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Whangamomona Republic Day

Sat 20 Jan 2007

Time: 10 am
Location: Whangamomona Township on the Forgotten World Highway, Taranaki.
Celebration of independence, military theme, passports required, elect a president, throw a gumboot, crack a whip, bet on the sheep races, stalls, helicopter rides, Clydesdales, bands, water slide, woodturning, archery, dog trials, chainsaw carving, possum skinning, crafts, gut buster.

“Go East” the settlers were told, so they did, armed with a bedroll and an attitude, they set out to see what they could make of this isolated place. On Republic Day the visitors come from north, south, east and west with precisely the same inclination.
Upon arrival, visitors will be searched by the border control officials, for contraband, and of course asked to show their passports, or passports will be issued after an exhaustive bureaucratic process.
Once legal status is given, citizens of the republic can vote for their president. The newly elected president will lead the republic fearlessly into the future!!
Whangamomona became a ‘republic’ in 1989 after the local government commission decision to place the eastern area of Stratford district (in line with the water shed) within the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional) council rather than Taranaki.
Soon after the decision became public, Stratford’s Mayor David Walter met up with local garage proprietor Bill MacAloon, farmer Trevor Pickford and Publican Pete Saunders in the Whanga Hotel, by then the residents were fairly stirred up about losing their ‘Taranaki citizenship’, so they decided, they should cede from the rest of the country and declare themselves a republic. They obviously took this advice seriously, as arrangements were duly made for the cessation and the first Republic Day was held on 1 November 1989. Kohuratahi farmer Ian Kjestrup was sworn in as president and the resultant publicity brought unprecedented profile to Whangamomona.
A small succession of presidents have followed, Billy the goat was sworn in after eating all the oppositions votes, but this was short lived as he died in active service weed eating on the hill. The republic went into mourning and no celebrations were held until “Tai” the poodle was duly elected, however there were serious concerns for his safety as there was a failed assassination attempt. He stepped down as president and still receives trauma counselling.

2005 saw a few raised eyebrows in the Republic as Miriam AKA Bruce Collis, a cross dresser, was nominated, also old campaigner Kessie, and Murt local garage owner were keen to have a go at the top job.
Murt won this election campaign and has continued to support and promote Whanga in his official capacity, but word has it that Miriam is plotting a coup d’etat from her high rise in Hamilton, and could be returning to Whangamonona on Republic Day to have another go at the Presidency, or is that the “First Lady”?

Kiwi tours wil be providing a shuttle to and from Whangamomona, contact Stewart Erb on 027 445 456 for more information.

Contact: Tania Bedwell
Phone: 06-7625 815 or 06-762 5819

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