Nor'West News: April 06, 2023

Thursday April 6 2023 7
VICTORY: Mairehau 18-month-old Sebastian Rickett sits on
the winning 211.6kg pumpkin, grown by the Mundy family
from Bishopdale – (from left) Andy, Diane, Harley, 6, and
Luke, 9.
PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN
Pumpkin of a good time
for Bishopdale family
• By Geoff Sloan
THE MUNDY family from
Bishopdale took home the
ultimate prize from the Little
River Pumpkin Festival thanks to
their 211kg entry.
The annual event
caused the small
settlement’s population
to swell from 700 to
more than 2000 at the
weekend, as visitors
checked out the big
pumpkins on display.
Organiser Mel Birch
said the growing event,
first held in 1996,
is now the second
largest pumpkin festival in New
Zealand.
“They had a little competition
between themselves and invited
more friends and then held it
down in the public car park in
Little River.
“It started to get too big for the
car park, so they moved to the
domain. And we’ve just grown
and grown ever since,” she said.
Mel Birch
A number of prizes were up for
grabs, ranging from the smallest
and most perfect pumpkin
through to the ugliest.
However, all eyes were on the
coveted ‘Big Boy’ giant pumpkin
prize, which went to the
Mundy family and their
giant 211kg pumpkin.
Dad Andy said they
had never entered a
pumpkin competition
before.
“We thought there
would be bigger ones.”
But Harley, 6, and
Andy, 9, known as the
“Mundy Bros” had a
different view. “We knew
we would win,” said Harley.
And their secret to growing
enormous pumpkins.
“Lots of watering, chicken
manure and they love sunshine,”
Andy said.
It’s a formula they will use at
the event next year.
– Public Interest Journalism
funded through NZ On Air
Above –
There were
prizes for the
smallest and
most perfect
pumpkin
through to
the ugliest.
Right – Harley
Mundy, 6, lifts
the ‘Big Boy’
trophy.
Parklands
siblings Zoey
and Maiya
Hird with
the giant
pumpkins.
Public Meeting:
Vape stores in Waimakariri
Join Dan Rosewarne, Labour List MP based in North Canterbury for a
discussion on the issue of vape stores in Waimakariri.
Thursday 13 April 6:30pm - 7:30pm | Pegasus Community Centre
8 Tahuna Street, Pegasus 7612
Please RSVP by 5pm Monday 10 April: 03 382 1199
dan.rosewarne.mp@parliament.govt.nz
Authorised by Dan Rosewarne, Parliament Buildings, Wellington