Christmas on the Paparoa Village Green
Progressive Paparoa is promoting a FREE FAMILY CONCERT on the Village Green on SATURDAY 22ND DECEMBER. This will start at 6.30pm with games and entertainment for kiddies as well as a sausage sizzle and other food for sale.
Santa will pay a visit to the little ones and starting at 8pm on stage entertainment begins. Modelled on ‘Concerts in the Park’ in other bigger towns we will be presenting a professional style stage show featuring a very talented line-up of local and visiting artists. The theme will of course be Christmas, with Mrs Santa introducing the acts. Professional sound and lighting will add to the show and as the sun goes down, lightsticks will create a very special atmosphere. This is a family show which will appeal to all ages and add to the great community spirit evident in Paparoa. Make sure to KEEP SATURDAY 22ND DECEMBER FREE and bring your family and friends to the Village Green, Paparoa. If wet the show will transfer to the Paparoa Hall from 7.30pm.
Paparoa Farmers’ Market
Held at the Paparoa Village Green on Saturdays fortnightly
9.00am til midday
Paparoa Farmers’ Market started in January 2007 and has been a huge success. The number of visitors to the Market has increased steadily since then and stall holder numbers have remained constant right through Winter. Everyone is looking forward to the new growing season and new lines of produce coming to the Market.
Vendors and Produce
Franklin Gardens – summer and winter vegetables, fruit, eggs
Paparoa Bush Nursery – native trees, plants and shrubs
Kaipara Flounder – fresh Kaipara flounder, smoked mussels
Scrumpy’s – pickles, sauces and jellies
Sweet Plants – hibiscus, hedging hibiscus, agaves, lime trees
Echo Valley Olives – olive oil and pickled olives
Plantation Plants – wide range of vegetables
Kaipara Oysters – freshly opened oysters
Long Flat Bacon – bacon butties cooked on the barbeque
Plus numerous casual vendors selling fruit and vegetables in season - including goat’s cheese, honey, flowers, organic garlic and garlic products.
The Market Manager’s have been working to find new stallholders and it is hoped that the market will soon add new stalls - Bica coffee beans (roasted beans and chocolate coated coffee beans), cheese (both goat and dairy) and baked goods.
A generator has just been purchased to provide electricity at the market.
The dates for the market are:
December 2007 8th 22nd
January 2008 5th 19th 26th – our first birthday
February 2008 2nd 16th
March 2008 1st 15th 29th
For information contact the Managers:
Graham Taylor 4317209
Mary Stevens 4317123
KAURI BUSHMENS MEMORIAL BUSH WALK
Grade 1 – 10 minutes return
ACCESS: 6 km from Paparoa on SH 12, turn right into Sterling Road. 1.7km along Sterling Road the walk is signposted on the left by a small parking bay.
The track is even with a slight gradient. It performs a loop through the forest.
At the entrance to the track is a log hauler, used to transport logs carried by teams of bullocks on primitive bush roads.
The reserve was purchased in 1954 as a memorial to the pre-First World War kauri bushmen. Although the industry is remembered as one of destruction and flagrant demolition of a majestic species of tree (i.e. the kauri), it was also a time of high human endeavour. Bushmen living in harsh conditions and in rugged country developed kinship and camaraderie, not to mention an affection for their environment (despite it’s plunder).
Observe forested ridges as you pass through an area of former kauri forest. There will often be a solitary large tree still occupying the ridge, left by the bushmen for the continuation of the species.
The dense stand of kauri on the hilltop has a regenerating understory of kohekohe, red matipo and a carpet of hound’s tongue fern.
HAVE YOU WALKED THE PAPAROA WALKWAY.?
The Lions Club of Paparoa has been caretakers and developers of the Paparoa Bush Walk since the Pow and Roach families formally protected the bush areas by covenanting them with the Queen Elizabeth II Trust in 1989. Recent developments include identifying and naming some of the native trees , and the Lions are very grateful to Lisa Forester, Botanist with Northland Regional Council, for her time and expertise in identifying the trees. Maintenance of the track is an ongoing conern for the Lions Club, as is the eradication of possum and rodents. There are signs of kiwi habitation, and bird life is increasing as pests are being eradicated. The goats no longer graze the area and so luxuriant undergrowth is very evident once again.
The walk is very easily accessed from the Village Green and is now even more interesting and educational. After crossing the river at the Green, the walk follows the river to the bushed area where a second bridge spans a small inlet, and the track then climbs at a moderate grade up to the Pa site. The Pa is an extensive, well-preserved site on a bush-covered hill adjacent to the Paparoa Creek. The steep hill slopes provided natural defences, and ditch and bank fortifications across each of the spurs that run down from the flat summit can still be identified. Open pits, still clearly visible, include those which would have been dug for food storage. The presence of at least 60 pits indicates that large gardens were situated nearby producing kumara, taro, yams and gourds, and that this fortification served to protect both people and their food supplies. To enjoy this walk, allow at least an hour. Please stay on the defined track and do NOT take dogs on the properties. The local primary school children make good use of this walk and the community is very fortunate to have such a wonderful asset close by.
