Te Aroha iSite takes out Big Little Town award
Te Aroha iSite has taken out the Fieldays’ Big Little Town award for the third year running.
A bale of hay, some gumboots and a chicken was enough to secure another Fieldays’ Big Little Town award for the Te Aroha iSite.
For the third straight year the iSite took out the award, after submitting a photograph displaying how they were getting amongst the Fieldays festivities.Te Aroha iSite manager Michelle Laurie said the competition was a fun way to showcase how they were promoting the event to overseas visitors in particular.
“It’s a fun thing to do in the middle of winter and it helps to promote Te Aroha.
“We had won it for the past two years so we couldn’t let it go.
“We had a few overseas visitors buy tickets to the Fieldays from us which was really good.”
This year rather than being open only to local businesses the competition included those from the service, hospitality, tourism areas, as well as the not-for-profit sector.
Te Aroha businesses won three out of the five categories and finished runner up in the rest.
Seven other towns took part on the challenge, Morrinsville, Cambridge, Matamata, Tirau, Tokoroa, Raglan and Te Awamutu.
“We are really stoked for the not-for-profits also, places like the Te Aroha Art Gallery and Business Association. That prize money is really helpful for them,” said Laurie.
Judges unanimously decided that Te Aroha would retain its Big Little Town title, saying they showcased outstanding creativity, innovation and a bit of Kiwi No8 wire in their ideas.
Competition winners:
Retail
Winner – Nite N Day Fashions, 298 Thames Street, Morrinsville
Runner Up – Addictions , 178 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha
Service
Winner – Te Aroha Physiotherapy, 31 Pooles Road, Te Aroha
Runner Up – Kays Way Hair design, 134 Whitakers Street, Te Aroha
Tourism
Winner – Te Aroha iSite, 102 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha
Runner Up – Cambridge iSite – Corner of Queen and Victoria Streets, Cambridge
Hospitality
Winner – Blairgowrie House, 75 Peake Rd, Cambridge
Runner Up – Te Aroha Landing, 31 Pooles Road, Te Aroha
Not for Profit
Winner – Te Aroha Arts Centre, Rewi Street, Te Aroha
Runner Up – Te Aroha Business Association , Te Aroha
