Welcome to Hokitika

Best small town in the West!

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the 2011 Small Town Conference. I know you will be impressed with the Conference content and all the activities that have been planned for you.

Living in a remote area like Westland means that life evolves without a lot of the influences we see in bigger, more metropolitan areas. We find inventive ways of doing things, and the people have the freedom to develop as individuals, not “wanna-be” clones of movie stars or pop singers. I think that is why we see the imagination of our resident artists unrestricted in the use of natural products in their creations, just as nature delivered them. While you are in Hokitika it is well worth taking a walk around town and being impressed by the skills of our local artists.

One of the best outcomes from a Small Town Conference is the building of friendships and networks. Be sure to learn from each other and share your experiences and solutions to your individual challenges that come from living and working in small towns in New Zealand.

You are in “grass roots” New Zealand here in Westland, where the people are always happy, the forecast is always wrong, and where size doesn’t matter!

Have a great time everyone.

Maureen Pugh

Mayor

Register early to go into the draw for this wonderful Greenstone pendant kindly sponsored by the Jade Factory in Hokitika.

All delegates who register before cut-off date will enter into the draw for this prize, drawn at registration afternoon: Sunday 17 July 2011.

» Register here