They came here for the fishing

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 316, 5 December 1989, Page 7

They came here for the fishing

by

donna

mcgrath

Bob and Mary Graves look after the Raetihi Motor Camp on State Highway four. Through their work they dedicate much of their time actively promoting the Waimarino area.

The camping ground offers budget accommodation to the public, free glow worm tours, trout fishing guides and information and fishing licences. The camp has also set up an information kiosk since Raetihi has no information centre. The camping grounds are in walking distance from the Waimarino Squash and Tennis Clubs, the swimming baths and the shopping centre. Mary and Bob and their two children Bridget and Linda moved to Raetihi from Katikati where Bob was employed on a kiwifruit orchard for eleven years. It was through communication with a Dalgety Representative that Bob heard of the opportunities he was looking for, one being to provide trout fishing tours. On visiting Raetihi Bob and Mary took up the Raetihi Camp site lease from the Raetihi Borough Council, sold up their home in Katikati and came south. In association with the Ruapehu South Business Association Bob has attended the Auckland Snow Show, the Auckland Travel Trade, and more recently the Bayfair Shopping Centre in Mount Maunganui. Here, on a large scale, promotional displays of the Waimarino area were set up along with $2000 worth of give-

away prizes donated by Ruapehu tourist operators. Their promotional work centred around the mountains, rivers and bush country of the area and what they have to offer. Mary and Bob enjoy their life in the Waimarino - they take much pleasure from meeting people locally and internationally. Big barbeques are often set up for visitors to bring along their steaks and watch them sizzle. Mary says they often see the sarrie faces back again - a good sign for

business. Glow worms The camp provides the specialised environment suitable for glow worms and Bob has built walkways and carefully cleared bush around the banks beyond the camp site, so tours during the night can be provided to study the luminous bug. The worms are appealing for their "fishing line" like threads which they suspect themsejves with from the ceilings in pockets on the banks. There the glow worm, the larval stage of the fly, remains luminous. It uses its light in different stages of its life cycle as a lure for food as well as to attract a mate.