Beach Hoppers remain “resilient” despite weather warnings of heavy rain lashing the country and high petrol prices.
The annual Repco Beach Hop Festival revved into action in Waihī yesterday, and was originally planned to head to Pauanui and Onemana.
But after monitoring conditions and taking advice from authorities, organiser Denis Beaver said it was “best not to go”.
Instead, the contingency plan has been activated, shifting the next two days’ activities to Port Rd in Whangamatā.
All events and entertainment originally set for Pauanui and Onemana will take place there.
“The reason we are activating this plan is obviously to keep yourself and your vehicle safe,” Beaver said.
An orange rain warning was in place for Coromandel Peninsula until 6pm Friday.
MetService warned that 130mm to 180mm of rain was expected, on top of what has already fallen, but up to 250mm was possible about the Coromandel Range.
Peak rates of 15 to 25mm/h – and possibly 25 to 40mm/h about the ranges – were likely from this afternoon through to Friday morning, the weather agency said.
“Whangamatā is used to [wet weather],” Beaver said, and a “full emergency management plan” that had been developed in combination with the council could be activated if needed.
He said petrol stations were “topped up”, with fuel “pre-ordered” before the event.
Whangamatā locals Eve Mewse (left), Evie Taylor and Molly McKillop aren’t letting the rain stop their Beach Hop celebrations. Photo / Supplied
Taking advantage of the wet weather, attendees were challenged to take their “best rainy Beach Hop photo” to enter a giveaway offering $2500 worth of petrol vouchers.
“Everyone’s been really positive,” Beaver said.
“The car guys are happy.”
Beaver said Waihī had its “biggest day ever”, with a “record amount of cars”.
“It was at capacity for parking … there was no more room.”
More than 110,000 classic motoring enthusiasts were believed to have made their way to the Coromandel for the event last year.
Beaver said the number wasn’t likely to change this year, but he encouraged people to check Beach Hop’s social media for the latest updates.
In Pauanui, “all was not lost”.
Pauanui Club events co-ordinator Summer Brown said they went into “damage control”, not letting the “weather get in the way of a good time”.
There was “obviously some disappointment” after Beach Hop was cancelled, but the town is accustomed to wet weather, she said.
The annual Repco Beach Hop Festival had a record amount of cars in Waihī on Wednesday. Photo / Jason Sayers
Instead, the club hosted “Save Our Sausages, Steak and Sanity”, inviting locals for a barbecue from midday – with plenty of sausages and steak on hand to get everyone through.
Brown said there were “two phenomenal cars” parked inside, with a best dressed competition, live music and raffles also on the programme.
About an hour in, around 100 people had turned up – “a much better turnout” than expected – with more continuing to arrive.
“We’ll carry on all the Beach Hop vibes throughout the weekend,” Brown said.
Beach Hop was Whangamatā local Jennifer Taylor and her daughter Evie’s “favourite time of the year”.
They have lived in the town for nine years.
“The town comes alive,” Taylor said.
She said the whole community got involved, with shops decorated and local schools embracing the event.
Whangamatā Area School was set to hold a Beach Hop fun day, with a dress-up competition and box-car parade, she said.
On Wednesday, students lined the school waving Repco flags as cars passed through for the Waihī warm-up event.
“It’s such a unique event and a big part of the identity of the town,” Taylor said.
“It makes us really proud and grateful that we live here.”
Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.