New Zealand’s only republic celebrates three decades
A joke over a beer at a quiet pub lead to a small New Zealand town breaking out on its own.
Former Stratford mayor David Walter takes credit for that beer – and the subsequent turning of farming town Whangamomona into a republic.
It’s that same pub that was overflowing with people from near and far on yesterday as the town celebrated 30 years detached from New Zealand.
In 1989, Whangamomona locals became ‘‘stirred’’ after being told boundary changes meant they were no longer part of Taranaki and would be in Manawatu¯ / Whanganui.
Walter spoke to a few locals over a beer at the Whangamomona Hotel pub. ‘‘I said ‘you’re no longer citizens of Taranaki, what are you going to do about it?’’’
Walter mentioned a small town in the United Kingdom that became a republic. ‘‘I said – merely in jest – ‘well what you should do is just show your disgust by breaking away from New Zealand – form a republic’."
The town, between Stratford and Taumaruanui, is now a tourist destination and has done nothing but grow for the past three decades since it claimed to break away from New Zealand.
And it all came from Walter’s joke – ‘‘I certainly get a lot of satisfaction.’’ LIAM COURTENAY/ STUFF
During the past 30 years the village with a population of about 12 has seen two – and almost three – non-human presidents, its first new building in half a century and endless dollars from travellers.
Thousands of people showed up to the biennial Whangamomona Republic Day to see a sheep, cockatoo and teddy bear run for president, possumskinning, pint-drinking and pieeating.
Recently re-elected president, John Herlihy, has been living in the republic for 25 years but is ‘‘just’’ a local, he says.