Image above is Mac & Pete watching the footy from their Corporate Box. You can smell their tension – stressed out over who was winning…
Mac came to Turangi in 1970 to work on the Hydro Scheme for Uncle MOW and Pete arrived about the same time some 40 years ago and worked in the Forestry. Mac said back then Turangi had 8 senior rugby teams from all the young men working on the Tongariro Power Scheme. We were reflecting on what a neat town Turangi is if you identify and reap the advantages. No stress here… Mac & Pete reckon it is the best little town in NZ and even though we international website reporters are supposed to be impartial (?) on the evidence I have to agree.
With my leg still in a cast I am a bit of a mountain bike hoon around town at the moment. As I can’t go fishing for a couple more weeks I tried to book a seat in their Corporate Box for next Saturday but they are booked out for the entire season. (It has to be a lesson – any hospitality business always booms when you identify and provide people with what they need. Must tell SWMBO…) But what a pleasant way to watch the footy. No issues with parking or access or queuing, everyone gets a front row view, plenty of seating, amazing… Every time the local team scored all the car horns went off to encourage the players and let the rest of the town know. Great sense of community at the footy.
Mac & Pete reckon Eden Park and the cake tin officials could learn a lot by attending a game at Turangi. You don’t even need to book. But remember it is strictly BYO. It doesn’t matter who is playing who or whether it is league or union – here it is all just enjoyable family footy – Kiwi heartland style. Even fishos would enjoy it.
After reading all the gloom and doom about the Auckland property market and proposed densities I was reflecting on how lucky we are here. Considering their average age – Turangi was developed about 40-50 years ago – and construction materials most properties have survived very well although at this time of the year are partly hidden under the leafy canopy of the hundreds of mature deciduous trees that dominate the village. What is also noticeable is the excellent state of the streets and roads.
Turangi was developed over 40 years ago by MOW (Government aka Ministry of Works) as a permanent town to remain as a tourist destination long after the big Tongariro Power Scheme was completed. Turangi was obviously built to higher specifications then – not down to the cheapest tendered price like some other places these days…
The Tongariro Power Scheme was a mini Snowy Mountain Scheme and the residential town follows like a mini Canberra with all the curved streets having endless parks and walkways linking them and kids play grounds and reserves where you least expect them. After 40 years the streets are still in tip top order. (When you are a slow bike hoon pedaling around you notice these things…) A few trees have unfortunately been removed – a tragic mistake in our view – where the roots were cracking the footpaths but the overall effect of the mature English foliage canopy is just delightful – they add so much more character to what may be otherwise an ordinary plain and functional housing scheme.
Did you know Turangi was the first town in NZ to have underground power installed? Did you know there is no such thing as leaky homes virus in Turangi? What’s more they are sooo affordable. But don’t tell Jaffas – OK? Nah – they wouldn’t believe you anyway.
The average price of houses in Turangi as at 31/12/11 was $167,444. For fishos thinking about a holiday home in Turangi – at the moment they can buy a 2 bedroom unit at TRM for less than that. Then it is maintained and managed for you. Click on the “ABOUT” heading above and drag down to “UNITS FOR SALE” or phone for more info.. You can even book one to “try before you buy”. And you thought this was a fishing report?…
So we added the image above of the carved trout outside the tourist information centre to satisfy any fly fishing purists still reading…
I thought you would appreciate this image of a Turangi lawn mower too. Turangians have their own way of addressing a minor problem like cutting the grass. Just joking – that is not typical at all.
Another example of the excellent standard of local facilities is the local library and the indoor heated swimming pool. You won’t believe the pressure for parking at peak time on Saturday afternoon in the CBD – over 200 car parks still available.
They even have car parks designated for taxis. Only one problem. After 40 years Turangi still does not have a taxi unless you include the local version…
I suspect locals like Mac & Pete would have difficulty adjusting to Auckland? Or rather, Auckland may have difficulty adjusting to them…
Hooning around town on a bike (armed with a crutch instead of a fishing rod) is a much nicer way to appreciate and enjoy the relaxed nature of the town.
Turangi was designed for a population of about 9,000 and now has less than 3,000 permanent residents – most of the housing stock sell as holiday homes for anglers from Wellington and Auckland. So all the social and recreational facilities are quite excessive – after reading about the housing density pressures in Auckland and elsewhere, we just count our blessings. Turangi is so perfect…
PS The local champion team – the Dambusters – won.
