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Story: Coal and coal mining

Dancing at Rotowaro hall

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Dancing at Rotowaro hall

Like many mining communities, Rotowaro in Waikato had a strong community spirit. Country-music dances were held at the local hall. At this ‘Patsy Riggir Special’, the music was provided by guitar, saxophone, piano, and hobnail boots. When the town was moved to allow for opencast mining, the Glen Afton Country Music Club re-established itself in Huntly.

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Waikato Museum - Te Whare Taonga o Waikato

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How to cite this page

Alan Sherwood and Jock Phillips, Coal and coal mining – Mining community, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7459/dancing-at-rotowaro-hall (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Alan Sherwood and Jock Phillips, published 2 March 2009.