One of the big news items from here
in recent times was a balloon tragedy
that killed 11 people. What the news
media failed to comment on was what
happened afterwards on the property
where two of the victims died.
“The place felt haunted and sad,”
owner Leanne Brown said. She and
her husband Clayton decided to dispel
the ghosts by turning their property
– formerly dedicated to Leanne’s
pedigree pigs and Clayton’s model
helicopters – into a petting zoo for
children, Wallowing Heights.
Carterton, New Zealand is also host
to a lively choir for people who would
love to sing but think they can’t; a
new centre for anyone who calls
themselves creative; an irreverent
Agony Aunt; a group of local Maori,
who plan to rebuild their marae, with
an associated project to collect lost
stories about the area’s two taniwha
(mythical monsters who protect
culture and environment) – and
much more.
We’re communal, open and low key
– and that’s how the town seems to
like it.
Jan Farr
The donkeys from Wallowing Heights –
just two of hundreds of animals in the petting zoo (© Rebecca Farr).
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