Hawera humming with pride

A mayoral ribbon-cutting, a street festival with live music and bouncy castles, and a Christmas parade made for a great Saturday in Ha¯ wera.

A new open space that had once been a butcher’s shop, a wine bar and a specialist sandwich shop is the latest project in the town’s rejuvenation.

Korimako Lane has replaced a dingy, dimly-lit walkway and empty shops and opened up access from High St to a free carpark.

It was was packed with people gathered on Saturday morning for the official opening and the unveiling of a new piece of public art.

The call of the Korimako (bellbird) rang out from speakers overhead in the lane, which is named after the bird.

Ngati Ruanui kuia Mahuri Tipene began the ceremony with a karanga, then kauma¯ tua Sandy Parata blessed the lane with a karakia and welcomed the crowd into the space, before Mayor Ross Dunlop cut the ribbon and declared the new lane open.

His next task was the unveiling of a new sculpture Wings of Korimako by Oakura sculptor Steve Malloy.

The sculpture was made of Brazilian granite atop a base of Timaru bluestone with an anchor stone of Taranaki andesite, Dunlop said.

‘‘It’s saying you can go anywhere if you have wings, go anywhere but your roots will still be in Taranaki,’’ he said.

A celebratory cake was cut and shared, as kapa haka group Te Kotahitanga from South Taranaki entertained the crowd.

The lane opening ceremony was part of a day-long festival in Ha¯ wera, with live music including a Mexican Mariachi band and African drumming demonstrations, as well as activities for children including bouncy castles and face painting.

The day’s fun culminated in the annual Christmas parade through the main street.

High Street was a throng of families as the parade began, with a police car escorting a fleet of fire engines, followed by a marching band with drums a-beating.

This year’s theme was Christmas Around the World, and vibrantly dressed groups from other cultures mingled happily with a unicycling clown, floats and trailers with excited children waving at the crowd, a traction engine, a band of miniature horses pulling sulkies from the Taranaki Kidz Kartz, and costumed characters on foot passing out high-fives and sweets.

‘‘I think it was really great, impressive, such good town spirit, I loved it,’’ said Di Zehnder, of Eltham, who was watching with granddaughter Charlotte McCall.

The 2-year-old had refused to wave until the very end when Santa, resplendent in his traditional red suit and flowing beard, drove by in a sleigh with Mother Claus holding the reins, Zehnder said.

She said her son Lewis, 5, had particularly enjoyed playing on bouncy castles set up before the parade.

Lewis Domb and his son Te Koha aged 12 perform Mau rakau at the opening of Hawera’s Korimako Lane on Saturday.

Right: Kapa Haka group Te Kohitanga perform at the opening of the Korimako Lane with Otis Cleaver, 11, leading the singing.

The Christmas parade brought out hundreds of people to enjoy the sun, sounds and cultures of Ha¯wera. The star attraction was the big man himself, Santa Claus.

Kids in Kartz took part, trying hard not to break out and race.

Below: Surrounded by Hawera locals, South Taranaki Mayor Ross Dunlop cuts the ribbon to open Koromako Lane.

LIAM COURTENAY/ STUFF It was the best parade ever according to Fiona Ritson with her sons, 5-year-old Lewis and Campbell, 6 months, as well as friend Vida Symes, 5.

Sculptor Steve Molloy, left, of Oakura carved the ‘‘Wings of Korimako’’ from rock originating from Brazil, Timaru and Taranaki.