Waipu | Kilts and Rugby, and the Kiwi Way

Summary taken from Plan My Play – NZ events webszite
Julie – Editor – Friday, July 09, 2010 Read whole article here
- thanks Julie for coming up!

Rocking up to the Waipu Rugby Club, hearing the ‘Chicken Dance’ blasting from the loudspeakers, perhaps I can be forgiven when I raise an eyebrow or two. Seeing a spritely bunch of Golden Oldiers run on to the field in kilts? Well, that makes me a wee bit vocal.

Here I am. No, I’m not wearing tartan, nor a beanie (*damn* because it’s icy and my ears are feeling it) and my toes are freezing in my boots. For some reason I’m fending off probing questions about my camera. Am I Press? Not in the traditional sense, no.

I am delighted to be at Caledonian Park, that’s all that matters. I’m at the centrepiece for all important things Scottish to the Waipu locals, to witness the long awaited grudge match of Waipu vs Whangarei Golden Oldies game.

I am so very happy. What a crowd, what a town…smack on Tartan Week *bingo*.

• Read more of this great article
• More about Tartan Week
• More about Waipu and Bream Bay

See the All Blacks as you’ve never seen them before… in Waipu

The All Blacks probably weren’t expecting the Caber Toss to be a part of their training schedule this year, but that’s exactly what some of the current All Black squad will be competing in when they take on the local residents of Waipu at the MasterCard All Blacks Roadshow on Sunday 11 July. Read more

Tartan Week In Waipu off to a great start

A little scotch mist falling did not dampen the spirits of those who turned out to celebrate International Tartan Day in Waipu this year.

The Waipu Highland Pipe Band led the march down the main street of Waipu and the entire primary school was there behind them – many in tartan, most with masks made for the occasion Read more

All Blacks MasterCard Roadshow comes Waipu

The All Blacks probably weren’t expecting wood sawing, gumboot throwing or waiter racing to be part of their build up to the 2010 international test season, but that’s exactly what they’ll be competing in over the next two months as they travel the country for the MasterCard All Blacks Roadshow, coming to Waipu on 11 July.

Now in its third year, the MasterCard All Blacks Roadshow hosts a series of community events where local fans can get up close and personal with some of the current All Blacks and Rugby Legend, Buck Shelford, by competing in rugby challenges including; catching, try-scoring, kicking, passing and lineout skills.

This year, in addition to the five rugby challenges, the All Blacks will take on the residents of Waipu in their own game, competing in highland games (caber toss) with local ex All Black Ritchie Guy teaching them a thing or two.

All Blacks on the MasterCard Roadshow in Waipu
Caledonian Park, The Centre, between 11am-3.30pm

For more information or to enter to compete against the All Blacks in a town near you visit www.MasterCardroadshow.co.nz

What’s coming up in Tartan Week 1 – 11 July

The sign at the entrance to Waipu says  Ceud Mile Failte – a hundred thousand welcomes,  and this year Waipu is once again welcoming visitors to celebrate Tartan Week in Waipu.

Tartan Week is one of the ways in which this small village honours its celtic origins. This year there will be a series of events beginning on International Tartan Day – 1 July and extending into the first week of the school holidays.

International Tartan Day – 1 July commemorates the repeal of the Act of Proscription which was passed by the English after the 1746 Battle of Culloden.  For a generation the Act forbade all Highland men and boys to wear tartan, carry weapons, or play the pipes and was an attempt to suppress Highland culture. The Act was repealed on 1 July 1782.

