Whangamomona

Whangamomona is a small township in the Stratford District and Manawatū-Whanganui Region in New Zealand. It lies on State Highway 43, the "Forgotten World Highway", 65 kilometres (40 mi) north-east of Stratford and 55 kilometres (34 mi) south-west of Ohura. By rail it is 61 kilometres (38 mi) from Stratford on the Stratford-Okahukura railway line.[1]

Whangamomona
Whangamomona Hotel
Seal
Whangamomona
Coordinates: 39°8′37″S 174°44′13″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui region
DistrictStratford District

History
Whangamomona Railway Station circa 1916
Panorama overlooking Whangamomona circa 1916

The first settlers arrived in 1895, with the town proper established some 2 years later.[2] Growth of the town was seriously affected by the loss of 51 men (including the smaller nearby settlements of Kohuratahi and Tahora)[3] in the First World War and a major flood in 1924.[2] The town recovered with arrival of the railway line in 1933 and electrification in 1959.[2] However the town went into decline again and the school closed in 1979, followed 9 years later by the post office.[2]

Republic Day

In 1989 regional council boundaries were redrawn, with an emphasis on connected catchments. These revised maps made Whangamomona part of the then-Manawatu-Wanganui Region. Residents objected, as they wanted to continue being part of the Taranaki Region, and on 1 November 1989, they responded by declaring themselves the "Republic of Whangamomona" at the first Republic Day. Though the move began as a pointed protest, the town continued to hold a celebratory Republic Day once a year, during which a vote for President was held. The day has become a local festival day, and attracts visitors from throughout the North Island. In 2001, the celebration became biennial, held in January to take advantage of the summer weather.

Presidents

Ian Kjestrup (1989–1999)
After being put on the ballot without his knowledge, Kjestrup became the first elected President, serving 10 years.

Billy Gumboot the Goat (1999–2001)
Gumboot was the first elected animal. He won election by a landslide, although some residents speculate he ate the other challengers' ballots in order to win. He died in office after serving for 18 months.

Tai the Poodle (2003–2004)
Tai retired after he was attacked by a mastiff, but some speculate it was an assassination attempt. Though he survived the attack, Tai was left unfit for service and died in 2010.[4]

Sir Murt "Murtle the Turtle" Kennard (2005–2015)
The local garage owner fought off strong competition from former President Kjestrup and a cross-dresser called "Miriam" to become the 4th President. He was re-elected in 2009 by one vote, and again by a landslide in 2011.[5] Kennard died at New Plymouth Hospice on 25 October 2015.[6]

Vicki Pratt (2015–2017)
Pratt was the first female President appointed for the Whangamomona Republic. The local publican was "somehow picked while working in the kitchen".[7]

John Herlihy (2017–present)
Herlihy was elected ahead of Jack Spearow, Lili Jiao (who wanted to be a cat) and Ted (who was already a cat), despite reported attempts by Spearow to steal ballots.[8] On Republic Day 2019 (19 January) President Herlihy was re-elected for a second term, having fought off challenges from Maketoni the Teddy Bear, Sherman the Cockatoo, Eunice the Sheep, Griff Robb (who proposed that the land-locked nation should enter into maritime tourism) and a Mrs Brown look-alike at the polls. Controversy surrounded the election due to the disappearance of candidate Eunice the Sheep, with commentators noting that mutton sandwiches were for sale at the Republic Day barbecue.[9]

References
  1. Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 506.
  2. Stratford Press: Two decades and counting in Whangamomona
  3. War Memorial Cenotaph: Ohura Rd, Kohuratahi
  4. "Top dog: The rise, fall and alleged assassination attempt of a poodle President".
  5. Harper, Laird (24 January 2011). "Vote-rigging part of the fun of Republic Day". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  6. "Hundreds flock to farewell president". Stuff. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  7. Burroughs, David (25 November 2015). "First female president appointed for Whangamomona republic". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  8. Verdonk, Sieska (22 January 2017). "Whangamomona wakes up to new president... and he's nice!". The New Zealand Herald.
  9. "Whangamomona President sees off all challengers". Radio New Zealand. 21 January 2019.

Further reading
  • Opening of the road to Aotuhia: tour of the Stratford County hill country, organised by the Stratford County and the Dept. of Land and Survey (New Plymouth), Stratford, [N.Z.]: Stratford County Council, 1985
  • Church, Ian N. (1990), The Stratford inheritance: a history of Stratford and the Whangamomona counties, Waikanae, [N.Z.]: Heritage Press, ISBN 0-908708-17-3
  • Garcia, James (1940), History of Whangamomona County: published by the Whangamomona Centennial Celebrations Committee as a centennial memorial and dedicated to the pioneer settlers of the district, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Whangamomona Centennial Celebrations Committee
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