Media release

12 July 2013

Grand parade looming for Te Matau a Pohe opening

As the finishing touches are made to Te Matau a Pohe and Dave Culham Drive, the final details for the official opening on Saturday 27 July are also being put in place.

“We have been delighted so many people have taken an interest in the opening – it’s set to be a great community event,” said Whangarei District Council Roading Manager Jeff Devine.

“We put out a request for celebration ideas earlier in April and as the date gets nearer, more and more people are jumping on board.

“The parades on the water and over the bridge, are growing in size every day. We have at least 27 groups plus all the contractors going over the bridge, and a huge range of boats set to go through.”

Mr Devine said the opening would go ahead rain, hail or shine, “even if there is a cyclone - but we might not lift the bridge in that case.”

“We hope you will rug up and come out to take part in this day, it’s going to be memorable.

“We will start with a traditional dawn blessing at the roundabout on Riverside Drive at 6am, followed by a walk across the bridge and down the rest of Dave Culham Drive to Port Road.

“The dawn blessing will offer a spectacular sight as we have three fully crewed waka taking part. Then there will be a little bit of a gap, and then prior to the speeches at 10.30am, the Derby Girls and the Rock and Roll Club will entertain the gathering crowd.

“Whangarei MP Phil Heatley will then unveil the plaque and open the bascule to allow the flotilla of boats to pass underneath.

“Once the bascule is lowered again the parade will begin. It includes the old Wilkinson’s bus that used to run from Hikurangi to Kamo to the Taurikura Taxi, classic cars, hot rods, trucks, mini, the pipe band, brass band the mobile library and plenty more.

“We are also planning to get everyone who worked on the bridge to walk across it.

“There have been more than 30 local firms in¬volved in this project. They are the people who made it happen and we want to recognise them as part of the celebration.”

Mr Devine said after the parade anyone who wants to walk across Te Matau a Pohe can do so. Weather permitting the bascule will be open¬ing on the half hour to let everyone see it in action and to allow boats to pass underneath.

The road will be opened for ordinary traffic from 2pm.

Parade Details

Colin Twyman from the Lions Club has been charged with organising the pre-event entertainment and the Parade, and he’s been inundated with community groups, organisations and businesses wanting to participate.

The Hon Phil Heatley MP and Mayor Morris Cutforth will lead the parade in the first motor vehicle to cross Te Matau a Pohe on the day, a taxi used to transport people from the city to Whangarei Heads almost a century ago.

They will be followed by:

• Classic and vintage cars
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• The Four Wheel Drive Club
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• The Hot Rod Club
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• The old Wilkinson’s bus that used to run from Hikurangi to Kamo
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• Brass bands
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• Pipe bands
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• The Rock and Roll Club
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• The Mobile Library
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• Fantasy Cheer Leaders
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• The Roller Derby Girls
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• Northland Rugby
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• Toll Engineering
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• Riding for the Disabled
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• Northland Rugby League
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• The Onerahi and Whangarei Fire Brigades
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• The Medieval Group
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• The Steampunk Society
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• The Pony Lady
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• The Parahaki Pony Club
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• The Arthritis Association and Arthritis New Zealand
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• Bash vehicles
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• Parafed
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• Alan Strong Ltd
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• BuPa Brain Injury
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• Ritchie Buses
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• Ray White United
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• CrewCut
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• Big Al
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• Northtec, and
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• Residents from the Kamo, Falls Estate, Puriri Court, Jane Mander, Merrivale, Radius, Selwyn, Parahaki and Cairnfield Aged Care facilities and Rest Homes.
ends

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