NGAWIBIG3
AWIB
Welcome
totheannualNgawiBig3 fishingcompetition, tobeheldfrom21to 23February2025.
Ngawi Big 3islegendary. Some years, up to 100 boats and 400 anglers turnup to partake of the collegial atmosphere and the competitionfor greatprizes, thanks to the amazing sponsors.Prizes areawarded daily,with overall prizes awarded at the end of the three-day fishing competition. Thereare even prizes forthe best dressed team and ‘dick of the day’.
Club Captain Donna Fenwick sends heartfelt thanks to the continued supportof“the wonderful sponsors thatmake our Ngawi Big 3fishing competitionthe biggest and best in the lowerNorth Island”. John Allen, Presidentofthe Ngawi Sports Fishing Club,agrees
“Weacknowledgethe difficulties our sponsors have facedoverthe last few years -manyhavefaced challenging scenarios in their businesses.Tothosethat arestill able to provide sponsorship for Ngawi Big 3, ahuge thank you. Without youthe Big 3wouldn’t be able to carry on.”John encourages people to“please support these businesses if youare able”. In 2024, Big 3experienced weather that wasstacked against it.Nevertheless, 296 anglers,16juniors,eighttoddlers, and fiveland-based fishers made the weekend ahuge success.2025’sBig 3 is shaping up to be an even more successful competition.
Donna and John also thank the Kawakawa 1D2 Trust forits continued supportfor the Big 3event,byallowing the use of its land forthe parking of vehicles and trailers
This meansNgawi
Big 3can be held safely and, ultimately, successfully Here’stoNgawi Big 3in2025.
Donna Fenwick, Club Captain (top), John Allen, President of Ngawi Sports Fishing Club (right)
Keyinformation fora suscessful competition
RULES REGISTRATION
Registrationfor2025’sNgawiBig3ispossiblerightupto,and during,thecompetitionitself.Tosecureyourspot,gotothefishing club’swebsitewww.ngawifishingclub.co.nzorFacebookpagefor moreinformationandregistrationforms.
TIMETABLE
FRIDAY21FEBRUARY
Fishing startsat7am.
Fishing finishes at 5pm when all lines must be out of the water (exceptions apply).
Weigh in between 2pm to 6pm.
Prize-giving of daily andspot prizes at 8pm (orat5pm if fishing is cancelled)
SATURDAY22FEBRUARY
Fishing starts at 7am
Fishing finishes at 5pm whenall lines must be out of the water (exceptions apply).
Weigh in between 2pm to 6pm.
Prize-giving of daily and spot prizes at 8pm (orat7pm if fishing is cancelled).
SUNDAY23FEBRUARY
Fishing starts at 7am
Fishing and the tournament finish at 2pm.
Weigh in between 1pm to 3pm.
Prize-giving of daily,spot,and major prizes at 5pm (orat1pm if fishing is cancelled).
Fishing off the coast of Ngawi is covered by recreational fishing rules forthe centralregion, and finesand penalties apply forbreaking them. Stay updated with the latest rules by downloading the free New Zealand fishing rules app www.mpi.govt.nz/rules.Itisillegal to sell or trade whatyou catch, no matter your region.
With an eyetosustainability, Ngawi’s Fishing Club encourages fishers to stick to aconservative10fish aday bag limit instead of the higher legal limit,and to throw back anyblue codunder 38cm or tarakihi under 35cm.
TheNgawi Big 3rules can be found in the Rules and Bylaws of the Ngawi Sports Fishing Club Inc.,which are downloadable from the club’s website. Weigh-ins at the end of each dayare alwaysexcitingand arefollowedby socialising,food,and drink.After the prizegivingonSaturdaynight, the band ‘ShortCircuit’will have youupon your feet
FRI21-SUN23FEBRUARY
PRIZES
ThetotalNgawiBig3 prizepoolofwell over$30,000in cashandgoodswill beallocatedacross thesedivisions:
Daily prizes forthe 1ST,2ND , and 3RD placefor eachspecies in the open section.
Daily prize for‘dick of the day’
Topangler prizes in each of the five-metre-and-underand theoverfive-metre boatsections.Species are BlueCod,Kahawai, Tarakihi, Gurnard, Groper,Snapper, Trumpeter,Tuna, Kingfish, and Billfish.
Lady angler prizes each day, as well as 1ST,2ND,and 3RD places overall Species areBlue Cod, Kahawai, Tarakihi, Gurnard, Groper,Snapper, Trumpeter,Tuna, Kingfish,and Billfish.
