‘Happy and free’ in old mining town
Andrew and Heather Sinton-White moved to a place where their kids can be ‘‘safe, happy and free’’ – they say it’s like going back to the 1980s.
The couple had lived in Christchurch, Tauranga and Invercargill, but eventually fell in love with Kumara, population just over 300, on the West Coast of the South Island.
Their two children were born at home there, and their parents love the fact that Stella, 9, and Walter, 7, can roam the streets and go bush – just as, Andrew says, he did as a child 40-plus years ago.
Stella’s passport has ‘‘Place of birth: Kumara’’ on it. The well-worn aphorism that you have to live 50 years on the Coast to be considered a local won’t apply to his children, Andrew says.
Kumara, a former goldmining town, is 20 minutes’ drive from either Hokitika or Greymouth, and just over three hours from Christchurch.
Its population peaked at more than 4000 in the 1870s, but in the past couple of years, it’s been rejuvenated by its location as a stopping point on the 132km West Coast Wilderness cycling trail.
As well as the cycle trail, the town has some rebuilt historic accommodation, including the Theatre Royal Hotel.
‘‘It’s got a pub, sports ground, a really good community hall, but the main drawcard is access to the bush, and the [Taramakau] River,’’ Andrew says.
Andrew, a videographer, and Heather, a speech and language therapist, bought in the town a month after attending a packed newresidents event at the RSA hall, where they met the local publican, midwife, postwoman, electrician, plumber and mechanic.
Andrews says it was ‘‘standing room only’’, and ‘‘brimming with
colourful characters, smiles, spirit and energy’’. ‘‘We didn’t just feel welcomed, we felt overwhelmingly embraced.’’
Andrew started out teaching at Greymouth’s Paroa School, which his children now attend, but left teaching four years ago when his videography business, Weka Films, became well enough established.
Being remote is not a problem when it comes to attracting clients. His website advertises that he is: ‘‘Based on the West Coast of New Zealand. Filming just about bloody anywhere.’’
‘‘I’m run off my feet with my core business of weddings,’’ he says. ‘‘I did 30 last season, and have 25 booked so far this season.’’
The average house price on the West Coast is $324,655, compared to the national average of $1,035,216, according to estimates by economics consultancy Infometrics.
Nine years ago the Sinton-Whites paid $175,000 for their four-bedroom house, but prices have jumped since then, reflecting the national trend.
A search of Trade Me listings shows only one property for sale in Kumara, an ‘‘as is, where is’’ nearderelict three-bedroom property on a 506sqm corner site, which is for sale by ‘‘inquiries over $145,000’’.
The Sinton-White family have no plans to ever leave. Andrew cites as evidence the fact they’ve built a 3-metre climbing wall inside their house. ‘‘We’re here for life,’’ he says. ‘‘Having converted a wall to a rock wall, we can’t sell the place now.’’
He says he loves being able to send the children on a 1km walk to a friend’s house, or to the playground, without any concerns.
‘‘You feel OK because you know someone’s watching. Everyone knows everyone. It feels safe and you feel connected.’’
The children can have adventures like camping out in cleared bush behind the house. ‘‘We cut a trail in the bush behind our house. It’s only 300m in but it feels like you could be anywhere.’’