Project Piopio Trust members, from left, Donna Pari, secretary Jenny Brodie and committee member Nicky Atkinson catch up with Fat Pigeon Café owner Melanie Simpson. (right)
The Project Piopio Trust has relaunched following a Covid-induced recess.
Previously known as Piopio and Districts Business and Promotions Committee, the trust’s first project since recess is a community survey, asking residents to share their thoughts on how to make the village a better place.
The last survey, conducted about 20 years ago, identified the need for an eatery to service passing motorists travelling through the King Country to Taranaki and led to local families financing the establishment of The Fat Pigeon Café. The Fat Owl Motel, Bar and Eatery quickly followed.
“We’ve had this for 16 years in June,” said owner Melanie Simpson.
“This was the best move we have ever made.”
Simpson is brimming with enthusiasm for the community and its support for the project, as well as support for her family over the years.
Since the last survey, the main street has been tidied up and Piopio has grown from six businesses and organisations to 25 in and around town, all geared towards servicing passers-by, residents and each other.
Prior successes include a $30,000 town planning project including a colourful avenue of trees, daffodils and camellias from one end of Piopio to the other.
The trust has also established four tourist information boards outside the public toilets to advertise activities and businesses in our area and built a concrete path from the public toilets for visitor access to the cafe all year around
Just over half of the village’s 400 plus residents have responded to the latest survey and trust president Donna Pari, secretary Jenny Brodie and committee member Nicky Atkinson are deep in analysis.
Some of the key themes coming through are the need to market the village and all it has to offer, including tourism offerings like Lord of the Rings location, Hairy Feet Waitomo and the track to Department of Conservation hut at Leitch’s Clearing.
Pari said some respondents had identified the need for automatic telling machines, not realising that Piopio already has two.
The survey also recorded a demand for more housing in the village, including rentals.
The next project is to update the artwork in town with a community art competition.
So, what keeps the people behind the Project Piopio Trust involved in the community?
“It’s that cliched thing,” said Pari who was raised in the village. “It’s the people.”
She spent some time away but found herself drawn back.
“It’s a beautiful place for young families.”
Brodie has a similar story.
“I was born here; I went away for about five years and came back to the family farm. I have just ended up staying here.”
She simply hasn’t found anywhere else she would like to live.
Arkinson moved to Piopio in 1985 to work as a primary school teacher in the local school and found a reason to stay.
“I married the local vet and went to work in the vet clinic in Piopio and Te Kūiti,” she said.
“I love the people and the landscape. There’s loads of activities you can do like fishing and tramping.”
