WAIPAWA Waipawa, located in the south Hawks Bay region and Waipawa is also an outer suburb of Waipukurau, being just seven Kms to the north of the larger community. That said, Waipawa is a township that has most of the essential services. Waipawa  holds the main office of the district council, and holds the distinction of being New Zealand’s oldest inland European settlement and celebrates the 150 year anniversary this year. From the Waipawa website the following: - BEGINS Waipawa is 150 years old in 2010!        For information on the celebrations 13 February - Waipawa's Grand Gala Day  grand Parade, Gala and Games. Evening 'Picnic in Park'. 13 March      - Guided Historic Walks to Waipawa's oldest homes. 27 March      - Mary Glover Bibby Painting Exhibition & Joy Cowley Book Launch 10 April        -Waipawa Golf Tournament 24-25 April  - Waipawa Snooker Tournament 7 - 9 May     - Cold Duck Motor Bike Rally & Thunder Ride 9 October    - Waipawa's Spring Festival and Duck Race 9 October    - 'Through the Ages' Ball And more ........   check the monthly event pages for updates Waipawa is an inland town steeped in history and is one of the oldest inland towns in New Zealand, with the first sections in the town being sold by auction on February 25, 1860. Originally called Abbotsford after its founder Frederick Sedgwick Abbott, by late 1861 the township that nestled beside the Waipawa River had a church, a courthouse, four hotels, two stores, two butcher shops, a blacksmith and the district survey office. History abounds in Waipawa, with some of the homes built in the late 1800s still standing, and the Settlers Museum in Waipawa's main street crammed with items of interest and significance. A feature of Waipawa is the memorial clock tower, opened in July 1922. The large established trees around the small town have been added to over the years by a keen beautifying society, which is also behind the addition, in the summer months, of hanging baskets full of flowering plants adorning the main street. ENDS The Waipawa War Memorial has a great profile as on enters the township from the North. The Anglican and Catholic churches are delightful, old and traditional structures. A visit to Waipawa, including the visit to the museum is a must.