2025
Junior angler prizes (under age 16)
1ST,2ND,and 3RD places each day foreach of four species,aswell as 1ST,2ND,and 3RD places overall Thespecies areBlue Cod, Kahawai, Tarakihi,and Gurnard.
Juniors aged 13 to 16 can choose to register in the open section.
Toddler angler prizes (under age six)
1ST,2ND,and 3RD places each dayfor each of three species,aswell as 1ST , 2ND,and 3RD places overall Thespecies areBlue Cod, Scarpi, and Parrot Fish (Soldier Fish).
Landbase prizes 1ST,2ND,and 3RD placeseach dayplus overall 1ST,2ND , and 3RD.Nolimit on species except thatSharks arenot permitted.
Spot prizes will be plentiful.More than50are expectedthisyear, thanks to the continued supportof sponsors that make the Ngawi Big3 fishingcompetitionthe biggest and the best in the lowerNorth Island.
Best dressed team prizes to be awarded Fridaynight.
Cape Palliser Marine Radio atyourservice
“Weofferenormous thanks to Cape Palliser Marine Radio forits service during NgawiBig 3–itprovides a critical lifeline,” Donna Fenwick says. Theregion’s Marine Radio (akaCPMR) givesboats the abilitytohavedirect contactwith each other at sea. This meansboatoperators can help each other out and Search and Rescue is not alwaysneeded if there’sanincident.
CPMR owns and operatesthree marine channels covering theentireWairarapa coast
Channel 3 -Location: Whakataki. Coverage: Akitio to just south of Riversdale
FIRE DANGER FIREDANGER
From 8January2025, Fire and EmergencyNew Zealand designated Wairarapa’s southerncoastal zone as a‘restricted’fireseason. This means anyone whowants to light an open-air firewill need to apply forand obtain a permit.Gotowww.checkitsalright.nz.
Channel 4
–Location: Cape Palliser
Coverage: Palliser BaytoCook Strait plus partofWellington Harbour
Channel7 –
Location: Cape Palliser
Coverage: Tora to Palliser Bay.
In addition:
Channels 6and 8 areavailable forcasual ship-to-shop communications
Channel16 is the national rescue channel
During Ngawi Big 3, Channels4and 7 can be used.The competition’s base will also monitor Channel 6.
FENZ recordsshowthat97% of New Zealand’s wildfires arecaused by people –these arepreventable fires,and we don’t want to see them in Ngawi.
Kingfish: Michael Barnes in Waka, with acatch weighing 16.800kg
Tuna: TinnyHerrick in Seaview, with acatch weighing 16.950kg
Kahawai: Willie Roseingrave in At Work Mate (sincerenamed King &Henry), with acatch weighing 2.535kg
NGAWIBIG32024’SWINNERS
Groper: Travis Stoddardin Ngawi Raider,with acatch weighing 11.770kg
Blue Cod: Neil Dayin Streaker, with acatch weighing 2.630kg
Tarakihi: Ian Dale in Rhapsody, with acatch weighing 2.395kg
Trumpeter: Noel Parker in Blues Breaker,with acatch weighing 2.455kg
Snapper: RobertGlanville in Trivial Pursuit,with acatch weighing 7.570kg
Gurnard: Jess De Menech in Elsewhere,with acatch weighing 1.165kg.
Inthe2024competition,onlyonedayoffishingwaspossibleduetoinclementweather conditions.Therewere37winnersoverall,withfirstplaceprizesgoingto:
TopToddler: Lennix Adamson in Stevo
TopJunior: Nikyla Jasper in Conrod
TopLady: AlisonSim in Elan
Over 5m: AlisonSim in Elan
Under5m: Mitchell Kelly in Seaboy
Alison Sim AlisonSim A
Nikyla Jasper
Michael Barnes Michael es
Tinny Herrick TinnyHerrick
Lennix Adamson LennixAdamson
Jess De Menech
Robert Glanville Glanville
FRI21-SUN23FEBRUARY
Donna, the Club Captain, says the Ngawi Sports Fishing Club is a“greatclub”. So manyvolunteers are“willingtogive their time to put up the marquee,bring gear out,scrutineer, help at theweigh station,workinthe tournamentoffice, clean the marquee each morning,take the marquee down, make sureweget fedfromthe Thursdaythrough to the Monday, and simply doing everything thatneeds to be done,during Nagawi Big 3.”
She also givesspecialthanks to the ladies in the tournamentoffice including “Helen, who is agem andhas helped us out forsomanyyears -she knowsjust whattodoand when to do
2025
it.Then there’sTina whohas beenwith us foreverand is morethan happyto get thatsmelly,slimyfish in the bin and tell those anglers to be gentle withour scales -she is such apleasuretowork with. AndAlison, thanksfor the amazing photos and providing continual support forusinthe office.”
