From the President

 Waiatarua Mountain Market Day:

A Community Celebration A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in and supported our Waiatarua Mountain Market Day on Saturday, 2nd November. It was a joy to see our community come together to showcase locally made items. While we all hoped for a few more visitors, the day was still a success—a wonderful opportunity to celebrate local creativity, connect with neighbours, and enjoy the vibrant community spirit that makes Waiatarua so special.

Reflecting on 2024: What a Year It’s Been! Can you believe it’s already December? I don’t know about you, but this year seems to have flown by. Maybe it’s because we’ve been so busy, or perhaps it’s just a sign of getting older! Either way, as the year wraps up, it’s a great time to look back on all we’ve achieved as a community.

At the start of 2024, we set out with an ambitious plan to create a calendar of events that would bring us together and celebrate all that makes Waiatarua unique. Thanks to your support and feedback, we not only delivered on this goal but exceeded it, hosting more events than in previous years.

Some highlights from 2024 include:

• The always-popular Photographer of the Year and Waiatarua’s Cutest Pet Competitions.

• Several fantastic in-person events like our Community Dinner, two fun-filled Quiz Nights, an unforgettable Murder Mystery Night, our first-ever Indoor Bowls Tournament, the Mountain Market Day, and of course, the highlight of the year—the stunning Art Exhibition celebrating 50 years of Waiatarua history.

None of this would have been possible without you—our amazing participants and dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Thank you for your hard work, creativity, and community spirit!

Looking Ahead to 2025

With the New Year just around the corner, we’re already planning an exciting lineup of events for 2025. However, the success of these events depend on two key factors: funding and volunteers.

Funding

As community grants become harder to secure, we’re exploring sponsorship opportunities for both our virtual and in-person events. This could open the door to bigger and better events, as well as more exciting prizes for competitions like Waiatarua’s Cutest Pet and Photographer of the Year. Sponsorship also offers local businesses a chance to give back to the community while promoting their brand. If you know of any businesses or individuals interested in sponsoring an event, please get in touch. Whether it’s for one of our competitions or in-person gatherings, every bit of support makes a difference.

Volunteers

We’re incredibly grateful to the wonderful people who already volunteer their time to organise and run our events, but we’re always looking for more helping hands. If you’ve got a few hours to spare and are passionate about a particular event or simply want to get involved, we’d love to hear from you.

Wishing You a Joyous Festive Season

As we close the year, I want to wish you all a joyful and peaceful festive season. Thank you for making Waiatarua such a warm and welcoming place to call home. Here’s to an even brighter 2025 filled with community, connection, and celebration.

Finally, a quick reminder—our Waiatarua Instagram account is now live! It will be the best way to stay updated on upcoming events, community news, and stunning photos of our beautiful Waiatarua. Be sure to follow us and stay connected.

Mark Wager, WRRA President