MEDIA RELEASE FROM RAETIHI PROMOTIONS

On 1st April Raetihi Promotions is holding a street party to celebrate the first car journey up the Parapara Highway to Raetihi that took place on 24th March 1917. At the time the road had large stretches not metalled and some streams not bridged. The trip to Raetihi took the Studebaker four and a half hours.

Visit Whanganui with the Wanganui Vintage Car club have arranged for a convoy of 30 vintage cars and around 30 Norton motorbikes to mark that first journey. At Raetihi a street party in Seddon Street will take place on Seddon Street outside the Waimarino Museum. Local vintage cars and the visiting convoy will be on display. We are encouraging vistors to come in vintage clothes. There will be live music from Taihape covers band The Bushchooks featrturing Fred and Cynthia Hammer. A cake will be cut after some short speeches. There will be food stalls and the local cafes will be open as will some of the historic buildings including St Marys Anglican Church and St Patricks Catholic Church.

A sewing bee will be taking place to make bunting for decoration next weekend.

The convoy is scheduled to arrive in Raetihi at 11 am.

A facebook page is getting a lot of reaction with people sharing their stories about the road.

The Parapara highway is now part of State Highway 4.

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