BRIGHT FUTURE: Chris Marjoribanks believes people working together will ensure Kawerau has a bright future. PHOTO/FILE
One of New Zealand's youngest towns celebrates 60 years of existence this weekend.
In April, 1954, the Kawerau Borough was created although the oldest inhabitants of the district were descendants of Toi Kai Rakau who arrived in New Zealand about the year 1150.
Sulphur had been mined from nearby Onepu
since about 1886 and, in 1953, Kawerau was founded as a mill town for the new Tasman pulp and paper mill - the first building erected was a toilet.
Since then, Kawerau has had its fair share of the good and the bad, it's been dragged into national headlines for unemployment, teen pregnancy, suicide and gangs - but spend time in the town and you'll be hard-pressed to find people more passionate about the area in which they live. Ngati Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau Trust chief executive social services arm Chris Marjoribanks is one of those people.
"The town has had its setbacks but has endured them," he said.
