

Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with roading, lifestyle, business, and animal welfare issues.