WAIKATO REGATTA

Trains coming from as far away as Auckland carried hundreds of spectators to Ngaruawahia for the annual regatta, which was held in the brilliant sunshine of March this year. The programme was as colourful and as varied as ever, making the outing thoroughly enjoyable. The top picture shows a section of the crowd packing the river bank while a party of Maori entertainers dances a haka on the deck of a barge. Below children use Maori canoes to obtain a close-up view of one of the speed boat races.