Huge thanks aregiven to Andy Corser who is alwaysready to help outthose unfortunate fisherpeople thatmanage to hook themselves,instead of thefish. “Cheers Andy forgiving your owntime to fixthose who aresomewhat challenged.”
TheCaptain givesashout out to Short Circuit,the fantastic band which plays at Ngawi Big 3onthe Saturdaynight.
“In2024, it wasgreat to see so many people enjoying the entertainmentand dancing at the Big 3. This year,we’re looking forwardtoanother entertaining Saturdayevening.”
To the new girlsinthe ranks,Tonya, Yvonne and Liz, “thanksfor your prowess withsocial media, computers, and home-madebaking,respectively”
TheTuhirangiRugbyClub boys also get ahuge thank youfor “launching and retrieving theboats.They do an amazing jobofmakingsurethat everyone gets off and on their trailers safely”. TheTuhirangiNetball Club girls get athank youaswell for“supporting the successful running of Ngawi Big 3”.
More thanks aregiven to “Murray and David forstaffing the radios and keepingeveryone safe, VickyFarrier for volunteering to be Ngawi Big 3’sfirst aider,RobertYule in charge of sheep and raffles, Beth Regnault who is a whiz at selling raffles and feeding the volunteers,the farmers who generously donate the sheep,Andrew Jennings (akaElvis), and everyone thatsupports the auctions.”
Thankyouto everyoneforyour ongoingsupport.
2Arbor Place, Greytown
Steve Hannam in his boat Solti
ACommittee member with the Ngawi Sports Fishing Club, SteveHannam has been fishing formorethan 25 years. Retired nowafter a34year career at Taratahi, followedbyyears touring the worldsupporting curriculum developmentfor practical farming programmes,Steve will be outonhis boat Solti during Ngawi Big 32025.
“Mydad and Ihelped build Solti in the early 2000s.Hewas an engineer and enjoyedthe challenge of buildinga4.8 metreboatand accompanyingtrailer morethan he enjoyedfishing,but used to come along to humour me.”Steve’s dad died acouple of years ago aged 88. These days,Steve sometimes fisheswith his adultson
“Wehope to catchBlue Codatthe Big 3,”Steve says.“Blue Cod’sagood
eating fish -it’sdelicious wrapped with breadcrumbs or simplyfried fresh in butter.Ifwecatch 10 or 12, that’splenty foracouple of good feeds.That’sall we’reafter.”
There’sthe possibilityofbagging a Snapper,too.“They’restarting to come back out thereand moreare being caught.”
Born in Wairarapa, Steveloves fishing out at Ngawi, although he’s also tried his hand off GreatBarrier Island,Durville, Castlepoint, and down in Fiordland Stevehas made thirdplacefor his Gurnardcatches acouple of times in the Big 3competition,but says it’s not about winning.“There’ssomething about being on the water,you forget about your cares.”
FRI21-SUN23FEBRUARY
Willie Roseingraveinhis boatKing&Henry
Fishing wasWillie Roseingrave’s first love in the greatoutdoors,starting from the age of three or four -“it wassuch afun and easy thing to do with dad.”
The‘dad’he’sreferring to is,ofcourse, Tony from King &Henry,astore with nearly 150 years of looking afterthe needs of Wairarapa’s hunters,fishers, campers and trampers.Willie has worked inthe storefor about16years,fully taking it on aboutfour years ago,and nowowning it with his wifeLiz
But Willie’s passion remains fishing.As oftenashecan, he gets out of the store, into his boat(formerly named At Work Mate,and recently renamed King &Henry) and onto the waves.
These days,fishing with matesorfamily takes placerightalongthe Wairarapa coastincludingatTora, Castlepointand Ngawi.In2024’sBig 3, Willie won1ST place foraKahawaiweighing in at 2.535kg
One of thethings Willie lovesabout fishing is the opportunitytoput good qualityfish on the table to feed his family If he had achoiceabout whatfish he could catch, it would be Blue Cod.
There is nothingquiteThereisnothing quite likespendingquality likespending quality time talking and fishing talking with people,”WIllie says, “whetherit’s landbased with mychildren dfive and eight), on theboatwith myold the boatwith man orwith oneortwo one ortwo tes- perfect. tes-perfect.” yjob used to be on crayboats stlepoint.“But it never felt like a ys,despitethe early starts and ical days.“Iloved it.”
