Vinegar Hill, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vinegar Hill, New Zealand
Vinegar Hill campsite from the east bank of the Rangitikei River, 1 January 2009
Vinegar Hill, New Zealand Location in New Zealand
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui

Vinegar Hill is a special place in New Zealand's North Island. It's known for its campsite and a big annual celebration held there around Christmas and New Year. You can find it right on State Highway 1.

Vinegar Hill, New Zealand
Vinegar Hill, New Zealand Location in New Zealand

Where is Vinegar Hill Located?

Vinegar Hill is located next to the Rangitikei River. It's part of the Putai Ngahere Reserve. This spot is about 5 kilometers north of a town called Hunterville. It's in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand.

How Vinegar Hill Got Its Name

Many people think Vinegar Hill was named after a famous battle in Ireland. But the real story is much closer to home! The name came from an accident that happened a long time ago. A cart pulled by bullocks (a type of ox) was carrying barrels of vinegar. The bullocks slipped on the muddy hillside, and the cart overturned. All the vinegar spilled out, covering the hill! That's how it got its unique name. The reserve's name, Putai Ngahere, comes from a special totara tree that grows there.

The Vinegar Hill Campsite

The campsite at Vinegar Hill is a popular place for people to stay. In 2004, there was a huge flood that damaged many parts of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. The campsite was covered in floodwater, and some buildings were destroyed. However, the southern part of the camp, where a special community camp is held, didn't get as much damage. Even though the water was over three meters deep in some areas, the main camp area was okay. After the flood, new toilets and showers were built at the northern end of the camp. The local council is checking how well these new facilities work before updating other parts of the camp.

A Special Community Camp at Vinegar Hill

Since 1977, Vinegar Hill has been a very popular camping spot for a diverse community of people and their families. They gather here every year during the Christmas and New Year holidays, which is summer in New Zealand. The first time this community camped here was in January 1977. It started with just six men and grew from there. By the early 1980s, the camp had developed its own unique traditions and culture.

The Queen of Vinegar Hill Tradition

A special tradition at the camp is appointing a "Queen of Vinegar Hill." The first Queen was chosen in 1985 for the 1986 camp. At first, this was a funny idea, like a comedy beauty pageant. But over time, it became a respected role, like appointed royalty for the camp. The names of the people chosen as Queen are engraved on a special trophy each year. In 2020, 'Queen Alex Ruth' was given an Honorary Life Member award for his many years of service to the camp.

Vinegar Hill campsite from the west bank of the Rangitikei River, 31 December 2008

Camp Activities Today

The new Queen is chosen every year on December 31st by all the past Queens who are at the camp. To be chosen, a person must have attended the camp for many years and have helped the camp in special ways. The Queen's job includes collecting camp fees for the council and organizing fun events. These events include entertainment nights on December 30th and 31st.

The Crown descends, 31 December 2005

December 30th Entertainment

On December 30th, there are usually different competitions. Everyone who takes part usually gets a prize, but the top winners get special awards. After the competitions, there's often a big party around the campfire. Sometimes, there are also movie nights on December 28th or 29th. There's even a fun softball game between the girls and boys. For a long time, the women's team usually won, but in 2011, the men's team won the trophy for the first time!

New Year's Eve Celebrations

New Year's Eve is a big night with many shows leading up to the prize-giving. These shows often include performances by drag queens and kings. Prizes are given for things like "Miss/Ms Hospitality" and for the best-decorated campsites. Awards are given for "Best Use of Technology," "Best Lighting," and "Best Decorations." The most desired award is for the "Best Campsite." Just before midnight, the new Queen is crowned. After that, a dance party starts and lasts until the sun comes up!

Weather at Camp

Even though the weather is usually good, it's normal to expect at least one day of rain or bad weather. Some years are better than others. For example, in 2006, it rained before New Year's Eve, but not heavily, so the ground dried quickly for the party. The 2007 camp was one of the driest, with very little rain. The river was at its lowest level in ten years, which meant more swimming and raft races! In 2008-2009, it rained on New Year's Eve for the first time in many campers' memories, but it didn't stop the party.

Police Presence and Safety

The 2008-2009 camp was also the first time local police from Hunterville patrolled the campsite on foot. They used to just drive through sometimes. Their presence was welcomed by everyone, especially after someone was caught trying to steal a wallet and was arrested. This helped make the camp feel safer.

Vinegar Hill Trophy

Recent Camp Experiences

In 2011-2012, some people said the weather was bad with rain, wind, and mugginess. However, from December 21st to 29th, the weather was sunny and dry. Heavy rain did fall on December 29th and 30th, but the river didn't rise much until December 31st. Only a few campsites left because of the rain or other reasons. Even with some showers on January 1st, 2012, it was clear enough for an outdoor movie. The next few days were sunny, allowing tents to dry before people packed up.

The Queens of Vinegar Hill

The Queens of Vinegar Hill have come from many different parts of the North Island, including Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, Manawatu, and Hawkes Bay. Dion Leslie, who was Queen in 2006-2007, was the youngest Queen ever appointed at 26 years old. Murray Smith (also known as Muriel) from Wellington, who was Queen in 2012, has helped many Queens over the years. His campsite, "69 Cock & Doodle Cottage," has hosted many events for the camp. In 2017, Tisha and her husband Ian Klein were the first straight people to be elected Queen. Tisha was the camp photographer, and Ian helped with lighting and sound.

Here is a list of the Queens of Vinegar Hill:

[1] Ian's name was not initially engraved on the trophy, causing confusion among following queens, and it was not until after 2006 that his name was remembered. The queens appointed on either side of him were unavailable for consultation to confirm this earlier.
[2] The running of the 1999 camp, the Millennial Camp, was taken over by Deus, a Wellington group that ran dance parties. This caused considerable controversy.

[3] *NB. Due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns, there was no queen elected in 2021 for 2022. Queen Shayno continued to reign until the next election in 2022 for 2023.