Te Anau Community Events - 'Ginge' the cat & his around town adventures, 1st half of Feb 2024, from 1st-14th February 2024:

Shared by Central & Western Murihiku Southland Archive

Te Anau Community Events - 'Ginge' the cat & his around town adventures, 1st half of Feb 2024, from 1st-14th February 2024: 'Ginge' the cat, a beautiful ginger boy from Te Anau in Fiordland or Te Rua-o-Te-Moko, has gained a certain amount of fame by his fabulous feline visits to all and sundry around the quaint Lakeside town of Te Anau, whether that be dropping in on community groups & businesses, delighting tourists, cosying up to locals or just wandering around the township or lakeside on adventures... Ginge has been visiting so much, he now has multiple entries! If you would like to see Ginge's previous antics and adventures, see under CWA.045.088.002 for the January 2024 entry and CWA.045.088.001 for his 2023 entry. This one below, is for his adventurous antics during the first half of the month of February 2024. For the second half of the month, see entry CWA.045.088.004 We think that Ginge has the gift of the gab when it comes to selecting his visiting spots and we would like to give the community services & businesses Ginge visits, the "Ginge tick of approval" as fabulous feline friendly places that you would want to visit yourself and partake of their products/services. One local has termed Ginge the town Ambassador Extraordinaire. Well said. So remember, that the following businesses and services from around the Te Anau Township, have been given 'Ginge's' Tick of Approval. Check them out! Images are shared here with permission from locals and tourists alike, Ginge has fast become a mascot and pet lovers attraction for Te Anau township. If you would like to be on Ginge's list of lovely places to visit, contact us with a photo of Ginge on your premises or with your management or your staff. We are also willing to post public open space pictures of Ginge if sent to us. If you wish to see who donated which images, please see end of info under here, for a list of photo donors. See Ginge's Community Archive Cat-a-log for his adventures below, for the month of February 2024 - newest to oldest. Can you add more? Monday 12th February - Today Ginge kept up with his exercise regime by attending the ladies Zumba class, he was pretty surprised no-one said no male cats allowed, he thought that it was his brilliant disguise that did it!! After this, Ginge wandered off to check out Grace Place. We don't have photos, but Grace Place has 'Ginge's Tick of Approval' too, they can be found at Te Anau Lakeside Church, Thursday 6.30-8.30pm & Saturdays 10am-2pm. Grace Place second-hand outlet operates from a separate building at the back of the church property. Items from the Grace Place can either be taken or a donation can be made. Any money made from donations is gifted to meet community needs. This wonderful initiative is endorsed by Ginge, but he was unhappy to see the mess of items left there this day, so please Te Anau, clean up your act, keep Grace Place going and kept Ginge happy!! Thank you. But exercise of the body was not the only thing on Ginge's mind today. After the Zumba session he thought some exercise for the soul might also be in order, so off he trotted to check out Te Anau Lakeside Church, only to find he was a day late to attend the service! To visit here, go to, 112 Te Anau Terrace, lakesidechurch@xtra.co.nz or ph: 03-249 7174 Later in the day Ginge was spotted outside Bailez and heading back to one of his favourite hide out haunts at Real Journeys. Ginge has now given Real NZ multiple ticks of approval as one of the best places anyone can go to. Find at: 85 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau 9640. Hours: Closes 7 pm. Phone: 03 249 6000 Friday 9th February - Ginge's encounters with a sleeping human child are hilarious but heartwarming at the same time. The resident who provided these thought it could be called, "Ginge meets AlfieFox" but they slept through the whole encounter! At least they can get to see it when they grow up, as this treasure & others are being preserved by the Community Archive so we can look back at the joy Ginge gave us. ClickHereToSeeGingeVid Earlier in the day, Ginge went back to see some of his most adoring fans at Southern Stars Early Learning Centre, where he hung out with the under 2's. Ginge has given Southern Stars many "Ginge's ticks of approval" as he knows he will be given the right royal treatment every time he visits these tamariki. If you too wish to check out this fabulous Early Learning Centre, they can be found at: 18 Luxmore Drive, Te Anau 9600 or Phone them on: 03 249 7858 Thursday 8th February - we haven't seen or heard hide nor hair of Ginge today! Has he been sleeping, locked in or just getting sneaky?! If you have any photos or news of Ginge, please let us know, to catalogue for his Daily Diary. Wednesday 7th February - Ginge went on another visiting mission today, we didn't know what it was for a while! If on a daily basis, you can help us track the mighty mascot Ginge Cat, with photos too preferably, we'd love that. You can tag us in a post or just pop the photo up in Ginge's Facebook for us to see. He was reported earlier today to be on the main street passing Ditto. One adoring subject managed to pat him quickly but he was on a much more serious mission. He wasn't hanging around, he had places to go! We found him! It was of utmost importance on this scorching hot summer day, to take a trot off to the Fresh Choice to find some shade to rest in, and one resident reckons he was "rocking it!" He sure was., while ensuring all the other Te Anau cats would be fed tonight. As long as Ginge gets petted and proclaimed pet of the year, he is so happy. If you too wish to check out the pet food range or any other grocery shopping items, you can find Fresh Choice and maybe even Ginge, on ph: 03-249 9330 or 5 Milford Crescent, Te Anau or order your items online from their website: https://teanau.store.freshchoice.co.nz/ Tuesday 6 February - Not content with just visiting all and sundry around the lakeside today, Ginge decided he'd go one step further and follow some poor unsuspecting resident home for the night at around 11pm. For a teenager he seems to be out past curfew! His human whānau had to go and fetch him. Monday 5 February - today, you