LEIGHTON KEITH leighton.keith@tnl.co.nz. - Taranaki Tuesday, 31 July 2007
They're world-famous in Taranaki - but now the rest of the country is in on our secrets.
Four Taranaki icons have been rated as the best in New Zealand.
They are New Plymouth's Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, Tikorangi gardener Mark Jury, Pukekura Park and Whangamomona.
The latest issue of The Listener has devoted a section to celebrating the best our country has to offer on a range of topics and the province was well represented.
Mr Jury, famed for his world-renowned magnolia trees, has been declared one of the country's best plant breeders by broadcaster Maggie Barry.
Mr Jury says he was surprised to receive the accolade but was happy to be rated alongside some of the best.
"It is great to be put in the same category as them, it is an honour," he said yesterday.
The Listener's arts editor Philip Matthews was positively glowing about the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery.
"Too few galleries know how to surprise ... but this one does," Listener arts editor Philip Matthews says.
Gallery director Rhana Devenport was delighted but not surprised to learn of the kudos. "Within the arts community, for the Asian Pacific region, the gallery is well known as a leader."
Whangamomona takes the honour of best place name, along with Nightcaps in Southland, Waikaremoana, and Windwhistle near Christchurch.
Twenty-two-year Whanga resident Tania Bedwell says the town's name roughly translates to fertile valley or wait here for a fat one. Coastal Maori used the area as a camp ground on their way to trade with tribes in Wanganui and it was known for fat birds and eels.
Pukekura Park got a special mention in the best cricket ground category. The Basin Reserve, Wellington, took the top honour.
The New Plymouth ground was described as ravishingly scenic and was recently named by the cricket-lover's bible, Wisden, as one of the six greatest grounds in the world.
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