The NZMCA Annual General Meeting

Our purpose for being in Gisborne was to attend the NZMCA Anual General Meeting, a grand meeting of similar people over a period of 4 days. There were approximately 650 motorhomes attending the rally.

We arrived as a group to Gisborne and initially went our own ways to fill our tanks etc and then congregated at a beach side reserve before driving in convoy to the A&P Showgrounds. Our plan worked and we were all parked together.  There were no planned activities for Thursday so we spent that time registering for the rally, and getting familiar with our surroundings. As a part of our explorations, Bruce came across Ren dez vous, my fathers old motorhome. We introduced ourselves to the new owners to find they are really happy with the bus and have taken it all over the North Island. We got together as a group for happy hour and prepared for the activities the next day.

Chairman Rod had the job of marching in the flag at the opening ceremony the next day. We sat as a group but soon found there were other Hauraki Coromandel people there as well.

Bruce and I attended the AGM meeting itself on Friday and we joined the others at the Rally Happy hour that night which had an Irish Band playing. It was a fun time and we went back to the vans content.

Saturday was blustery and cold. I went along to the craft session but it was not very well organised. I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing, and the person leading the group offered no assistance so I walked out. The Trade area was OK and Bruce bought a new backing camera for the van. The band at happy hour tonight was uninspiring so we did not stay long.

Sunday was a much nicer day, and back to summer-like weather. We all gathered together for a Hauraki Coromandel group photo, and then took the dogs for a spell to doggy day care while we did a few jobs and prepared to leave.

We decided to head away on Sunday to avoid the crowds all trying to leave at the same time on Monday. Some other of our group had the same idea and they had gone by 10am. We finally got away by 11.30.

We wanted to fill up on fuel, LPG and water, empty our waste water, get some groceries and do our washing before leaving town. We accomplished that with ease and then took the dogs for a decent beach walk before leaving Gisborne.

I really like Gisborne. It is an easy city to get around in, the beaches are great although all surf beaches, and the town buildings are old, well maintained show pieces.