Countdown to Commemorations Begins
The countdown has begun to Waipa District’s 150 year Commemorations.
As a result of the New Zealand land wars that went through Waipa in the 1860s, the district’s key towns of Cambridge and Te Awamutu and its villages of Ohaupo, Pirongia and Kihikihi were all established, initially as military garrison towns. The land wars concluded in 1864 and so plans are underway for a year of celebrations to commemorate the establishment of the district, in 2014.
A Community Commemorations Committee comprising representatives of each of the communities has been formed to coordinate district-wide commemoration events and activities.
Chaired by Mayor Jim Mylchreest, the Community Committee will be the driving force. “While the council is helping coordinate activities this really belongs to the community to decide how it wants to commemorate its beginnings,” he said. “The committee has representatives from each of the towns and villages as a way of providing a communications channel from the communities to avoid event clashes, and that there’s an even spread of events throughout the district, throughout the year. Some communities are already off and running with ideas and there is already a dozen activites that have been signalled.”
Community groups, individuals or clubs are asked to share any plans or ideas with their local committee coordinator.
The Committee members are :
His Worship the Mayor Jim Mylchreest, Hazel Barnes (Kihikihi), Bruce Thomas (Pirongia/Ohaupo), Sue Milner (Cambridge), Marcus Gower (Te Awamutu), Bernard Westerbaan (Kihikihi), Clare St Pierre (Pirongia), Colleen Wilson (Te Awamutu), John Bishop (Cambridge), Mike Pettit (Cambridge/Schools), Annie Fullerton (Ohaupo), Alan Hall (Pirongia), Robin Astridge (Pirongia), Lynne Fenwick and Rebecca Foy (i-Sites), Jenny Charman (Nga Iwi Toopu O Waipa), Harold Maniapoto (Nga Iwi Toopu O Waipa), Anne Blyth (Museums), Benjamin Hemi (Events Coordinator Waipa District Council), Wayne Green (Manager Community Relationships Waipa District Council).
The committee will launch the 150th Commemorations with a special event over Waitangi weekend,
6th February 2014 at Mighty River Domain.