Other than that there’s not a lot happening there except every now and again it has a rural rugby festival that is unique.
It was a preseason game between the Blues and the Hurricanes for the Tui Cup with the politicians playing the Toki Barbarians as a curtain-raiser.
The match is played on a paddock that for the previous six years ran livestock.
On the day of the game, however, it was a highly professional rugby pitch courtesy of the sterling efforts of local farmer Kerry Fergus.
The day is sold as family entertainment and they do it really well.
Entering the ground a Young Farmers member invites you to try one of their pies or some home-made lemonade.
The pies were state of the art. After a couple I reckon I could almost play for the Hurricanes. I’d certainly be unstoppable for the Toki Barbarians.
It can be hard these days to get a good meaty pie but Young Farmers nailed it.
There was something for everyone at Mangatainoka. There was food for all tastes, beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks and free water.
The politicians’ game was interesting.
They didn’t have heavyweight Kris Fafoi or the speedster Damien O’Connor because of the Nelson fires but they gave it their best shot.
Local Labour List MP Kieran McAnulty started on the left wing, which, I thought, was appropriate. He’s certainly left wing. He’s also young and quick on his feet. Both are unusual traits for our politicians.
The problem I had was in the second half he turned up on the right wing. Is he trying to tell me something I wondered?
The Mangatainoka ground holds about 4000 people so it is an intimate setting. You are right on the sideline so you can see everything.
The atmosphere is casual country. I saw neither a tie nor a flash frock.
For an hour before the game started both teams warmed up on the pitch. In the Hurricanes case they were no more than 20 metres in front of us. You could actually recognise players without having to rely on their number.
The game started with a flourish with the Hurricanes quickly going out to a 14-nil lead. Unfortunately, that came back to a 38-19 trail halfway through the second half. The final score was 38-31 to the Blues.
Ma’a Nonu looked great, not a day over 30 let alone 38. He scored a spectacular try under the posts and looked every bit like the Nonu of a decade ago.
The Blues certainly looked a different team than they have over the last few years so the next weeks will be interesting.
It was a great occasion.
A large number came from the far flung rural empire in buses and coaches. They were there to have a good time and they did. Having said that, I didn’t see anyone who was the worse for wear.
The police were there complete with their tractor. They were visible but unobtrusive.
There were kids everywhere, all having a good time.
After the game the players stayed on the pitch and signed autographs. They were there for a long time.
It was a good showcase for rural NZ too.
There was a topdressing plane showing how precisely it could fly. I was only sorry that Greenpeace and Fish and Game weren’t there to see the precision that is part of modern fertiliser application.
Wairarapa Livestock Transport had trucks and trailers around the ground behind the stands. Punters could stand in the top deck to get a better view of the game, not to mention to see a stock truck first-hand.
It was also great for local businesses able to have their names in front of people and to show their products for all to see.
Tui sponsors the event and it is professionally run. You don’t have massive queues for food and drink, it is quick and easy to enter the ground and take your seat and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly.
So, my view is move the Hurricanes’ home ground to Mangatainoka. You’d have a better class of punter and there’d be full stands for every game. Parking is plentiful and you have neither the Cake Tin queues for food and drink nor the Wellington prices.
The local media would be hugely supportive and there’s a ton of cheap housing around Mangatainoka, meaning the players and staff would be far better off.
Finally, as Mangatainoka is such a happy and non-stressful place the players would be far more relaxed. The Hurricanes would never lose another game.
Shifting to Mangatainoka is a complete no-brainer.
