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See Paul Smith’s evocative drone footage of the Kopu bridge here:
Community group still set on
saving historic Kopu Bridge
The 85-year-old, one-lane Kopu Bridge is
set to be demolished. The iconic traffic
clogger was closed in December of 2011
when the two lane bridge was constructed. A
community group has rallied to save the old
bridge as a tourist attraction offering a scenic
bike and hiking span. A popup shelter is one of
the improvements envisioned by the group.
The NZ Transport Agency wishes to demolish
it, citing high cost of renovating and
maintaining it: $2.3 million to upgrade the
bridge and $250,000 a year to maintain. The
Historic Kopu Bridge Society objected offering
cost estimates a small fraction of that.
Talks between the sides area ongoing, and
according to Kim Buchanan, a Trustee of
the Kopu Bridge and Community Trust, they
are “still awaiting an answer” to December’s
proposal. Read full report, “A Bridge to
the Future”, here:
default/4285937.pdf. For updates and how
you can help, see
SaveKopuBridge/
Historic Kopu Bridge Opening as part of
Thames Heritage Festival. Sunday 19th
March from 9am –12. Walking tours of the
bridge (limited numbers, so book reservation at
with Kim, ph 07
8685581). The swingspan will also be opening
every half hour during the morning, and viewed
from a tour, the bank or the new bridge.
Entry Fee: Koha to the Historic Kopu Bridge Society.
Seethe magazine’s centre spread for the Thames
Heritage Festival schedule.
Design for a pop up
shelter on the span
Cemeteries contains a wealth of historic information as well as being
a place for remembrance. ‘Mine Accidents’ is the intriguing theme of
a guided walk through Waihi Cemetery set for Sat 18 March at 4pm.
This annual event is organised by the Waihi Branch of the NZ Society
of Genealogists, and includes fascinating stories they have ‘unearthed’
about 10-12 people connected with the theme.
Previous walks have included ‘Murders and Mishaps’ and ‘Tragedies,
Personalities and Mysteries’. The walks usually take 60-90 minutes and
with fascinating subject matter like this, you won’t want to miss it!
A gold coin donation is appreciated, and sturdy footwear and a jacket
are suggested. Turn up just before 4pm or ring Harriet at 07 863 6063.
Annual Waihi Cemetery Walk
Situated amongst farmland and orchards, Waihi Cemetery was established
prior to 1898 for Waihi and the surrounding rural areas, including Waihi Beach.
The bridge winging
opening was once a regular
driving annoyance. Now it
is a rare treat to witness.
We all know what a great night out we have when we join Karl and
the team at the GBD. But what you may not yet have caught up
with is a couple of new Summer menu options that have brought a
contemporary taste sensation to the mix. They will focus on the fresh
local products available now.
Somehow, the team have managed to combine the concept of coconut,
green curry together with local Coromandel Mussels and have come up
with a sensory delight (for those that are able to eat mussels anyway!).
The aromatics of the green curry blended with the creamy top notes of
the coconut, create a silken savoury sweet broth that wraps around the
freshly steamed mussels that keep you wanting to simply pop back into
the bowl for the next morsel.
The Slow Roasted Pork Belly for the meat eaters in the tribe was a
welcome earthy experience with garlic mash and zesty sweet carrot and
apple chutney – well-rounded and good hearty tucker for the boys.
Harissa Lamb was the third dish to be shared – tender basted lamb with
pops of feta and roasted baby beetroot on a bed of baby spinach and light
minty yoghurt dressing, all presented in a refreshingly simple way that
turned the three dishes into a casual degustation rather than a traditional
sit down meal and generous proportions ensure we were all well fed.
My palette in wine has moved into the Rosé for Summer and The Ned
never fails to please. The TW Estate Chardonnay from Gisborne was a
winner with one of the other girls, and the ever reliable Guinness on tap
was the completion point for the blokes. – Leanne Adams
THAMES
TASTE
TEMPTERS Dinner at the GBD
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