The drive from Raglan was notable mainly for its absence of Death (until now Science Guy has killed some innocent woodland creature every day). We have made it safely to nestle in the bosom of family. And there is enough hot running water that I can wash my hair.
One of the more noticeable features of small town New Zealand, is the ubiquitous clock tower. They’re everywhere. And they are all a bit shit. Not so in Otorahanga, which claims to be the ‘Kiwiana Capital’ of New Zealand. As you leave the town heading north you will see a giant multi-coloured corrugated iron kiwi. And I had to wonder, how do these things happen? Can you just imagine some young Councillor with a vision? Standing up at one of those interminable local council meeting, in his ill-fitting gabardine suit, to get funding across the line. He’s going places. He might stand in the next election. He needs something to make his mark. He knows those bastards down the road in Te Kuiti think they’ve got the kiwiana tourist dollar nailed. Otorahanga needs something visionary. Something big. Something that’s not a clock tower. Something that will attract Lonely Planet attention. Oh yeah. And he’s done his homework. As he stands up to make an impassioned speech about spending rate payers money on a large metal replica of the nations bird, he can say with force: Rotary are with us! The Lions are with us! Are you with us Otorahanga?! And the Council chamber erupts in applause.
Comments
one of the first series of stories I did for the dompost was about these town ‘icons’. Did you know the ohakune carrot is a very specific shade of orange, and that the l&p bottle in paeroa used to be a rocket?amazing.
Brilliant! What is a giant carrot doing in ohakune anyway? I wasn’t aware it was famous for root veges.