Not just a boat race!
Summer in Te Whanganui o Hei/Mercury Bay was an exciting time as it meant one of the biggest events of the year was being held – the New Year’s regatta.
The history of the regatta began in December 1887, when it was held because the SS Iona sailed in from Auckland with visitors and a band onboard to race against the Mercury Bay crews.
With the establishment of a hospital in 1898, the regattas were used as part of the many fundraising events to keep the hospital open. The Regatta was always followed by a dance called the Basket Social. This was where a decorative basket of food was auctioned to raise money.
Early regattas included Māori waka/canoe racing between the wharves, horse riding and racing and swimming horses across the estuary.
With the outbreak of the Second World War, the events were suspended until 1946 – when a group of local men were at the wharf and had a conversation out of which came the thought to hold these once again. They then created a committee and this is when the Mercury Bay Boating Club was born. From the recommencement of the regatta the flag ship, until her retirement, was the freight vessel Lady Jocelyn proudly dressed all over, her pennants strung from stem to stern.
The first post war regatta was held on New Year’s Day 1947. This event became the high point, not only for the local community but also for tourists and those who had discovered that Mercury Bay was an ideal place to come for a holiday.
The programme for the 1957 regatta was a launch race, a yacht race, a beauty contest and a sandcastle contest, followed by a dance in the evening. The regatta became a more finely tuned event and in fact some events had to be held according to the tides. The ‘Across the River’ swim had to be held at either a high or low tide when the rip had ceased. Today, the Across the River swim is still a large community event that is run by the local area school and a unique one here in Aotearoa. This event can only run with significant support from other organisations such as the Hot Water Beach Lifeguards, Whitianga Coastguard, and the Harbourmaster to keep everyone safe.
As time went on, it became the policy of the Boating Club committee to add any new aquatic event to its regatta programme when the event became popular. For instance, a barefoot water skiing display was added when water skiing became popular. In 1964, the following events were added: swimming, diving, a speed boat race and water skiing. This showed a continuing expansion of the regatta. This pattern led to an affiliation with the Bay of Plenty Beach Resorts Association.
The beauty contest was judged solely on poise, body shape, and facial expression. No interviewing was done. Of the three groups – junior, intermediate, and senior – the senior winner was flown at the expense of the Boating Club to Tauranga for the Bay of Plenty contest. One of the judges on several occasions was Mrs May Nathan.
In January 1969, the club proposed to hold a snapper fishing contest with the prize being $50 for the heaviest fish; no commercial fisherman allowed!! This contest was so successful that it became an annual event.
1969 was a big year due to the Cook bicentenary celebrations and one of the big events was the Miss Whitianga pageant. The organisers wanted it to be the biggest year ever and a huge platform was built at the Whitianga Wharf; Mrs Savage, who owned the local ladies’ boutique, sponsored the bathing suits and clothing out of her shop. It was a whole day affair. The girls had to parade through town during the day in their smart ‘daywear’ and then there was an evening event held at the old soundshell.
The soundshell is no longer in Soldiers Memorial Park, but this does not stop summer community fundraising events being held in the park – markets, fairs and food fests are all a way of bringing our community together.
Words by Becs Cox
For more of it visit the Mercury Bay Museum
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