By Ryan O’Sullivan of the Wairoa Star In the quiet expanse of Waiatai Valley Road, maize farmer Allan Newton found himself at the centre of an unexpected.
If anyone really wanted to know what was happening with the Wairoa River as it threatened to flood Wairoa and the eastern reaches towards the river’s mouth.
If you are looking for a cheap ride, horses in Wairoa are going to auction for $20 to $100 a pop.
Wairoa District Council auctioned off nine horses in 2020, bringing in $450 that went towards offsetting the cost of impounding the animals.
Photo: Supplied / Wairoa District Council
It comes as Wairoa District Council attempts to tackle horses and cattle straying on to roads and the very real danger they pose to drivers.
Two horses are in the pound and waiting to be auctioned off today. Nine horses were auctioned off in 2020, for a total of $450.
Wairoa District Council interim chief executive Kitea Tipuna said the few dollars the council received from auctions offset a small fraction of the cost of impounding the horses.