Rock ‘hide and seek’ hits Waipa
Have you noticed some pretty, colourful rocks on your walks around Cambridge?
If you have, they might just be the work of Nicola Cronin, her children, and other families participating in ‘‘Waipa Rocks’’.
The idea was originally created by a county in the United States and the first New Zealand edition of the game started in Palmerston North.
The concept is easy. Once you find a rock, pick it up, take a picture with it and post it online, and then re-hide it for the next person.
One has also been set up in Hamilton.
Cronin thought it was a good idea to get people to be active and creative, so she started it in Cambridge.
‘‘Originally it was Cambridge Rocks, but then it was suggested to me to make it Waipa, so that areas on the outskirts of Cambridge could be included too.’’
The group Waipa Rocks on Facebook has soared to more than 550 members in the three weeks it has been running.
‘‘It’s growing so fast and it’s good because it’s getting people outdoors,’’ she said.
Anyone can paint rocks and hide them for people to find.
Popular spots so far have been Lake Te Ko Utu, Thornton Rd and the Leamington Domain.
Cronin said the men running the miniature trains at the domain are jumping on board too, with several rocks offering a free train ride when they are found.
She said some people re-hide their rocks in other locations and other people had become upset about it, but she believes it’s all part of the fun.
‘‘Sometimes it’s neat to see where the rocks end up.
‘‘I had one at the domain that ended up out at Karapiro, it’s sort of been labelled as ‘the rock movement’,’’ she laughed.
‘‘It’s for all ages and it’s a great way of meeting people, you meet people along the way and get talking, it’s a good conversation starter.’’
Waipa Rocks will have an activity stall at the Autumn Art Market and Carnival Day of the Cambridge Autumn Festival on Sunday, April 23.
The stall will invite children to decorate rocks using an Anzac theme if they wish, to recognise Anzac Day on April 25.
It is being used as a creative and educational way to commemorate the event.