Pirongia’s Paula McWha
Steampunkers and their fans filled the Cambridge Town Hall on Saturday, clattering and swishing their way around a full programme of family activities.
Some of the InterlockNZ crew at the hall are, from left, Te Awamutu’s Moturangi Barrett, Cambridge’s Conrad Bhai, Rodger Hay and Palm Archvarin, and Te Awamutu’s Paula Lane.
The event was the fourth to be arranged by the Cambridge-based InterlockNZ Trust and Cambridge Treetown Steamers. It attracted hundreds of followers from around the central North Island.
Interlock was founded by Aaron Ure in 2020 as a charity aimed at helping people with disabilities enjoy different opportunities through a programme of activities. He and his wife Lois have built it up over the past four years, moving premises several times to accommodate growing needs, and finding space to store materials for the many craft-oriented activities members enjoy.
InterlockNZ founders Aaron and Lois Ure take a breather during Saturday’s Family Fun Day at the town hall. Photos: Viv Posselt
The annual day in Cambridge where the trust joins forces with the Treetown Steamers is one of Interlock’s main fundraisers.
The event is also a highlight on steampunkers’ calendars around the region. The movement follows a genre of fashion rooted in the industrial and Victorian era, around the turn of the 19/20th centuries, with a touch of time-travel added in. The clothing worn by fans is deliberately over the top, decorated with an array of chains, clocks, keys, watches, model weapons, eye pieces and more.
Pinkies up for tea are, from left, Hamilton’s Dee Nichols, and Cambridge trio Christine Crawford, Pip Hence and Deb Harper.
Saturday’s family day incorporated tea and parasol duelling, facepainting, wheel spinning and other games, plus high tea.
Tauranga couple Paul and Rozanne de Wild with Cambridge steampunker Rob Brettell.
Pirongia’s Paula McWha was one of the first steampunkers to grace the popular event when it started four years ago.
Hamilton’s Nikolas Tairis and his homemade lyre serenaded people from the steps of the hall.
Dan Turner gives Scottish attire a steampunk makeover. He and his fellow steampunkers are regulars at the annual Paeroa highland games.
Dan Turner, watched by his wife Leone, staring down is drooping biscuit during the biscuit-dunking teatime competition.
Paeroa’s Cat Connolly and Matangi’s Kathryn McGregor having a ball manning one of the sales stands.
Stylish visitors at the event are Rotorua’s Peter and Hedy Blackburn, left, and Taupō’s Pete and Chrissie Cooper.
Hamilton’s Sheryl McFarlane took her purple glow all the way to her fingertips.
These visitors went all in with the event’s purple theme. They are, from left, Thames’ Ruth Cadman, Rotorua’s Ken Howell, Hamilton’s Sheryl McFarlane and Kaye Forster-Hill, Ōhope Beach’s Lisa Bearsley, and Whitianga’s Barb Nippert.
Roger Kennerley and his collection of steampunk ‘gun’ accessories came down from Paeroa for the event.
Flanking Cambridge steampunker Jane Brookes and a kneeling Aaron Ure were Filipiino fans from Hamilton, Maria Castro, Lydia Castro and Marisa Cabacungan. Jane played a key part in linking local steampunkers to InterlockNZ for the annual family event.
Roger Kennerley and his collection of steampunk ‘gun’ accessories came down from Paeroa for the event.
Pukekohe’s Shay Steer, 5, got the steampunking drill down pat on this trike fashioned by Paul Rhodes, who put it together then added a mobility scooter motor and a battery from a lawnmower.
