Ngawi, New Zealand

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ngawi (pronounced Nar wee) is a small fishing / holiday town within five kilometers of Cape Palliser, the southernmost point of New Zealand's North Island. The town is made up of mainly small wooden houses, which are often called baches.

Ngawi has one claim to fame - more bulldozers per head of population than anywhere else.^{[citation needed]} The bulldozers are used to haul the fishing boats into and out of the water as there is no wharf or other access to the ocean other than the beach, which can be notoriously rough at times.

The location is also famous for a large population of fur seals and sea lions, and is popular not just with commercial fisherman but also with recreational fishermen. The best fish to catch are Paua (a type of abalone which is prized for its iridescent shell as well as the flesh), crayfish (also known as rock lobster), and cod. The place is popular with all type of fishermen including spear fishing. Near the town, situated on the foreshore, is one of the breeding grounds of Antarctic Fur Seals. This one of the largest seal colonies in the world.

Ngawi is also known for its "exposed" climate, relating to the intense and prolonged wind and the fact that there are almost no trees on this isolated coast. A number of ships that have become victim to this notorious coast. However, the weather can also become extremely hot in summer.

[edit] Notoriety

In September 2006, 3 young burglars (two aged 19 and one aged 15) were chased by Ngawi residents in a car chase and were rammed four times. Shots were fired at the youths' car, with pellets lodged in the bumper and bodywork. The burglars managed to escape but were later caught breaking into another house by Ngawi residents. The youths were eventually found hiding on a hillside by police after having been pelted with rocks by the local residents.

In Masterton District Court on 31 August 2007, a local charter fisherman, Garth Gadsby, pled not-guilty to charges of recklessly discharging a firearm. The two 19 year old burglars, Joshua Diamond and Owen Guthrie, pled guilty to their charges and were convicted with prison terms. The 15 year old burglar (name suppressed), was dealt with in the Youth Court. Court for 'protecting' town from 'scumbags'

A jury found Gadsby guilty and on May 27, 2008, he was sentenced to a $3000 fine and had his shotgun confiscated.

Coordinates: 41°35′S, 175°14′E