Sandcastle competition on Paihia Beach
Sand was transformed into a snowman, mermaids, waka, a firebreathing dragon and even a pool table in Saturday’s sandcastle competition on Paihia Beach. One of the most ingenious creations was a castle in which a ball inserted into a tube at the top travelled down a spiral path and popped out at the bottom after rolling across a drawbridge. Other entries included a shark bursting through a footpath, a steam train and a Kraken dragging down a ship. This year’s contest had an extra edge due to a slight miscalculation by the organisers — sandcastle builders had to defend their work against the incoming tide to stop their creations being washed away before the judges made their rounds. The sandcastle challenge marked the beginning of Paihia’s annual Summer Festival, which runs until January 11. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Image 1 of 9: Ngakau Tana, 6, and Kingiteahuhau Tana, 9, created the Tana Pa in which a ball spirals down a path and pops out at the bottom after crossing a drawbridge. Photo / Peter de Graaf
