Episode Details

After 40 years, Whangamōmona’s return to Taranaki is set amid local government reforms—but its quirky, self-declared Republic isn’t going anywhere. President John Herlihy recounts wild tales of goat poisonings, poodle near-assassinations, and a sheep “kidnapped” with a ransom note that looked suspiciously like his own. While he wants the republic to join a new unitary council, he insists on keeping independence. Vanessa Kennedy, chair of the committee, says passport sales and Republic Day funds fund community projects—and she’s eyeing expansion into Stratford and Hāwera, already “infiltrating” local councils. Locals like Brent O’Sullivan believe their self-reliance and charm will ensure Whangamōmona endures as a unique piece of New Zealand’s eccentric history.

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