The ‘Town vs Country’ event will return to Hāwea this Waitangi Weekend after a two-year break.

The event, which combines a quiz night, sports matches and ‘top town’ games, took place each year for 16 years before it went on-hold due to Covid-19 and a shortage of volunteers to help run it.

Hāwea resident and Hāwea Flat School teacher Tom Merrell said he is pleased the community-centric and family-friendly event is back on.

“It’s a good way for the community to come together and really good for new families to meet people as well,” Tom said.

Tom and a couple of other Hāwea residents put out the call for volunteers and they now have five different sports lined up for Waitangi Day (Tuesday February 6) at Peter Fraser Park (next to the community centre).

Tom will run the ‘top town’ event, which will also take place on Tuesday.

“There’s an egg-cup relay, a spud gun relay and a tug of war,” Tom said. “People come to take part and watch and there will also be a picnic.”

The evening before, on Monday (February 5), the event will kick off with a community quiz night at the community centre. 

Because of the changing population of town and country residents, teams will be split differently this year.

People who live on the eastern side of Hāwea District will be team red and those on the west side will be in team blue.

More details on the event will be shared in the coming weeks.

Tom said he’d like to hear from any additional community members who are willing to lend a hand with the event. 

Email him on [email protected].

PHOTO: Wānaka App