Taupō is heating up
The Lakeman Brewing team (from left) Glen Sando, Laura Park, James Cooper and Rob Orman celebrate their category win at the at the New World Beer & Cider Awards.
Winter seems to have come and almost gone with the minimum of fuss.
With the sunlight hours getting noticeably longer, and the rhododendron trees already bursting with flowers, there’s reason to be upbeat.
Some people of course, enjoy the winter months – skiers, heat pump manufacturers and those with a particular loathing for flies and other summer insects.
Personally, spring is my favourite season – everything comes alive, winter sports are still at full noise, the days are longer but not too hot. It just feels optimistic.
The townships around Lake Taupō usually get a lot busier when summer arrives, although there’s a neverending series of events seemingly every weekend.
If you are wondering why Taupō township has suddently had an influx of bow-legged youngsters over the past week, it’s because the Fibre Fresh National Equestrian Centre has been hosting about 500 competitors in the North Island Secondary Schools Equestrian Championships, which wrap up today.
There’s plenty coming up for locals and visitors alike over the next two weeks with the Greening Taupō Community Planting Day on Saturday.
On Friday and Saturday, Centre Stage and the Great Lake Big Band are hosting theatre in the form of Prohibition Playhouse: A Speakeasy Spectacle of Swing and Secrets. With a title like that, most people are likely to be at least a little bit curious.
On a completely different note, last week’s singles night in Taupō attracted about 50 people, with an even mix of men and women and, if the rumours are correct, at least one romance has bloomed as a result.
This weekend we also have the Sunday Market, which continues to be incredibly popular with vendors and punters alike.
Further out, on September 6 we have the next Repair Cafe where broken down items can be taken and given a second life, for free!
Also on Septmeber 6, there is something for the fit ones looking for fun with the Kinloch Offroad running event. There are some stunning trails to choose from and a variety of distances; 5km, 10km, half and full marathon.
If you are more of a drinker and a thinker, then you will be pleased to know Lakeman Brewing has won the pilsner category once again with its Primate Pilsner at the New World Beer & Cider Awards. More on that next week.
In other news this week, we take a look at a local Mum Anna Cameron who has taken the internet by storm with her tasty treats. I can personally vouch for her cheese puffs which are both light and very tasty.
We wrap up our series of profiles on the Mayoral candidates this week with Kevin Taylor but will have more opportunities for mayoral and council candidates to pitch their ideas in coming weeks.
We will take a look around the new Woolworths ahead of its opening next week. There’s a couple of people who will have to find another reason to go on a scooter safari, once Woollies is back in place.
Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to let us know what events you have coming up as we look to rejuvenate a What’s On section in the paper.
Ngā mihi