Time to party for Raetihi families

Raetihi people collecting water from a tanker on the main street on October 4. PHOTO/ FILE

Raetihi will be celebrating this weekend.

The community of 1001 will be tucking into a free hangi and barbecue at a Family Community Relief Party on Saturday. The event is a post-water crisis celebration following the pollution of the Waimarino town's drinking water after a diesel spill on Mt Ruapehu.

Raetihi Promotions chair Geoff Anderson said the celebration was to bring everyone together after the water crisis.

"The community event will celebrate the fantastic way the Raetihi community coped with no water in the taps and to all those who helped us get through."

He said that included the Ruapehu District Council and Ruapehu Alpine Lifts staff who brought water to the town during the crisis.

Mr Anderson said special thanks goes to the main funder of the event, the Whanganui Community Foundation, and the Raetihi Cosmopolitan Club. Many organisations and businesses also donated goods and the party had been pulled together in a short space of time.

Two cash donations were made from Australia to the Raetihi Facebook page, the Atihau Whanganui Incorporation donated meat, grower Kevin Wilcox donated 500kg of potatoes and 500kg of carrots, and volunteers have come forward to help on the day.

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts will give away season pass spot prizes, help organise the food and have people on the ground to help on Saturday.

Fireworks have been donated and entertainment will be by Common Unity, Native Rastas, DJ C Shaw, Simzy and Huia A. It will be held at the Raetihi Primary School from 4pm till dusk.