The small settlement of Whangamomona, buried in the hills of eastern Taranaki, declared itself a republic in 1989 and has since attained a sort of cult celebrity status. For Republic Day celebrations—held in summer every second year—thousands of visitors flock to the town, and are required to hand over $3 for a passport at border control points. Even those who arrive on the several special trains are required to fork out.
Were it not for the Poet's Bridge, you might think that Simon Hadlow was rowing his daughter and dog into the backblocks. Yet this arcadian vista lies just a few minutes' stroll from downtown New Plymouth, in a park which provides forest, laws, sports-ground, gardens, performance facilities and a peaceful retreat in the centre of the city.
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