Waimumu

Waimumu is a rural settlement town in the Gore District and Southland Region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located west of Gore, about 14 kilometres from the main township.[1]

The settlement hosts the Southern Field Days, a biennial agricultural trade show.[1] It is held across a 57 hectare site, attracting about 700 exhibitors and 40,000 attendees.[2]

History

Europeans began farming either side of the Waimumu Stream in the 19th century. By 1901, the Waimumu Hundreds settlement had 608 people, and a public school with 21 students which held Presbyterian church services every month.[3]

Gold was also discovered by boring, leading to the establishment of a steady gold-dredging industry. By 1906, some farming paddocks had been completely destroyed through gold dredging.[3]

The Southern Field Days began in 1982, on a local farm, with 60 exhibitors.[2]

In 2002, the New Zealand Government provided funding to the protect the unlogged area of the Māori-owned Hokonui-Waimumu block.[4] In 2005, the Waimumu Trust, which administers the land, unsuccessfully challenged a ban on exporting timber from the forest through the Waitangi Tribunal.[5]

References
  1. Grant, David. "Eastern Southland". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  2. "About us". southernfielddays.co.nz. Southern Field Days.
  3. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company. 1905. p. 1098.
  4. Anderton, Jim (13 May 2002). "A balanced solution for SILNA forests". New Zealand Government. beehive.govt.nz.
  5. Review of the 2002 SILNA Policy Package: A Report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Report). Ministry for Primary Industries.

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