Friendly welcome home for couple

Robin and Kathy Bloor are home to roost after more than 40 years out of the region. A former racing journalist, Robin moved into hospitality about five years ago. The opportunity to head home to Taranaki appeared recently and it was too good to pass up. While Hawera is a bit smaller than their previous hometown of Petone, Wellington, they say it's proving to be just as warm and welcoming. "It had to be a business decision and Taranaki seems to be advancing in the recession, more so than a lot of other provinces," he said. A bit of research quickly confirmed that for the Bloors. "Taranaki ranks about third after Auckland and Wellington, so we know we had good occupancy figures," he explained. It helps that there are family and friends, including Mr Bloor's mother, that live in Hawera. A surprising number of guests have been old friends. "The town hasn't changed much over the years, it's got more supermarkets which is the most noticeable difference," he said. Another thing Mr Bloor has discovered is the way Glover Rd has become Hawera's second business hub. Mrs Bloor, a city girl at heart, is getting used to not having everything on hand 24 hours a day. "Everyone is so friendly. I've called in at shops and mentioned that I've just arrived and they are really friendly and helpful," she said. "It's been a great experience so far." - © Fairfax NZ News PETRA FINER -SOUTH TARANAKI STAR