Republic of Whangamomona

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Stamp of the Republic of Whangamomona

The Republic of Whangamomona is a movement in New Zealand that emerged from the protest against a government decision , which had a serious background when it was founded in 1989, but today causes smiles more because of its curiosity and leads to a folk festival every two years .

geography

The scene of the event was and is the small town Whangamomona , which is located in the western part of the North Island in the Manawatu-Wanganui region halfway between Stratford and Taumarunui and can usually only be reached via State Highway 43 , which is also known as the Forgotten World Highway is known.

history

In the course of the administrative reform in New Zealand in 1989 half of the community of Whangamomona was assigned to the newly formed Manawatu-Wanganui region and the other half was left in the Taranaki region , while the place remained part of the Stratford District .

Since the Regional Councils in New Zealand are also responsible for the waters and the two rivers Whangamomona River and Tangarakau River flow into the Whanganui River , bureaucrats in Wellington consequently decided to assign the catchment areas of the two rivers to the Manawatu-Wanganui region, with the effect the division of the municipality at regional level. But the "rebels" of the region, who had already declared their independence from what was then Stratford County Council in 1908 and founded their own Whangamomona County Council , did not agree with the division, but despite opposition and their efforts, they did something at the political level reach into the void with their protest.

As an expression of their frustration and as a sign of resistance to the decision of the government, all residents of the town and the surrounding area declared their independence on November 1, 1989 and founded the " Republic of Whangamomona ". It goes without saying that such a day also has to be celebrated. In addition to the 178 affected citizens who signed a petition , around 400 people from all over New Zealand came to emphasize the protests of those affected. With this the " Whangamomona Republic Day " was born and the promise was given not to rest until the decision of the administration was reversed.

In the meantime, “ Republic Day ” has become more of a folk festival character and the political demands have moved more into the background. In 2005, around 5,000 citizens of the republic met to elect their president, shear sheep, throw rubber boots or take a bath in a bathtub full of eels. Even special trains are used on this special day and stop in Whangamomona on the route that is otherwise only used by freight trains.

today

The “ Republic of Whangamomona ” is still cosmopolitan. Anyone who stands by the political demands of the republic can become a “citizen” of this republic. For $ 3.50  NZ you can buy a pass on site that allows you to enter the republic on Whangamomona Republic Day . If you want, you can also have the official stamp of the republic entered in your national passport. In January 2019, the festival was held for the 30th time and President John Herlihy, newly elected two years earlier, was confirmed in office with just five votes ahead of his challenger. The next " Republic Day ", which is celebrated every two years, will take place in January 2021.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Leon Gray-Lockhart : Two decades and counting in Whangamomona . In: Stratford Press . Stratford January 22, 2009 ( online [accessed May 29, 2016]).
  2. ^ Ron Lambert : Whangamomona . In: New Zealand Geographic . Issue 77 , 2006, p.  70-89 (English).
  3. ^ A b Janet Hooker : Whangamomona declares independence . In: The Daily News . New Plymouth November 2, 1989, p.  4 (English).
  4. ^ Whangamomona Hotel . (PDF 458 kB) Stratfort District Council , 2006, archived from the original on May 23, 2010 ; accessed on May 29, 2016 (English, original website no longer available).
  5. ^ Sorrel Hoskin : To Be A President . Puke Ariki , archived from the original on October 23, 2018 ; accessed on May 10, 2019 (English, original website no longer available).
  6. ^ Whangamomona Rail Excursion . whatsonhamilton.co.nz , January 24, 2009, archived from the original on December 28, 2008 ; accessed on January 21, 2016 (English, original website no longer available).
  7. ↑ Ilona Hanne: Whangamomona president re-elected after beating a sheep, a teddybear and a cockatoo . In: New Zealand Herald . NZME. Publishing , January 19, 2019, accessed May 10, 2019 .