would not believe what Ginge got up to... He snuck out with his sister Patch who also seems to now want to be famous and they were caught out leading each other astray... Not even up the garden path, but out on the street, of all places! The resident who snapped the suspicious acting pair thinks they were off to Pilates at the Events Centre, as they don't seem to be getting enough exercise already which is very odd. Sunday 4 February - Earlier today Ginge he thought he'd find out what it was like to be a hen instead of a cat! For some reason he climbed into the hen house at school, one resident thinks it's because he needs a place to lay!! Whatever was going on, it's a pretty funny thing for him to do, so enjoy. Later, Ginge did his usual evening sports routine, but this time choose football... That didn't go so well for him. Instead of being able to run and chase the balls as he usually does, the story goes that this one hit him in the face. Poor Ginge, he looks so disheartened. Best stick to Tennis or Bowls. Saturday 3 February - Ginge sure has a nose for food! He was snapped checking out the yummy sounding Hangi while wandering around town looking for his royal entourage, who seem to have mostly been put off by the weather. Poor Ginge... ssshhh don't tell him they are all at the Events Centre, or he might decide to go there to find everyone!! LOL. Then it was time for some real lunch, as sniffing food was just not doing it. Ginge headed for the Lakefront Cafe to grab a bite to eat, but the food was all so yummy that no-one wanted to share! What's the bet he will go home tonight with a massive appetite after being around all that lovely Te Anau food all day and getting in his steps for exercise. If you too want to visit the Lakefront Cafe which has Ginge's Tick of Approval as a feline friendly place to visit for food and great coffee, see: Lakefront Café, 92 Te Anau Terrace, Te Anau NZ, Ph: 03 249 4411 This morning Ginge thought he'd take in some culture. He popped into the Arts Hub, but not finding anything to his liking, most probably no lines of adoring fans to fuss over him, he padded back out the door, saying he'd be back later when all the people to pay him were there! As Ginge has given the Arts Hub repeated Ticks of Approval, you too can visit at: 23 Main Street, Te Anau, New Zealand or Email them at: fiordland.arts@gmail.com Earlier in the day Ginge didn't take to kindly to Sam the dog intruding on his Cat-itory! With arched back and hair on end, Ginge told Sam he didn't much like the challenge to being the King Cat of Te Anau! Seems Ginge likes humans more than dogs. He then retreated to the gate to further observe. The Cat King Ginge feels so superior being at height! Friday 2 February - what did Ginge get up to today, can you help us out please?! We are missing photos and visits for this day, please send to us. Thursday 1 February - Ginge made the day of one Te Anau resident today, they were so excited to see him and be able to give him pats, and he was very excited to receive them, rolling around on the ground and begging for more. They were just a bit worried as Ginge seemed to be heading off to the Medical Centre, so hoped it was nothing serious. We suppose that at least it wasn't him heading off to see the Vet's!! If you too need to visit Fiordland Medical Practice in Te Anau with Ginge, you can find them at: 25 Luxmore Drive, Te Anau or ph: 03 249 7007 Then at 2.20, Ginge decided to check out that the Te Anau Four Square were stocking the correct car food, a very important part of this King Cat of Te Anau's day, ensuring his loyal subjects are catering to his every need. We are waiting for permission to share photos of this visit. They should appear soon. If you took these photos, please contact us! Ginge also decided that Te Anau was the place to find Milford Opportunities and popped in to see the staff there... He was sad that they didn't really want him to stay and take over the ruling of their kingdom, but at least they paid reverence and gave him cuddles and pats, which he had to kindly accept. If you too would like to check out the Milford Opportunities Project Hub, go to: 26 Town Centre, Te Anau, or Email: contactus@milfordopportunities.nz If you have enjoyed Ginge's great Te Anau adventures, he'd love you to donate some money to the Fiordland Cat Rescue, to help all the other kitties that don't have a family like him. Ginge thinks that this would be a purrfect way for you all to show your appreciation for his around town antics. So if you can do this, please pop a donation into the account below and mark it "Ginge" so we can see how much support you are giving for our gorgeous boy. Kia ora!! Account name: Fiordland Cat Rescue, Bank account: 02-0965-0041669-025 This entry will be definitely be added to as more information comes to hand. If you or anyone you know has any more information or photos to share or accounts of Ginge the cat during recent times, please do share this with us in the comments section. You can do this by making a comment in the space provided under the image page. Or you can make contact with us as per the archive front page. Ginge also has his own Facebook page where you can see what he is up to or to report him on his adventures, and the link for this page is: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555442261707&mibextid=ZbWKwL PHOTOS: Image 1 - Oops a day late to Te Anau Lakeside Church, from Sandra Harry Image 2 - Partaking in ladies Zumba, is the only male allowed! By Maye Dunn Image 3 - Ginge intrigued by AlfieFox, huge thanks to Janine Martig Image 4-8 Southern Stars Early Learning had a Ginge visit! By Susie Cribb Image 9 - At Fresh Choice after a frolic in the fun sun, by Christine Cornwall Image 10&11 Ginge & Patch causing chaos out on the town, by Sandra Harry Image 12 - Trying out the hen house at school thanks to Camila Gallo Image 13 - Ginge is not impressed with football. Photo Marián Naopak Vrana Image 14 - Checking out the offers at Lakefront Cafe, by Maye Dunn Image 15- Sniffing out the Hangi, pic kindly donated by Sue McMurtrie Image 16 - Visiting the Arts Hub for some culture, thanks to Barbara Lee Image 17&18 Not so sure on meeting Sam says Ginge! By Lynette Elder Image 19 - Ginge, off to the Fiordland Medical Centre, thanks Trudy Till Image 20 - having cuddles at Milford Opportunities, thanks Dawn Farrell