“It’sthe easiest to catch, easiest to fillet, it lasts along time in the freezer, and it tastes delicious. It ticks all the boxes.”He wouldn’t turndownany other type of fish, however.
Andwhen he retires,Willie would love to be adeckie on acrayboat. He’s just putting thatout into the universe early
Willie Roseingrave WillieRoseingrave
STORIESFROMSALTYOLDSEADOGSCONTINUED
IanDale in theboat the boat
Rhapsody
“I’vebeen fishing forbloodydonkey’s years,” Ian Dale says.
Nowaged 80, he reckons he’s always fished.AtNgawi Big 3, hisjourney goes back to about the year 2000. Last year at the Big 3hewon 1ST placein Rhapsody forhis 2.395kg Tarakihi.
Rhapsody is owned by longtime friend and wellknownlocal Bill Jago,who wonHeaviest Game Fish Overall at the Big 3in2023 with his 18.300kg Mako Rhapsody is a44-foot Cat housed at Ngawi.“It sitsout therehooked up to a30ton bulldozer.”
an says the gang fishesas manyclub days as it can, as well as during the Big 3. Andheand Bill have spent
their lives fishing further around the Wairarapa coast.After reasonably stressful careers (Ian’s involved restructuring governmentdepartments as aconsultant), the opportunityto get away from it all at weekends wasa godsend
“Wedon’t mindwhatwecatch. Blue Cod and Tarakihi areour mostcommonly caughtfish.”The crew likes to BBQ it“welet Bill do the cooking because, while he’s agreat friend,he’salso a bossy bugger”- or they drop the fish off to the food caravan forbattering and frying, servedwith chips (for afee).
Ian says they have several ‘secret’fishing spots and it’s nicetowin one of the top prizes -“it helps to meet the costs of running the boat”
“We’ll be fishing foreverand aday,” Ian says.“It’s alifelong passion.”
FRI21-SUN23FEBRUARY
FISHINGFORFUN, ASPARTOFACOMMUNITY
TheNgawiFishingClubwasformedby 20like-mindedmembersin1991.They werekeentofishforfun,andaspartofa community.Theclubwassetupin PalliserBayonthesouthern-mosttip oftheNorthIslandandhasgrownto over200members.
KawakawaStation Walkthe unforgettable experience!
2025
Palliser Bayiswell-endowedwith kaimoana, so has alwaysbeen important to Māori. Ahuge varietyoffish can be caughtinthe area, with the club having trophies forblue cod, groper,tarakihi, trumpeter, kingfish, tuna, kahawai, snapper,and billfish. AMinistryof PrimaryIndustriessurveyofrecreational fishers in 2002-23 foundthatsnapper, kahawai, blue cod, and redgurnardmake up over 80% of all fish harvested by recreational fishers
Thesurveyalso foundthatthe proportion of people whosay they are marine recreational fishers is reducing. This is also the case forthe number of fishing trips taken. TheNgawi Fishing Club, then, isall the moreprecious.It offers aplacetobepartofacommunity, including through regular club days
“Fishing is alifelongpursuit formanyof us,”Donna Fenwick says.“It’s something thatany age,any ability, anybody can do.”
Ngawi has apopulation of about 30 permanent residents living in a cluster of houses cast up at the base of towering cliffs.But during Ngawi Big 3, the number of people in the town swells to manyhundred
Ngawi is definitely worthavisit.Ithas moretractors and bulldozers per capita in New Zealand,maybe even in the world. This is because thereisnowharf at Ngawi, and so tractors and bulldozers arenecessarytohaulboats into and out of the water.
Thereare fewtrees and no shops at Ngawi, although thereisawell-equipped camping ground along with acafé bar and grill.Several ships have been wrecked on the rugged coastline,and it can be unrelentingly hot.Forewarned is forearmed!
Our three-daywalkisone of theWairarapa’s best-kept secretsand is theabsolute bestway to explore KawakawaStation. An impressive andcontrasting landscapefromthe footof theAorangi ForestParktothe bush-cladhigh country down to thebraided river streamsand out to thestunningSouth Wairarapa coast. You will experience endlesscoastalviews, crystal clear streams, bird andwildlife;the list goes on.Exploreour gallerytoget ataste of what youcan expect to seeonyouradventure
•Walkto, and stay,atthe coreofthe Wairarapa Dark SkyReserve
•Fully catered with country-style cooking.
•Luggage is transported between accommodationsites.
•Rustic accommodation; includinghot showersand flushingtoilets.
Comfortablebedsand fluffypillows. Freshlinen at eachhut.
