Media Release
16 March 2017

Waipukurau 150th Anniversary Celebration

2017 marks 150 years since Henry Robert Russell purchased the land on which he established Waipukurau as a model village, and to celebrate the sesquicentennial anniversary a community group, led by Councillor Gerard Minehan, has come together to plan a number of events to celebrate the milestone.

The itinerary of events will largely take place across Labour Weekend and be built into the Central Hawke’s Bay ‘Spring Fling’ program and will ensure both the locals and visitors have a chance to be involved in marking this wonderful occasion.

Celebrations in fact begin on March 19th at the Central Hawke’s Bay Settlers Museum with the opening of a major exhibition ‘Celebrating 150 years Waipukurau’. The exhibition will run from March until October and the opening will also launch ‘Fading Memories - Waipukurau – Our town in the 1920 – 1935 era’, a book by the late J MacKenzie Hamlin. The Central Hawke’s Bay Settlers Museum is excited to be launching celebrations and giving the public a chance to share Waipukurau’s rich and proud history.

The rest of the event itinerary takes place across Labour weekend and ensures plenty of offerings including free and paid events so people are able to get into the celebratory spirit.

A Powhiri will be held at the Waipukurau Pa Site near Russell Park for invited guests on Friday 20th October to start the celebrations. The evening will include a special reveal to celebrate, educate and acknowledge Maori history of Waipukurau and this piece will then be gifted long term for the wider public to enjoy.

A free public parade through the main streets of Waipukurau on Saturday 21st October will feature vintage vehicles and machinery, period costume and more and on Saturday evening Waipukurau Primary School are holding a gathering of past and present staff and students. The evening will include cutting a centennial cake, drinks, nibbles and lots of laughter and reminiscing. More information about this event can be found at the School Office.

To close the celebrations on Sunday 22nd October, a special High Tea will be hosted by the local ‘Central Hawke’s Bay Tea Party’ ladies group on the front lawn of George and Beth Winlove’s Homestead - 19 Gaisford Tce. The event will be used as an opportunity not only to mark the anniversary but also to fundraise for Central Hawke’s Bay Cancer. Tickets will go on sale for this event closer to the time.

Councillor Gerard Minehan believes the diverse offering of events is a great way to celebrate Waipukurau’s anniversary. “We want to welcome the whole community to help in creating and celebrating 150 years history of Waipukurau and Waipukurau Primary School (1867 – 2017). We are keeping costs as low as we can, however there are the usual costs involved in running events like these, and we welcome any person or business who would like to contribute to the celebrations to feel free to get in touch’.

Councillor Minehan is excited about the number of events planned and wants to extend a big thank you to the people who have so far come on board in giving their time, advise, donated goods and energy; “We greatly appreciate all that people have done so far and look forward to celebrating 150 years both in March at the exhibition opening and book launch and in October across Labour Weekend”.

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