The 'gumboot' is generally known as the 'Wellington'. Taihape is a small town community in rural New Zealand located in the central part of the North Island about halfway between Lake Taupo and Palmerston North on highway 1. When the government of New Zealand discontinued subsidies for agricultural products and at the same time making exports more competitive, it had the effect of reducing incomes and thus causing a reduction in the spending ability in small towns such as Taihape. In addition to this, the town also experienced the downsizing of New Zealand Railways. As a result the population of the town fell from 3.500 in the early 1960s to about 1,800 in 1985. Late in 1984 'Taihape Promotions' held a series of meetings looking for a way to stop the downward spiral and came up with a number of activities promoting the gumboot events inspired by the success of John Clark's 'The Gumboot song'. These activities are now annual events and helped the town survive. This picture was taken on 9 June 2017, Sig...