Great Gatehouse result

After 18 months, we are there. The Matamata PRA has created something that the town can be proud of.

The Gatehouse will attract visitors, to the benefit of our local businesses.

The people responsible are PRA committee members Denise Williams, Di Romley, Eric Jackson, Graeme Guilford, Elaine Fraser, Neil Gibbs, Robin Burr, Sandra Hunter, Joanne Morgan, Mike Buckman and Kevin Tappin.

They confidently made the decision to invest our ‘‘rainy day’’ money into our spectacular Gatehouse.

We are indebted to Dan Hennah, our Wellington- based designer, and we are grateful to businesses who offered their best prices: Rex Barnes Engineering, Matamata Post and Rail, Electrico and Matamata Directional Drilling. Also those who have offered product and services free of charge: Comag, Resene, Matamata Motor Trimmers, Anthony Van Den Berg and Robert Harris Cafe.

Thank you to the clever, supportive Tainui Press team. Also to Milly, Katrina and the girls at the Chronicle.

To Matamata Futures Inc, for funding the moving of the security camera and upgrading the lighting; Matamata- Piako District Council, who offered generous support, particularly Hugh Vercoe.

The boys: Darren Roa and his team, Chris, James and Rob; Garry and Mike. The boys ( and girls) who have done the amazing stone work, thatching and painting. And, of course, Brian Massey who has been able to calmly project manage the Gatehouse and Green Dragon builds simultaneously.

The PRA has worked with Russell Alexander and his team at Hobbiton for more than 10 years.

Not only has Hobbiton Movie Set Tours benefited our business, it has been possibly the greatest economic contributor Matamata has experienced in recent years.