Here are some of the Highlights of Tartan Week 2010 in Waipu

Full details at www.waipu-tartan.co.nz

Midday on 1 July the festival kicks off with the Waipu Highland Band marching down the mainstreet. Sean Truibhas means shaking off the trousers and donning the tartan, it is a well known theme of Tartan Day. Waipu is making the most of this and some well known locals will be entering into the spirit of “Shaking of their Trousers” in a dramatic way, and some young Highland Dancers will be performing the dance of Sean Truibhas at The Centre Stage.
The Centre Stage, Waipu Midday 5-10 July Saturday 3 April The Centre Stage events will continue. The Centre Stage in the heart of the village will have a series of local scottish themed performances on at midday. Sue Matthews is Co-ordinating the timetable for acts, and anyone interested in performing should contact her on email or 09 4320404, These events will continue Monday 5 – Saturday 10 July.
Full Scottish Brunch for $30 at the Clansman Motel 3-11 July Claire and peter are the new owners of the Clansman Motel in Waipu and they are getting into the celtic spirit of tartan week by offering a fantastic 3 course Scottish breakfast.  3-11 July  10-2pm. Porridge (of course!) served with Cream, Butter and a Drizzle of Drambui, and Juice Bacon, Eggs, Black Pudding, Lorne Sausage, Fried Tomato, Haggis, Baked Beans and Tatties and Toast Oatcakes and Marmalade, tea and coffee
Whisky Tasting: On both Saturdays from 1.30-2.30 Waipu’s old Jail (behind the Waipu Museum) will be awash with Whisky – for $10pp you can enjoy learn the finer arts of  Whisky tasting – what regions it comes from and how old it is.  Waipu’s early founders soon found ways of making whisky locally, and some ended up in the jail, so come and get into the spirit!  Stay on and join the Clan Dinner at the Waipu RSA at 5pm.
Artntartan Awards $25 gets you a ticket to what is promising to be the event of the year in Waipu.  Entries to the Awards are coming in from around New Zealand for the six categories for the Awards. More information is available at the Waipu Museum website www.waipumuseum.com Tickets for this event can be purchased at Eventfinder. Doors open at 7pm with complimentary nibbles and a cash bar.
Kirkin o the Tartan Sunday 4 July 10am The Waipu Presbyterian Church invites all tartan wearers (and others!) to join this special service on Sunday morning at 10am 4 July. After that you can wander across the road to the Waipu Coronation Hall and for a gold coin enjoy some Highland Dancing Competitions.
Mid Winter Swim 4 July 3pm Waipu Cove Visitors will have time to grab a cup of coffee and some lunch before heading down to Waipu Cove for the 3pm Mid Winter Swim – join in or watch. Another chance to shake off those trousers as the Pipes play on the hill and warm up with a BBQ organised by the Waipu Surf Club 7.30pm  10 July Clauchan a Choin – Grand Finale Ball Back by popular demand, the Waipu Museum have once again organised the irrepressible Celtic Flyers to be the band for this Ball. Last year the Ball was sold out and the band had the crowd dancing until the early hours of the morning. This promises to be a night to remember – tickets are $40 from Waipu Museum.
Rugby and Tartan Week Men in Kilts Challenge 9 July The Rugby World Cup is just over a year away, and Waipu is extending a welcome to the world to visit at that time – a rich celtic welcome, a strong highland welcome. 2010 Tartan Week will see the unveiling of Waipu’s secret rugby weapon, as our Waipu Men in Kilts challenge Whangarei Old Boys to a game of Rugby at Waipu Caledonian Park at 7.30 on 9 July. The warm up game at 6.30 will be a Golden Oldies Netball Challenge and the evening will be capped off with a a post match function at the Rugby Club. Waipu Tossers will teach the All Blacks a thing or too…. 11 July 11-3 The MasterCard All Black Roadshow The Grand Finale of Tartan Week will be the MasterCard All Black Roadshow which will be based in Waipu Caledonian Park on 11 July 11-3pm. Former All Black and local Waipu caber tosser Ritchie Guy will coach the All Black Players and Ambassadors to toss the caber at the Roadshow. There will be fun for all the family. Full details of all events at www.waipu-tartan.co.nz	The English discovered that the tartan and bagpipes of the Scottish Highlanders were more than mere decoration, which is why in 1747 The Act of Proscription forbade the wearing of the tartan. Waipu’s Rugby Team have always been accompanied by Pipers – when the team comes out, and when tries are scored – the sound of the pipes echoes around the grounds. Much like the Haka, for Waipu the pipes are a signal of challenge, pride and determination.

New Whangarei Buzz Website

Whangarei Buzz

This new website is hosting information and news about Whangarei Events and is also a Whangarei Community Portal.

Organised by Ian Spanhake, it looks like it could become an important part of Whangarei’s promotional life.

Winter@Waipu kicks off on the June Long Weekend

Winter@waipu kicks off again on the June long weekend, as this small Northland village with a unique scottish story makes the most of winter season of June, July and August. View all the Winter@waipu events here

There are regular markets, poetry readings, Classic Hits Breakfast Show at Waipu Cove, master Pizza chef, matariki celebrations, festival of flowers Whangarei Races, and more.

Read more

Tartan Week programme is up

Last night a small group met in the Waipu Museum to finalise the programme for 2010 Tartan week.

We have a logo – here it is:
Thanks Simon

We have a website:

www.tartan-week.co.nz

We have a programme:
see it here

It promises to be a fabulous week with parades, ArtnTartan, a midwinter ball, shaking of the trousers for mid winter swims, pets in tartan, and mid day centre stage events most days.

Lighting up Northland

Fireshows to Light up Northland this Matariki

Northland Community Circus Network are hosting some fabulous fireshows in Northland this winter to celebrate Matariki.  They will be held in Waipu (of course), Dargaville, Kaikohe and Whangarei.

The Waipu Show will be part of the Winter@Waipu festival

6pm-7pm 26 June 2010
Waipu Caledonian Park
Donation/koha

The Show is seeking sponsorship so the event can be free to Northlanders.
Waipu sponsors so far include Whangarei District Council and Northpine – more are needed, so lets pitch in.

Every winter solstice I used to go to a gathering at Te Henga Beach.  We used to rug up, and carry candles and dive into the darkness of the night.  Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere is like this – cold and dark with the promise of new life.  It is a fantastic thing to do.

Contact for more information:

Achmedabman@yahoo.com 09 4321773  021 02777294

Bream Bay master pizza chef

The Beach House Restaurant is holding Bream Bay Master pizza chef and inviting Businesses to Compete to win.

The event will be part of Waipu’s
Winter@Waipu Festival 2010

All contestants will be representing a local business. Each contestant will have two pizza dough’s and the choice of different vegetables, meats, cheese & sauces to create their signature pizza.

The winning pizza will receive a prize and the master pizza chef of the year cup to take home.  The winning pizza will go on the beach house menu for everyone to try.

The competition will be held over two weeks –Friday 11th June & Friday 18th June. The first night will be the heats to find the finalist. All finalists will have to come back next week to compete for the Master pizza chef cup. There will be a wild card (the black team) coming back to compete the final night. We have three judges.

Make sure you bring along family and friends for support.

$20.00 per person door change (food included in price). Drink special and spot prizes through out the night.

Please confirm the person to represent your business by May 3rd& please provide some sort of signage to put in front of the work station. We will list all business on our advertising so please supply your business name.  Email: info@thebeachhouserestaurant.co.nz or phone 09 432 0877

All contestants will need to be at the restaurant at 6.30pm and we will start the competition at 7pm

Other events at the Beach House
Sunday roast nights $15.00 per person every Sunday from May-Sep

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