PIERS FULLER/Stuff
New EketÄhuna resident Linda Osborne can t believe how welcoming people have been in the small Tararua town. Linda Osborne sold her modestly-sized three-bedroom house in Waikanae three months ago and bought a large five-bedroom house with over a hectare of land in Eketāhuna. ”I came over here because I originated from a very small rural community and feel naturally comfortable here.” A single mother with five children, most of whom have grown up and left the nest, she was looking forward to hosting an Eketāhuna Christmas for the wider whānau. “The community here is just awesome. They have involved us in so many things from the Santa Cruise to Christmas Carols.”